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Accomplice |
Biography

david thompson memphis tennessee
Most people take a long time to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. I always knew, I just didn't know what to call it. Sometimes I still don't.

When I was a kid, my best friend and I passed our summers playing with hot wheels. When that got boring, we would draw them. One day I noticed he could draw them better. It took many years to learn that he is now called an illustrator, and I am now called an art director.

College pretty much followed the same theme. Graphic design was home, but somehow I sensed there was something missing. Only when I started taking marketing and advertising classes did things start to make sense. In the long run, fortunately, no one claimed me in their program, so I was forced to build my own.

Professionally, graduating in '91 was the worst time possible. Recession in small conservative market. So I did what anyone would do in the situation. I went to europe and travelled until my graduation money ran out. Then I came home and begged for entry-level freelance work. This worked for a few years until one agency finally claimed me. Ten years and a couple of agencies later, i'm still at it. Associate creative director, thank you.

Also along the way, I've taught, sat on boards, spoken at confrences, worked on local, national, and international accounts, and done more pro-bono than should be legal. Work has spanned from traditional media and clients to new media, whatever that means. Oh, yeah, I've won awards, and as shameless as it is, hope to win more.

Frankendesign has been an integral part of this evolution. Working in agencies has always paid the bills and taught me a lot, but it also has given me a reason to find my own voice. Clients and bosses always come back with "this ain't art". Well, maybe it isn't, but communication, and the design of communication, is. Frankendesign gives us the avenue to pursue that art. End