Joe Staples – The Creative Legend and Why We Can’t Get Enough of Him
Our Crowbar Judge, for Good Reason
In an industry built on standing out, few figures emerge as rebellious and remarkably grounded as Joe Staples. As Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Mother Industries, Staples oversees an agency renowned for producing work as real as it is imaginative. And when he took to the mic on Breaking and Entering Media’s Crowbar Awards podcast, he didn’t just deliver wisdom—he lit up the creative landscape with truths that would inspire even the most seasoned ad professionals. Let’s dive into Staples’ journey, his creative hacks, and why everyone who hears him can’t help but love the guy.
Enter the Crowbar Awards, here. Due Dec 5.
Staples’ Path From Design Dreams to Advertising Reality
Unlike many who dream of advertising from the start, Staples’ journey began at art college in London, where he studied design rather than marketing. In the late '90s, amidst the emergence of cultural giants like Oasis and hip-hop, advertising shifted to raw, honest storytelling. Staples noticed a new wave in the industry: a place where brands like Mother were boldly breaking the mold. This unapologetic authenticity drew Staples into the advertising world. Following nearly two decades at Wieden+Kennedy, where he worked with iconic brands like Nike, Staples moved to Mother—a fiercely independent agency like W+K—marking his alignment with an agency unafraid to go against the grain.