Hi, I’m David Dobson, a freelance Creative Director and Senior Graphic Designer operating under the dD Promotion & Design brand. With over 30 years of experience across FMCG, QSR, licensing, retail, health, industrial and digital environments, I help brands turn strategy into clear, compelling design that connects with customers. I provide end-to-end creative support across brand, packaging, promotions, digital and retail, collaborating with marketing teams and stakeholders—from global organisations to high-growth businesses—to build design systems that are commercially smart, production-ready and scalable. My work sits between strategy and execution, ensuring creative ideas translate into consistent, effective communication across every customer touchpoint.

David Dobson

PRO

Hi, I’m David Dobson, a freelance Creative Director and Senior Graphic Designer operating under the dD Promotion & Design brand. With over 30 years of experience across FMCG, QSR, licensing, retail, health, industrial and digital environments, I help brands turn strategy into clear, compelling design that connects with customers. I provide end-to-end creative support across brand, packaging, promotions, digital and retail, collaborating with marketing teams and stakeholders—from global organisations to high-growth businesses—to build design systems that are commercially smart, production-ready and scalable. My work sits between strategy and execution, ensuring creative ideas translate into consistent, effective communication across every customer touchpoint.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m David Dobson, a freelance Creative Director and Senior Graphic Designer operating under the dD Promotion & Design brand. With over 30 years of experience across FMCG, QSR, licensing, retail, health, industrial and digital environments, I help brands turn strategy into clear, compelling design that connects with customers.

I provide end-to-end creative support across brand, packaging, promotions, digital and retail, collaborating with marketing teams and stakeholders—from global organisations to high-growth businesses—to build design systems that are commercially smart, production-ready and scalable. My work sits between strategy and execution, ensuring creative ideas translate into consistent, effective communication across every customer touchpoint.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Partner | Co-Founder at Worldwide IP Partners (WWIPP) Pty Ltd
November 1, 2022 - Present
Strategic development of licensing-led brand programs; creative and commercial oversight of promotional campaigns; partner and stakeholder management across retail, IP owners, and charities.
Founder | Creative Director at dD Promotion & Design
October 1, 2016 - Present
Founded and lead an independent creative consultancy delivering branding, strategic marketing, packaging, promotions, advertising, and digital solutions. End-to-end ownership of creative strategy and execution; long-term client partnerships; high-impact creative with measurable results; hands-on leadership across concept, design, production, and delivery.
Creative Director at Creata
August 1, 2011 - October 1, 2016
Senior leadership role within global, award-winning promotions agency servicing major multinational clients. Led the Sydney creative studio, delivering large-scale integrated promotions including packaging, merchandise, advertising, digital, and retail activations. Responsibilities included creative leadership across global client portfolios, strategic concept development, client pitching, recruitment, mentoring, and ensuring creative quality and commercial alignment.
Team Leader, Graphic Design Studio at Creata
December 1, 2002 - August 1, 2011
Led the graphic design team, managed project delivery, and ensured creative quality and commercial alignment across campaigns.
Senior Graphic Designer at Creata
November 1, 2000 - November 1, 2002
Created design solutions for multiple clients, contributing to packaging, advertising, and digital collateral.
Graphic Designer at Creata
October 1, 1999 - October 1, 2000
Supported design work for branding and promotions; contributed to large-scale campaigns.
Senior Graphic Designer at Village Roadshow Entertainment Group
May 1, 1996 - August 1, 1999
Delivered creative across film, music, and home entertainment marketing; designed catalogues, packaging, POS, advertising, and early DVD releases.
Graphic Designer / Director at Blu Roc Promotion & Design
September 1, 1995 - May 1, 1997
Co-founded studio; sole designer on Coca-Cola 1996 Summer Program assets including POS and retail materials.
Graphic Designer at SportStyle Pty Ltd
November 1, 1994 - September 1, 1995
Graphic design work for brand promotions.
Team Leader – Graphic Design Studio at Creata
December 1, 2002 - August 1, 2011
Led graphic design team; responsible for creative direction, strategic concept development from briefing to execution; recruitment and performance management of design teams.

Education

Certificate in Performance Management at Australian Institute of Management
January 11, 2030 - January 12, 2026
High School at Normanhurst Boys High School
January 11, 2030 - January 12, 2026
Diploma of Graphic Design at Design Centre Enmore
January 1, 1994 - January 1, 1995
Executive Development: The New Manager at University of Technology Sydney
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008

Qualifications

Executive Development: The New Manager
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Certificate - Performance Management
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2002
Diploma Graphic Design
January 1, 1994 - January 1, 1995

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Retail, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing
    paper Kompozition – Enterprise Rebrand, Training & Marketing System

    I led the rebrand and repositioning of Kompozition, a digital mission-engineering and transformation platform servicing Defence, government and enterprise organisations.

    The project went far beyond visual identity, delivering a complete enterprise brand system that included brand architecture, marketing collateral, sales presentations and structured training materials used across practitioner programs, stakeholder briefings and organisational change initiatives.

    A key challenge was translating a highly technical platform into a clear, credible and commercially compelling brand that could be confidently presented to executives, program leaders and practitioners. This required building a visual and communication framework that balanced innovation, authority and instructional clarity.

    The resulting rebrand created a cohesive ecosystem spanning presentations, training decks, certification material, marketing assets and digital touchpoints — enabling Kompozition to scale its programs while maintaining brand consistency and enterprise-level professionalism.

    Skills demonstrated:
    Enterprise rebranding · Training & learning design · Presentation systems · Technology branding · B2B marketing · Stakeholder communications

    paper Crawford Boots – Brand, Product, Packaging & Website

    I created the Crawford Boots brand from the ground up, delivering a fully integrated system spanning brand identity, product styling, packaging, website and marketing collateral for an Australian industrial safety footwear company.

