Giles Clayton is a college dropout, unsuccessful ad-school applicant, and award-winning Creative Director, currently at Anomaly, New York.

After his AWARD School application was rejected in 2011, he was told by a recruiter that he would never work in a creative department without completing the course. Rather than waiting to apply the following year, he doubled down, dropped out of his Bachelor of Communications degree and spent the next six months dedicated to building his book and proving that recruiter wrong.

He landed his first internship at Disciple, Sydney, later that year, and since then has swindled his way into agencies including Clemenger BBDO, J. Walter Thompson, Sydney and Anomaly, New York; he has won the Young Lions competition and represented Australia in Cannes; received Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies at award shows including One Show, Cannes Lions and Spikes Asia; led major new business pitches in Australia and the US, including wins for Vodafone, Booking.com, Bulleit Bourbon and SC Johnson; and, in a full circle moment, finally got accepted into AWARD School… as a tutor. 

Spite must be a powerful motivator, as after more than a decade in the industry he has never lost his passion for creativity, and prides himself on fostering that hunger in the next generation of talent. 

Contact

+1 917 853 8682

gilesjustice@hotmail.com

Awards

One Show

GOLD (Moving Image Craft: Production Design)

Merit (Online Film & Video) 

Merit (Cross Platform) 

Shortlist x 2 (Film)

Shortlist (Direct: Targeted Film)

Shortlist (Innovation in Film)

Shortlist (Branded Entertainment)

Cannes Lions

SILVER (Film: 360 & VR Film)

Shortlist x 3 (Outdoor)

Shortlist (Film Craft: Cinematography)

AdFest

BRONZE (Media: Best Use of Social Media & Earned Media)

BRONZE (Mobile: Best Use of Social)

Finalist (Online Film)

AWARD Awards

BRONZE (Branded Entertainment: Experiential - Installation)

BRONZE (Digital: Online Film)

Finalist (Branded Entertainment: Experiential - Event)

Finalist (Film Craft)

Finalist (Digital: Online Film)

Finalist (Digital: Social Media – Charity)

Finalist (Digital: Mobile – Charity)

Spikes Asia

BRONZE (Film: 360 & VR Film)

Shortlist (PR: Innovative Use of Social Media)

Shortlist (Media: Use of Social Platforms)

Shortlist (Film)

Shortlist (Promo & Activation)

The DRUM Awards

GOLD (B2B: Humor)

Young Lions Australia

WINNER (Print)

RUNNER UP (Film)

Finalist x 2 (Film)

Webby Awards

Nomination (Online Film & Video)

Honoree (Advertising & Media)

New York Festival

Finalist (Outdoor: Campaign)

Siren Awards

Finalist x 4 (Radio Campaigns)

Mumbrella Awards

Finalist: Pro-bono Campaign

Finalist: Collaboration

AdNews Awards

Finalist: Best Use of Technology

AdWeek 2022 Agency of the Year

Contributed to Anomaly’s win

Experience

2018-Present Anomaly, New York – Creative Director

2024 AICP Awards – Judge

2015-2018  J. Walter Thompson, Sydney – Senior Copywriter + Member of the Global Young Creative Council

2017  AWARD School – Tutor

2016  Winner of Young Lions Australia + Competed at the International Young Lions Festival in Cannes

2012-2015  Clemenger BBDO, Sydney – Copywriter

2011  Disciple, Sydney – Junior Copywriter