Berlin based writer, designer, DJ and creative consultant

I craft narrative, usually involving words or their creative removal.
   
Often in dialogue with emerging technologies, always with a critical ear to the zietgeist, my work has appeared at Cannes Festival of Creativity, the Clio Awards and other international shows.

My approach uses storytelling as a provocation and an anchor for new thinking and imaginative leaps.

Backstory

I studied Philosophy at the University of Glasgow between 2000-2005, where I was awarded a Masters and the Edward Caird Medal for Philosophy. As a student I wrote for The List and various national newspapers, and was editor-in-chief of the uni newspaper. In 2005, I became a promoter at Glasgow’s Sub Club, home to artists such as Optimo, Harri & Domenic and LuckyMe, bringing key guests to the club including Honey Dijon, Andrew Weatherall, Terrence Parker, Âme, Dixon and many others. 
 
A move to London landed me at the world’s most famous advertising agency, J Walter Thompson, under the guidance of creative director Barry Christie, where I delivered well-received work for Tourism Ireland, Starbucks, Deutsche Bank and the Metropolitan Police. This led to a more senior creative post at Story Worldwide whose London office was led by former Gang Of Four frontman Jon King. There I learned to present work, (re)write briefs, manage teams and make workshops more interesting.

An in-house project I led on story mapping was the centrepiece of a session we ran for Internet Week Europe in 2011, attended by senior executives from Facebook and business leaders across multiple industries. I was also involved in some key digital storytelling projects including an award-winning interactive filmfor The Havens. In 2012 I co-authored the copywriting syllabus for the Chartered Institute of Marketing. 

In 2013 I moved to Berlin and started working with Douglas Gordon. The same year I got a commission from Borealis Festival along with jobs for Vice Media and premium whisky maker Royal Salute. Later I joined Zalando, Europe’s leading online fashion retailer, where I led major brand activation projects, launched a refreshed Employer Brand, and contributed to lighthouse projects such as ai fashion experiment Project Muze, working with a team at Google.

I have been freelance since 2018, dividing my time between commercial and artistic projects. 

My forthcoming debut novel, FOLK, was longlisted for the 2023 Mckitterick Prize whose previous winners include Mark Haddon and Helen Dunmore.

Studio

Established in 2018, my studio in Berlin Kreuzberg is where I work with international clients and local partners.

One of my key clients is Beckers Group, an independent sustainable coatings producer responsible for bringing to market breakthrough green technologies like UV/EB curing and bold data tools such as the Beckers Sustainability Index that is creating a whole new level of transparency and guiding R&D, not just at Beckers but across the value chain. Working closely with their Global Director of Communications and Executive Committee, I act as an in-house editor and communications consultant driving community and data-led storytelling.

Another long term partner is Macenta Beans, a genuinely innovative social enterprise that has built a 1000 strong network of small coffee farmers in West Africa and is engaged in transforming the agricultural economy in the region through sustainable infrastructure, education and mutually advantageous partnerships between farming communities and European coffee buyers.

Other clients include SEGRO, Papyrus, and H&H Group.    

I am always open to taking on new clients and projects, large and small, based here in Germany or international.

Find me on LinkedIn or drop me a line at stef.macbeth@gmail.com