Me, Smiling - Shot by Miloe
Short Story:
Vikas Bhalla is an award-winning Creative Director,
born and raised in Santa Monica, CA
who loves to work across all areas of marketing.
born and raised in Santa Monica, CA
who loves to work across all areas of marketing.
Long Story:
Vikas was raised in the mean streets of Santa Monica and graduated from Samohi.
He has been told he sounds like Ray Romano, looks like Adrian Brody,
is as funny as Aziz Ansari and has the body of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
He has been told he sounds like Ray Romano, looks like Adrian Brody,
is as funny as Aziz Ansari and has the body of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Vikas went to college in San Francisco, spent 10 years working in New York, and now lives in LA,
giving him a true insight into how to advertise to people in the middle of the country.
He was a Creative Director at Hook LA for over 3 years helping them see a growth
of over 87% which during that time included winning a Silver AdAge award for
Midwest Small Agency of the Year in 2020.
giving him a true insight into how to advertise to people in the middle of the country.
He was a Creative Director at Hook LA for over 3 years helping them see a growth
of over 87% which during that time included winning a Silver AdAge award for
Midwest Small Agency of the Year in 2020.
He and his wife have 2 lovely kids, a girl, and a boy—both cute AF.
Vikas has won advertising awards if that kind of stuff gets you excited.
Vikas is an overall good Indian boy
featured in Adweek’s AAPI Creative Spotlight series.
Vikas has won advertising awards if that kind of stuff gets you excited.
Vikas is an overall good Indian boy
featured in Adweek’s AAPI Creative Spotlight series.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2020 – Current
FREELANCE
Creative
Honey, PayPal, EarnIn, Columbia Sportswear @ In Good Taste, Potential Energy Coalition,
Buffalo Wild Wings, GUT, Deutsch LA, 9thWonder, Ventureland, Riester, Fitzco
FREELANCE
Creative
Honey, PayPal, EarnIn, Columbia Sportswear @ In Good Taste, Potential Energy Coalition,
Buffalo Wild Wings, GUT, Deutsch LA, 9thWonder, Ventureland, Riester, Fitzco
2017 – 2020
HOOK
Creative Director
An Ad Age 2020 Small Agency of The Year
2019 & 2020 Adweek Fastest Growing Agencies
Nike, Quibi, YouTube (YT Core, YT Kids, YT TV, YT Gaming), Google, NSAF, Fair, S.P.Y.
2010 – 2017
FREELANCE
Associate Creative Director / Creative Director
Hook (CD), Phenomenon (CD), Goodby Silverstein & Partners (CD),
180LA, 72andSunny, Deutsch, Zambezi, JWT, Team Mazda, WongDoody, Fred and Friends, Lowe CE, BBDO, Y&R, RPA, Goodness Mfg/Deep Focus, Campbell Ewald, SapientNitro, Razorfish, Saatchi & Saatchi,
GOOD Corp, Pro bono [The Rapino Foundation, WIIIN, Hope on a String]
2007 – 2010
JWT
Sr. Art Director
Huggies (Kimberly-Clark), Trident, Stride, Bubblicious (Cadbury), JetBlue, Halls, Macy's, Smirnoff
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Cannes Lions, One Show, YoungGuns, Effies, The Webby Awards,
TBS Funniest Commercials of the Year, Bob Garfield's 10 Best of Year, Creativity Pick of the Day,
Communication Arts, Radio Mercury Awards, Clios, Most Contagious,
D&AD, ANDY Awards, The FWA, Awwwards, Adweek’s AAPI Creative Spotlight Series
TBS Funniest Commercials of the Year, Bob Garfield's 10 Best of Year, Creativity Pick of the Day,
Communication Arts, Radio Mercury Awards, Clios, Most Contagious,
D&AD, ANDY Awards, The FWA, Awwwards, Adweek’s AAPI Creative Spotlight Series
EDUCATION
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA
BFA in Advertising
Minor in Editing
San Francisco, CA
BFA in Advertising
Minor in Editing
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Los Angeles, CA
Visual Communications, Certification of Completion
THINGS I DID AS A KID
Skated with Dogtown Skateboards.
Started Take-em-Out Graphics at 17 years old with a partner, Roger Soto,
and took it from a little design shop to a big-time competitor in the car and club industries.
Community Service: Recognition for 5000+ hours at the Santa Monica Chapter of the American Red Cross. Certified CPR Coach (not anymore).
Started Take-em-Out Graphics at 17 years old with a partner, Roger Soto,
and took it from a little design shop to a big-time competitor in the car and club industries.
Community Service: Recognition for 5000+ hours at the Santa Monica Chapter of the American Red Cross. Certified CPR Coach (not anymore).
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
Because you asked, proof I was once a cool house DJ.
Because you asked, proof I was once a cool house DJ.