    The project began with defining a clear and credible brand position in a highly competitive, compliance-driven category. From there, I designed the logo, visual identity, colour system and brand language, then applied it across the boots themselves, packaging, digital platforms and sales and marketing materials.

    A major focus was turning Crawford Boots’ technical innovation — including the WedgeTech™ personalised lock-fit system — into clear, visually compelling communication for safety managers, procurement teams and workers on site. This included brochures, product sheets, sales presentations, point-of-sale and digital marketing assets designed to support real-world sales conversations.

    The result is a cohesive, professional brand ecosystem that connects the product, its packaging and its marketing into one unified commercial story — positioning Crawford Boots as a credible, modern and performance-driven safety footwear brand.

    Skills demonstrated:
    Brand creation · Product visual design · Packaging · Website design · Marketing collateral · Industrial & B2B branding · Product storytelling

    paper Buildom – Brand Identity & Investor-Ready Marketing for a Property Development Platform

    Buildom required a brand and marketing system that could confidently speak to investors, developers and end buyers.
    The brief was to create a professional, modern identity that positioned Buildom as a credible, scalable property development brand.

    The project included brand development, visual identity, presentation assets and marketing collateral designed for both digital and pitch-driven environments — helping Buildom communicate trust, quality and commercial viability.

    This project showcases my ability to craft clean, corporate-grade branding that works equally well across websites, sales decks and property marketing.

    Skills demonstrated:
    Brand identity · Property marketing · Investor communications · Visual systems · Presentation design

    paper Spanet – Brand Identity & Marketing Collateral for Australia’s Leading Spa & Pool Service Network

    A comprehensive brand and marketing rollout for Spanet, one of Australia’s most recognised spa and pool service networks.
    The project focused on strengthening brand consistency across all customer and trade touchpoints, ensuring Spanet presented as a trusted, premium service provider in both residential and commercial markets.

    Deliverables included brand-aligned marketing collateral, promotional assets, service documentation and visual systems designed to scale across franchises, service technicians and national marketing campaigns.

    This work demonstrates my ability to translate an established brand into high-impact, real-world marketing tools that drive customer confidence, improve brand perception and support business growth.

    Skills demonstrated:
    Brand consistency · Marketing collateral · Trade & service branding · Print + digital assets · Brand system execution

    paper McDonald’s Happy Meal Promotions (Global Programs)

    Creative development and execution of multiple global Happy Meal promotional programs in collaboration with leading entertainment and toy brands. Projects required alignment between brand storytelling, product design, packaging, and retail execution across multiple regions.

    Creative Director
    • Led creative teams delivering end-to-end promotional assets
    • Oversaw toy, packaging, and in-store creative development
    • Worked closely with global brand and licensing partners
    • Ensured creative consistency across international markets

    paper Branding, Packaging & Marketing Consultancy (Various Clients)

    Ongoing creative consultancy delivering branding, packaging, strategic marketing, and campaign assets for small-to-medium businesses and established brands. Work spans brand identity systems, packaging design, advertising, and digital assets, often within highly competitive markets and constrained budgets.

    paper Vex Performance Lures – Brand & Product Development

    Founded and developed an Australian fishing brand from concept to market, encompassing brand identity, packaging, product design, marketing assets, and digital presence. The brand has gained strong traction within the Australian fishing community.

    Founder, Brand Owner & Creative Director
    • Brand strategy and identity development
    • Product and packaging design
    • Marketing, digital, and promotional assets
    • Ongoing brand growth and management

    paper Coca-Cola Summer Consumer Promotion

    End-to-end creative delivery for a national Coca-Cola summer promotion in 1993, including POS, merchandising, and retail marketing assets. The campaign formed the primary in-store promotional platform for the season and achieved strong consumer engagement.

    Lead Designer / Creative Lead
    • Sole designer responsible for campaign creative
    • Developed POS, merchandise, and retail collateral
    • Delivered production-ready assets for national rollout

    paper McDonald’s Monopoly Consumer Promotion (Multi-Year)

    Creative leadership on multiple annual activations of the iconic McDonald’s Monopoly promotion. The work spanned mechanics, pitch decks, packaging, in-store POS, Digital interface design, promotional merchandise, and integrated campaign assets, delivering consistent year-on-year growth and strong consumer engagement across global markets.

    Creative Director
    • Led creative direction and concept development
    • Oversaw packaging, POS, and promotional asset design
    • Collaborated with licensing partners and internal stakeholders
    • Ensured brand consistency across large-scale rollout

    paper Woolworths Marvel Connector Disc Loyalty Promotion

    A large-scale licensed loyalty promotion developed in partnership with Marvel, designed to drive repeat store visits and increased basket size. The campaign delivered exceptional commercial performance, including a measurable uplift in sales during the promotional period.

    Creative Director
    • Creative lead on pitch, concept, and execution
    • Oversaw design of collectibles, packaging, and POS
    • Managed licensed brand integration and approvals
    • Contributed to a record 4% sales uplift during campaign

    paper McDonald’s – Global Packaging Redesign

    Contributed to the global redesign of McDonald’s packaging as part of an international creative taskforce. The project focused on modernising the brand’s visual language while ensuring consistency, scalability, and cultural relevance across global markets. The new packaging system was rolled out worldwide and remains a cornerstone of McDonald’s global brand identity.

    • Creative Director (Selected Global Contributor)
    • Participated in the Global Packaging “Hothouse” in London
    • Contributed to concept development and refinement
    • Collaborated with international creative and brand teams
    • Helped shape final designs for global rollout