“Be brave, be curious, be kind”: creative storytelling with creative director Dustin Black

  Dustin Black is the executive creative director of Preston Spire. Nationally recognized for his infectious art direction, Dustin crafts brand voices that cut through today's fractured media landscape. His career spans top-tier agencies including BBDO, Colle+McVoy, mono, and Carmichael Lynch, earning recognition from Clio, D&AD, Communication Arts, Cannes Lions, The One Show, Obie, Telly, and Effie Awards along the way. Dustin has brought his entrepreneurial spirit, (he wrote the internationally published, "The Book of SPAM" and helped start an ice cream company) to national brands like Perdue, Craftsman, Franks RedHot Sauce, Cub Cadet, 3M, MSNBC, Subaru, Jackson Hole Tourism, Purina, Hormel, Caribou Coffee, Blue Bunny Ice Cream and Tillamook Cheese. He also makes felt sculptures, one of which is on display at the Minneapolis Airport through October 2026.    In this episode, we discuss his journey to becoming a creative director, why curiosity is neutral, how he fosters a culture of curiosity, how putting himself in uncomfortable situations helps build confidence and creativity, why having a diverse team is crucial in advertising, thinking about your brand as someone at a party, creativity in constraints, why he calls his ideas “dumb,” how building felt sculptures helps him think, and more.   Follow Dustin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black_dustin/  Check out Dustin’s website: https://www.dustinblack.com/  Subscribe to Version 1's substack: version1podcast.substack.com/  Follow Version 1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/version1podcast/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/waverlycolville