Name: Diana Ganea
Place of origin: Denmark
Places lived/worked: Tokyo, Japan; London, United Kingdom.
Pronouns: She/her
CV:
Art director, UltraSuperNew, Tokyo, 2025-present
Art director, Wieden & Kennedy Tokyo, 2021-2024
Junior creative, My Beautiful City, London, 2019-2021
1. How did you end up being a creative?
From young, I knew I was destined for a creative path. Coming from a family rooted in sales and finance, it was clear early on that math wasn’t my strength—drawing was. I won several drawing competitions growing up and developed a deep love for movies, which naturally shaped my academic interests around art and film. Eventually, I pursued a bachelor’s degree in art direction, which gave me the freedom to explore and experiment with a wide range of creative media.
2. What’s your favourite piece of work in your portfolio?
I think one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on so far was the 360 campaign for Samsung with Atarashii Gakko. Not only was it a fully integrated campaign, but we also created some fun and quirky spots that I genuinely enjoyed working on. It was a great experience tapping into fan culture and exploring the idea of fandom pilgrimage in a playful, engaging way.
3. What’s your favourite piece of work created by someone else?
The Kevin Bacon ad for Logitech is an old one, but it’s such a simple, clever piece of work. It still makes me laugh every time I watch it—the script is absolute gold from start to finish. On top of that, the attention to detail in the set design and art direction is spot-on and really adds to the overall charm.
4. What/who are your key creative influences?
Purely from a visual standpoint, I really enjoy watching Tylor the Creator’s music videos—they’re always striking and full of personality. When it comes to social content, I’m a big fan of Gentle Monster’s art direction; it’s consistently bold and imaginative. That said, my tastes are always evolving. As an art director, I constantly need to stay up to date and almost be like a walking encyclopaedia of styles, references, and visual trends. It’s part of the job to keep evolving and absorbing what’s out there so we can bring fresh, relevant ideas to the table.
5. What kind of student were you?
I’ll admit I wasn’t the most diligent student… but things really shifted when I began working on my final major project. That’s when I found my voice and gained a clearer sense of what inspired me creatively. I’d say I was a curious student, always open and eager to absorb new influences and ideas.
6. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Moving to Tokyo during the pandemic in pursuit of a career in advertising.
7. What’s on your bucket list?
Convincing a client to approve a concept exactly as I pitched—with no amendments. Haha, no, if I had to choose, I’d love to direct a music video for someone like Kendrick Lamar… or something wild along those lines.
8. Who’s on your dream dinner guest list (alive or dead)?
It’s a mixed bag. Kendrick Lamar, David Lynch, Marina Abramović, Steve Jobs, Hayao Miyazaki, Takashi Murakami, Hans Zimmer… and many more.
9. What career did you think you’d have when you were a kid?
Painting.
10. Tell us about the worst job you ever had.
Working in a call centre, where my main skill was mastering the art of sounding cheerful while secretly screaming inside.
11. What would you do on your perfect day?
I’d go to the beach with my wife and kids. Dig holes, teach the young one to swim, and soak up the sun. I hate being stuck indoors.
AloJapan.com