My first idea was my worst one

When I was a kid, I thought filling Super Soakers with fruit punch was a great creative idea. It had peak strategy behind it and solved two problems:

1. My brother and I had an epic battle (Boredom cured)

2. It was delicious (Thirst quenched)

The downstairs neighbor called the cops after “blood” started dripping through her ceiling.

…I’ve refined the approach since.

Today, I wear dry clothes to work, and I’m a creative leader with over a decade of experience helping brands find their voice—and pushing them to do something bold with it.

I believe in what I call Radical Utility: ideas that don’t just say something, but do something—work that earns attention by being genuinely useful, culturally relevant, and hard to ignore. This lens of thinking is what I rely on when the brief isn’t there yet—or when a stat needs to become an unforgettable insight.

I’ve built award-winning work with teams at Leo Burnett, R/GA, FCB, Edelman, and Whirlpool—by pushing for sharper thinking, stronger points of view, and ideas that can actually hold up in the real world.

When I’m not working, I’m at the beach with my Australian Shepherds or playing Magic: The Gathering at a local game store.

Things I like: cheap beer, good books, fluffy dogs, fruit punch
Things that scare me: ornery downstairs neighbors, bears

Reach out: jdessworks@gmail.com