Dynamic Duos: How a creative pitch played matchmaker
In this week's Dynamic Duos, we hear from Communicado's associate creative directors Chris Buchanan and Simon Fleming.
In Dynamic Duos, Mumbrella each week asks two colleagues with a professional and personal affiliation to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly hybridised world of work.
Chris Buchanan:
Simon and I met while working at J. Walter Thompson. We were working with other creative partners at the time but came together to answer a worldwide agency pitch on the Visa account. Our idea ended up doing quite well and got the agency down to the final two with the client. After that we got teamed up a lot more on briefs and ended up becoming a creative team. Now, three agencies later, we’ve worked through a pandemic, a major merger and have gone from Wunderman Thompson to Thinkerbell to Communicado together.
Our working relationship is built on open communication and not taking anything personally. Throughout the lockdowns and remote working we got used to hopping on a Microsoft Teams call every morning and just staying online all day so we could talk to each other like we were still working in the same room. This allowed us to comment on things in real time and still feel connected. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of trust in the other person to make it work. Simon has a lot of technical knowledge when it comes to photography and creating visuals, so he can be aware of and solve problems before they happen.
We worked together on the Repco ‘Bringin’ the Bathurst’ campaign which was a lot of fun. Repco even extended the idea into the next year of their sponsorship of the event. It worked well because the Bathurst 1000 and Repco have a very clear target audience who are passionate about cars and are unapologetic about who they are. So, it was easy to understand that passion and connect to people through it.
We also worked on a campaign for a new line of John West products called Protein+. John West has a very established brand personality and tone of voice, so it was fun to apply this to the campaign. Heroing the classic John West fisherman, we were able to create a new message to reflect the health benefits of the Protein+ range while still making it feel unmistakably John West.
At Communicado we’ve worked on some terrific campaigns and have brought our collaborative nature and inherent knowledge of each other to the table. Brand work and campaigns so far include Taxibox, EziLock Odour, Mountain Goat, LuvADuck, BabyLove, Green’s and the award winning Biozet Attack. We’re continuing to respond to great briefs with great work.
Simon Fleming:
We were paired up for a global pitch at Wunderman Thompson, not by design, but by circumstance. Our usual partners were tied up on other projects, and suddenly we found ourselves thrown into a high-stakes assignment… right as the world went into lockdown.
What followed was a strange and intense few weeks. The pitch stretched through those early Covid days when everyone was still adjusting to working remotely. We had a live Teams stream running all day — half collaboration, half moral support. It was long, weird, and occasionally chaotic. But something clicked. Maybe it was Stockholm syndrome, but by the end of that pitch, we had built a proper bond.
Since then, we’ve been creative partners. And like Paula Abdul once wisely declared: opposites attract. We’re very different people, in energy, in perspective, in process and that’s exactly what makes the partnership work. Our differences push us to challenge each other, to keep the work sharper, and to avoid creative shortcuts. Having another point of view forces you to interrogate your own thinking. It’s healthy friction.
We’ve learned how to lean into each other’s strengths — one of us loves the chaos of the blank page, the other brings the structure and polish. There’s trust in that push and pull, and a kind of creative shorthand that only comes from time, mutual respect, and a few late nights.
Working with someone who doesn’t always think the same way means you’re constantly learning. It keeps the work fresh, and it keeps you accountable. There’s no coasting when someone’s going to challenge your first thought.
Thanks to Annie Price, the creative director who originally paired us up. She reached out and dangled Communicado in front of us. She had nothing but good things to say about the place and we’re glad we listened. It’s been a great fit. Smart people, good energy, and excellent work.
We didn’t start this partnership expecting it to last. But in a way, being thrown together under pressure showed us exactly how we function when the stakes are high. And when you find someone who makes you better, makes the work better, you hang on to that.
Chris on Simon:
Most memorable moment with Simon: One of my most memorable moments regarding Simon was during a Jetstar shoot. We had to film some kids and a parent on a theme park ride. Once we captured the footage of the family on the pirate ship, Simon jumped on with the stills photographer to capture some shots. As I watched on from a distance, I noticed that the ride was going far longer than expected. Once it eventually stopped, Simon revealed that the operator was having some issues stopping the ride and everyone on board was screaming for it to stop. That day may have turned Simon off going on rides for the rest of his life.
Best word to describe him: If I had to describe Simon in one word, it would be meticulous. He has the unique ability to observe the smallest details and ensure every visual element is perfect. He likes to take his time, which sometimes clashes with my more rapid fire, energetic approach to solving a problem. But that’s another thing that helps us to work together so well. We aren’t the same, so what I lack he more than makes up for.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has: Simon has had multiple roles before becoming an Art Director, from finished artist to designer, with a keen interest in photography. This has allowed him to bring knowledge from each of these roles into his job as an art director and elevate the work by understanding and staying across the minute details that others may not see.
Simon on Chris:
Most memorable moment with Chris: Early on, I thought Chris was the quiet type until we hit karaoke. He got up and belted out banger after banger like a human jukebox. He missed his calling being a frontman. It was a revelation.
Best word to describe him: Relentless. In the best way. He works hard, plays hard, and is always on.
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour he has: Beneath the tough-guy energy, he’s got the softest heart. He donates blood, time, brainpower, anything he’s got. He really gets a lot from helping people.
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the agency beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
Linkedin
Have your say