Specialist Spotlight: Darren Savage
From Agencies to Freelance (Or, How a Pot Plant Took His Job)
Darren has worked across almost every industry, but these days, he’s drawn to sports brands, health tech, and sustainable fashion. We asked him why go freelance? “I got to 50 and was made redundant for being too old and expensive,” he says. “I think they replaced me with a pot plant.” Their loss. Our gain.
The Industry Is Shifting-Here’s What Needs to Change
The traditional agency model is broken. The bold ideas and rebellious thinkers have left, forcing the entire industry into a state of change. Darren calls it like he sees it:
“Agencies used to be crucibles for creativity - full of interesting, often out-there people given the freedom to make brilliant work. Now? They’re cauldrons of misery - white-collar panopticons of joyless presenteeism.”
So, what went wrong?
“Soulless feudal lords worshipping the spreadsheet as the one true God.”
The industry has traded creativity for control, obsessing over process, efficiency, and predictability at the expense of actual ideas.
“The best ideas come from dysfunction, unpredictability, and irreverence. Too many businesses have tried to codify creative thought, but creativity is a manic construction. It thrives in places that let the absurd, the unlikely, and the unexpected collide.”
No wasted time. No creative compromise. No joyless presenteeism. Signed, sealed, and delivered - the Superson Way.
Why Supersprints Work (and Traditional Processes Don’t)
We asked for Darren’s verdict on Superson’s way of working - our Supersprints.
“The way you run Supersprints is just massively more effective. Most agencies still rely on overly complex, fragmented processes that waste time and dilute ideas. Superson wires the right brains together, fuels them with insight and inspiration, and gets them working in focused blasts. You get better ideas - faster - and they’re all set to run.”
Work that Speaks for Itself
Darren’s work is all about shifting perspectives.
His first ad? NatWest Bank, 1999.
The challenge? People thought the bank was dull and old-fashioned.
The solution? An animated campaign full of childlike charm. The client hated it. The public loved it. Guess who won?
Fast-forward to his latest work for Papaya, a casual gaming company.
The challenge? Convincing adults that play isn’t just for kids.
The solution? A euphoric, nostalgia-fuelled campaign proving that play belongs in every stage of life.
The work that made you, you?
For Darren, FIAT Eco-Drive was a game-changer, turning a forgotten piece of tech into Nike+ for cars. It shifted driver behaviour for the better and won 100+ creative awards, including a Cannes Grand Prix.
Final Words?
“When the going turns weird, the weird turn pro.”
Got a challenge? Collaborate with world-class talent like Darren through a Supersprint - and get to the right idea, fast.
The Specialist Spotlight Series unveils the brilliant minds behind the magic - bringing you closer to the top talent in the world.
