Brands they made famous
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“If you want to be great, you’ve got to embrace being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
A trailblazing creative force in advertising, entertainment, and design, currently serving as Chairman, CEO, and CCO of Amusement Park Entertainment. With a career spanning roles as an entrepreneur, creative director, author, producer, and environmentalist, Jimmy has consistently pushed boundaries in storytelling and innovation. His work has earned recognition across prestigious platforms, including Cannes Lions, One Show, and Clio, and he has been celebrated as one of Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People and an ADCOLOR honoree. From groundbreaking advertising campaigns to Emmy-nominated TV shows and Guinness World Record-setting live events, Jimmy's contributions have left an indelible mark on the creative industry.
One Club For Creativity board member,2009 inaugural ADCOLOR | ONE CLUB CREATIVE Honoree,2012 Fast Company Top 100 Most Creative People,2017 Ebony 100 member,2024 Advertising Club of NY ICON,Cannes Lions,One Show,ANDYs,AICP,D&AD,LIA,Clio,Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture recognition,Emmy nomination for 'Gatorade Replay',Stiftung Buchkunst International Book Art Competition recognition,Copenhagen Museum of Applied Arts recognition for 'Soul of the Game, Images & Voices of Street Basketball',Guinness World Record for 'Heaven Sent'
Jimmy Smith's creative philosophy centers on authenticity, innovation, and storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. He combines fresh, boundary-pushing ideas with a commitment to cultural relevance and emotional impact. Whether crafting campaigns, producing entertainment, or developing new business models, Jimmy emphasizes the importance of creating work that is both meaningful and memorable. His ability to blend creativity with technology and cultural insight has allowed him to pioneer new forms of content and experiences, such as live events, video games, and NFT-driven projects. Jimmy's approach is rooted in a belief that creativity should not only entertain but also inspire and connect with people on a profound level.
Radical design using pop culture and technological breakthroughs, heartfelt imagery using pop cultural insights and human emotion to make brands stand out. Often fun and exciting, highly entertaining.
Jimmy Smith's creative philosophy centers on authenticity, innovation, and storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. Briefs are great, but true creativity goes BEYOND the brief. I like to break rules and be the wild card.
Created the Nike "Freestyle" campaign – a hugely popular and influential basketball commercial released in 2001 that merged hip-hop culture and streetball with NBA stars, set to a rhythm created by basketball sounds.
Created the Emmy-nominated TV show 'Gatorade Replay' – a highly award-winning branded content campaign launched in 2009 that reunited former high-school athletes to replay legendary tie games from their youth. Also pivotal in repositioning the Gatorade with the "What's G?" campaign, using major athletes like Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan, in iconic ads directed by Spike Lee.
Late 2000s
Was a key creative leader behind the development of the "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign during his time at BBDO.
The "Heaven Sent" campaign was a massive 2016 marketing stunt for Stride Gum, featuring professional skydiver Luke Aikins jumping from 25,000 feet without a parachute or wingsuit, landing safely in a giant net, all broadcast live on FOX – and setting a new Guinness World Record.
2016
His role was unique: rather than creating an advertising campaign for the games, he was hired to help create the games themselves – including he popular street basketball titles NBA Street Vol. 2 and NBA Street V3.
2000s
Produced the hit single 'Bigger Than Us' by Dame D.O.L.L.A. (Damian Lillard)
2016
Revived the brand with an NFT sitcom pilot 'Da Dogg Gone Gym' starring Snoop Dogg
2020