SAM MAZUR đź’Ą
CREATIVE DIRECTOR + COPYWRITER
Hi. I’m Sam,
I’m a Creative Director and Copywriter,
based in New York.
But I was raised in Danvers, Massachusetts (“dan-viz-mass,” if you want to sound like a local)— the original site of the Salem Witch Trials hysteria, the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy, and home to a secret Cold War-era nuclear missile silo. Maybe there was something in the water that led me to advertising.
Fortunately, I was able to build a career around chasing simple, unexpected ideas that grab attention — whether that’s writing a comedy spot featuring a singing cat, kickstarting the hidden-camera social experiment trend, premiering the world’s first interactive cinema crowd game, spearheading a groundbreaking B2B social channel, or creating a cause that went viral and turned into a global movement.
I am grateful to have won 100+ awards, led teams of talented writers and art directors, managed up to five brands at once, and landed numerous new business wins while working and freelancing at top networks and shops including WPP, IPG, Ogilvy, SS+K, Terri & Sandy, TBWA\Chiat\Day, and Translation.
Along the way, I traveled to Wieden+Kennedy, Shanghai, and “won the freelance lottery,” as a friend once put it.
Then there was that time I made a New York City rat famous…
All in all, it’s been a good run since my days of dropping R’s, ordering Jimmys on ice cream, and hating on the Yankees. (Okay, that last part never gets old.) And I believe the best is yet to come.
Let’s connect and make something great.
sammazur@gmail.com
Awards
CANNES LIONS
Gold, Outdoor / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
Gold, Design Posters / IBM “THINK Exhibit Posters”
Silver, Cyber Branded Content / Use of Social Media / IBM “Fractal Fest”
Bronze, Cyber Corporate Image & Communications Campaign / IBM “IBMblr Play”
Bronze, Print & Poster Campaign / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
Shortlist, Cyber Online Digital Design / IBM “Fractal Fest”
Shortlist, Cyber Social Celebrity / Blogger Outreach / IBM “IBMblr Play"
Shortlist, Cyber / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Shortlist, Viral Marketing / IBM “IBMblr”
THE ONE SHOW
Gold, Interactive Integrated Branding Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
Gold, Interactive Brand Gaming Offline / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
Bronze, Outdoor Design Transit Campaign / IBM “THINK Exhibit Posters”
Merit, Integrated Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
Merit, Cinema Advertising Single / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
Merit, Interactive Branded Applications Web / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader"
Merit, Interactive Brand Gaming Offline / Msnbc.com “NewsArcade”
Merit, Game / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker”
Merit, Experiential Advertising Single / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
Merit, Consumer TV Under $50K / Fatty Golf Open “Hamburger”
Merit, Interactive Web Banner / MiningCompany.com “Splat"
Merit, Collateral Design Posters Series / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
Merit, Design Craft Typography / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
Merit, Interactive Craft Typography / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
Merit, Best Social Media Page By A Brand / IBM “IBMblr"
Shortlist, Moving Image Craft: Use of Music / SunnyD “Drink to Your Own Beat”
Shortlist, Direct Marketing Innovation In Lockdown / “Pandemic Pop-Up Holiday Shoppe”
CLIO AWARDS
Silver, Award Innovative Media / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
Silver, Posters / IBM “THINK Exhibit Posters”
Silver, Design / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
Bronze, Branded Entertainment - Event Experiential / IBM “IBMblr Play”
Bronze, Fashion & Beauty, Social Good / "Strands For Trans"
Shortlist, Radio Campaign / CDNOW.com “If We’ve Got This”
Shortlist, Social / IBM “IBM Fractal Fest”
Shortlist, Fashion & Beauty / Transphobe Takedowns
WEBBY AWARDS
Winner, Integrated Advertising Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
Winner, Photography & Graphics Social / IBM “Fractal Fest”
Winner, Social Campaign Diversity, Equity & Inclusion / Transphobe Takedowns
Winner, Social Community Building & Engagement / "Strands For Trans"
Winner, Social Education & Discovery / IBM “Play!”
Nominee, Blog - Business Websites / IBM “IBMblr”
Nominee, Business Products & Services Interactive Media / IBM “IBMblr”
Nominee, Social Corporate Communications / IBM “Fractal Fest”
Nominee, Visual Design Website / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Nominee, Interactive Game or App / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Nominee, News Website / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Honoree, Social Impact Campaign / Transphobe Takedowns
Honoree, Webby For Good / "Strands For Trans"
Honoree, Writing Social / IBM “IBMblr”
D&AD
Wood Pencil, Websites Interface & Navigation / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Shortlist, Earned Media Campaign / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
FAST COMPANY WORLD CHANGING IDEA AWARDS
Winner, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, Small Business / “Strands For Trans”
Finalist, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, Social Justice /“Strands For Trans”
Honorable Mention, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, Advertising / “Strands For Trans”
COMMUNICATION ARTS AWARDS
Advertising / Nontraditional / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
Advertising / Public Service /“Terri & Sandy's Pandemic Pop-Up Holiday Shoppe”
Interactive / Websites /“Terri & Sandy's Pandemic Pop-Up Holiday Shoppe”
Interactive / Environmental Entertainment / msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
Interactive / Information Design / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Interactive / Social Series / IBM “Fractal Fest”
EFFIE AWARDS
Gold, Small Budget Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
Silver, B2B / IBM “Made with IBM”
Silver, Corporate Reputation / IBM “Made with IBM”
Bronze, Media Innovation Existing Channel / IBM “Made with IBM”
Bronze, Small Budget Campaign / “Strands For Trans”
Bronze, Multicultural & Lifestyle / “Strands For Trans”
Finalist, Beverages (Non-Alcohol) / Honest Tea “Most Honest City”
Finalist, Software & Apps / IBM "Play!"
