WIEDEN+KENNEDY is an American advertising agency best known for its work for Nike. It is one of the largest independently-owned advertising agencies in the world. I had the pleasure of visiting and photographing W+K's London office. I found this space was as creative and colorful as the people who worked there. P.S. Making an appearance in the second to last photo is the amazing Edson, my London agent.
"We are honored to give a little preview of a new Where They Create story by our friend Paul Barbera. It features the London office of creative agency Wieden+Kennedy, which shows a lot of character. but also the large size of one of the leading offices worldwide. The inspiring ongoing Where They Create series documents creative working spaces from all around the world through the lens of Paul. With Where They Create, the Australian photographer found a way to turn his inherent voyeurism into a form of anthropological research. Looking for absurd and hidden elements within the seemingly normal, Paul enters the studios of international creative people: artists, art directors, architects, designers, stylists and captures all the details of their personal stories and artistic processes. His curiosity, naturalness and good eye for interiors, together with his ability to transmit emotions and warmth make his project unique and constantly inspiring. From the need many creatives have to transform their offices into intimate spaces, almost like home, keeping things close to be able to create their workspace will almost alway show a lot of personality. Others could work anywhere, travelling with the bare essentials as Paul does, but everybody, even if for a while, leaves personal traces, aspects that don’t pass unnoticed, laying there to be caught by Paul.
Wieden+Kennedy London is part of one of the largest independent, creatively-led global agency networks. The London office was founded in 1998 and has a team of over 150 people working in their 16 Hanbury Street office, just off Brick Lane. As with all W+K offices, their founding goal was to do the best work ‘of their lives’ for inspiring and often leading clients. A aspiration which is reflected quite obviously in the continuing string of acclaim and attention dominant campaigns. W+K has as its core skill advertising, but these days this can encompass everything from building mobile apps to designing the London Regent Street Christmas lights. Some names of the endless list of W+K London clients are Nike, D&AD, Prada and Maximus."