Break In Recap: John McKelvey on Building Bold Brands and Creative Independence
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Who is John McKelvey and What is Mirimar?
John McKelvey, Emmy Award-winning writer and Chief Creative Officer at Mirimar, co-founded the agency with his brother Luke in 2019. Mirimar, headquartered in LA’s Venice Beach, operates with a lean, driven team that McKelvey describes as “a true partner to iconic, culturally relevant brands.” From launching Speedo globally to crafting cinematic ads for Beats by Dre, Mirimar’s recent work shows its commitment to bold, transformative ideas that resonate.
The McKelveys’ agency roots run deep. The name “Mirimar” is inspired by the street they grew up on in Sydney, Australia, symbolizing a connection from their childhood on Australia’s coast to the thriving creative landscape of Los Angeles. Since its founding, Mirimar has developed campaigns for top-tier clients, including Beats, Speedo, Klarna, and the Montefiore-Einstein Cancer Center, positioning itself as an independent agency with a unique creative edge.
Lessons Learned from John McKelvey
McKelvey’s journey at Mirimar and his approach to creativity offer several takeaways for those breaking into advertising.
Create in Quantity to Achieve Quality: McKelvey stresses that true creativity flourishes from volume. “Quality comes through quantity,” he explains, encouraging aspiring creatives to push past the first layer of ideas to get to the most original solutions.