Finalist, Internet Telecom / IBM “Made with IBM”
OTHER AWARDS
Ad Age Small Agency Awards, Silver, Pro Bono Campaign of the Year / "Strands For Trans"
Ad Age Small Agency Awards, Silver, B2B Campaign of Year / "Strands For Trans"
ADC, Shortlist, Design for Good - Advertising Series / “Transphobe Takedowns”
ADC, Shortlist, Design for Good - Interactive / “Transphobe Takedowns”
ADC, Shortlist, Direct / “Transphobe Takedowns”
Addy District 2, Gold, Integrated Campaign / CDNOW.com “If We’ve Got This”
Addy District 2, Gold, Radio Campaign / CDNOW.com “If We’ve Got This”
Addy District 10, Best in Show, TV Campaign / Fatty Golf Open
Addy District 10, Gold, TV Campaign / Fatty Golf Open
Addy District 10, Gold, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Four”
Addy District 10, Gold, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Hamburger”
Addy District 10, Gold, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Hill”
Addy District 10, Gold, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Lost”
AICP Awards, Winner, TV Spec / Sapporo “Samurais”
Andy Awards, Bronze / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
ARF David Ogilvy Awards, Bronze, Health & Personal Care / ACT Mouthwash “Long Live Your Teeth”
Athena Awards, Bronze / Newspaper Campaign / CDNOW.com “Top Ten”
Buzz Awards, Bronze / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
Buzz Awards, Merit, Integrated Campaign / Clios “Creative Liberation Intelligence Organization”
Echo Awards, Silver, B2B Professional Services / IBM “IBMblr”
Echo Awards, Shortlist, B2B Social / IBM “Fractal Fest”
Flashforward Film Festival, Winner / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
FWA, Site of the Month / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
FWA, Site of the Day / Msnbc.com “Spectra Visual Newsreader”
Jay Chiat Planning Awards, Merit, Integrated / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
London International Awards, Bronze, Posters / IBM “THINKx20 Patent Posters”
London International Awards, Merit, Design / IBM “Fractal Fest”
London International Awards, Merit, Digital Campaign / IBM “IBMblr”
London International Awards, Merit, Installation / IBM “Play!”
London International Awards, Merit, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Hamburger”
London International Awards, Merit, TV Single / Fatty Golf Open “Lost”
London International Awards, Merit, Radio Campaign / CDNOW.com “If We’ve Got This”
London International Awards, Merit, Radio Single / CDNOW.com “Daler Mehndi”
London International Awards, Merit, Radio Single / CDNOW.com “Florence Foster Jenkins”
London International Awards, Merit, Radio Single / CDNOW.com “Throat Singer”
London International Awards, Merit, Radio Single / CDNOW.com “Who Stole the Kishka?”
London International Awards, Merit, Use of Social Media / IBM “Play!”
Mixx Awards, Silver, Integrated Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
MM+M Awards, Gold, TV Campaign, ACT Mouthwash “Long Live Your Teeth”
OMMA Awards, Winner, Integrated Online Campaign - B2B / “IBM” Play!
OMMA Awards, Winner, Website Excellence-Business to Business / IBM “IBMblr”
Radio Mercury Awards, $5,000 Winner, Radio Single / CDNOW.com “Who Stole the Kishka?”
Sabre Awards, Gold, PR Consumer Marketing / Honest Tea “The Honest Store”
Shorty Awards, Shortlist, Consumer Brand / ACT “Long Live Your Teeth”
Shorty Awards, Shortlist, Pharma & Healthcare / ACT “Long Live Your Teeth”
Shorty Awards, Shortlist, Short Form Video / ACT “Long Live Your Teeth”
Silver Anvil Awards, Gold, PR Campaign / Msnbc.com “A Fuller Spectrum of News”
Telly Awards, Bronze, TV Single / Omnipoint Wireless
Yahoo! Big Idea Chair / Msnbc.com “NewsBreaker Live”
Reviews
“I am so grateful to have worked with Sam for all these years. He is a writer’s writer and never says no to any challenge. He helped us win countless pieces of business and literally helped us build the agency. Anyone who works with Sam is very fortunate indeed. He is one in a million.”
“There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the talent of Sam Mazur. Behind Sam’s calm, steady demeanor is a conceptual force. Time and time again, he solved many of our toughest challenges with award-winning work. Sam was the consummate professional, calling in from vacation to steer a production or push a campaign forward. Did I mention young creatives respect the hell out of him?”
“Sam, you made your mark here. You hold a high place in the annals of the last few years.”
“I hired Sam because I thought he was a good copywriter with the potential to think beyond writing ads. What I got was a powerhouse of big non-traditional ideas. Digital ideas. Ambient ideas. Brand ideas. He was brilliant. He was tireless. He boldly went where he’d never been before. In advertising as in soccer, there are defenders and there are strikers. Sam is a striker of the first order. Hire him.”
Select brands
Category experience