Thinking Inside The Box More Creatively with Dan Cohen, Executive Creative Director at Saatchi New York
Any Insights Yet? with Chris Kocek
Any Insights Yet? with Chris Kocek
Thinking Inside The Box More Creatively with Dan Cohen, Executive Creative Director at Saatchi New York
Sep 19, 2024 Season 1 Episode 7
Chris Kocek

Dan Cohen loves a good challenge.

Tell him he can’t say something in a campaign headline and he’ll find a creative way around it, to the delight of clients and customers alike.

Over the past thirty years, Dan’s creative, collaborative approach has helped a wide variety of brands in commoditized categories, including Bounty (paper towels), Charmin (toilet paper), Pampers (diapers), Pepto-Bismol (digestion), and Puffs (facial tissue).

He’s also worked on the other side of the advertising spectrum, re-energizing luxury brands like Rolex, DeBeers, and Bentley. 

No matter what he’s working on though, Dan always manages to find those aha moments hiding in plain sight - in data points, personal experiences, and in casual conversations with his creative teams. 

Some of my favorite aha moments talking with Dan include:

  • The data point that became a powerful springboard for Bounty’s latest campaign 
  • How to build awareness for brands in commoditized categories
  • Charmin’s creative activations in unexpected places like Pottypalooza and Times Square
  • How Gen-Z has upended the traditional approach to linear storytelling
  • The summer job Dan had in college that taught him a valuable lesson


Show Notes:

Below are links to campaigns, books, and other inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Wingmen Gronk & Julian Edelman Spill the Sauce on Their Patriot Days

Lions - Bounty Wingtracker Campaign | The Work

Charmin Restroom Activation in Times Square

Charmin Rollbot at the Consumer Electronics Show

Charmin Toilet Tunes - TikTok

Charmin Toilet Tunes - Spotify

Heinz Tilted Ketchup Label

Dan’s Favorite Recent Book - James by Percival Everett