Member in the Spotlight: Tolga Büyükdoganay

This Monday we turn to Member Tolga Büyükdoganay, Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy | Social.Lab. After studying Graphic Design in Istanbul, Tolga has since been dotting around the European creative scene and has accumulated more than 20 years of experience under his belt. Through a selection of both personal and professional questions, we get to know Tolga a bit better and find out about his music and YouTube side hustles, what his top tips are to be creatively inspired, and learn which creative he turns to to put a smile on his face.

As the Club for Creativity, we'd like to ask you to get creative and draw a self portrait.

I asked my daughter to help me on this. I think she did a good job.

PERSONAL

Do you own a collection and if so, what is it?

I am a proud owner of a little guitar collection. I’ve got around 10 guitars, all signature series of my favourite players such as: Guthrie Govan, Yngwie Malmsteen, Gary Moore, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I can hardly stop investing in more of them.

What technology could you not do without?

We have two Alexas at home and the more you use them, the more you need them. From lights to heating to music, all through Alexa. I think it would be too hard to go without them anymore.

What music could we find on your favourite playlist?

I actually create music under the name BDA, so you will find my own singles and all kinds of different music. I listen to genres from Trash Metal to Rock, from Blues to Jazz, all the way to IDM and even the tackiest of pop songs. Sounds like I have no taste but I think I do, a little.

Who is your style icon?

As I become a bit older, my icons change as well. I tend to copy Nick Wooster here and there. But ssshhh don’t tell anyone.

What object could you never part with?

My Shimano Stradic fishing reel and rod. I can’t leave home without them.

If you didn't live in the Netherlands, where would you live?

I’ve lived in quite a bit of Europe already but I really like the Netherlands. As my ancestors are from Portugal, I could also see myself living there as well and enjoying pastel de natas everyday. The weather wouldn’t hurt also.

Who is your current art/design crush?

There are too many at the moment but I tend to look at Xtian Miller’s work now and then, also Lucas Grassmay. To put a smile on my face, I check out Pablo Rochat.

PROFESSIONAL

Which phase of the creative process excites you the most and why?

Concepting of course. I like to come up with new ideas all the time, read the brief and find different solutions, how can you not like that?

What makes a great or hero client?

A client who takes a little bit of risk now and then.

If you weren't working in the creative industry, what else would you be doing?

I could be a mediocre musician or a very good fisherman. I have a YouTube fishing channel called Merman Fishing. Maybe a YouTuber as well, why not?

What professional skill do you value the most?

I admire people who never give up, and who always come up with a new solution to the same old problem. A little bit of fun as well, no idea if that is professional, but I love that.

How do you learn in the best/most effective way?

I like to learn either by doing or by watching someone else do what I am trying to learn. That is why I watch so much YouTube – you can learn how to be a great BBQ chef in just 6 minutes and 45 seconds there.

If you could pick one recent campaign/project that makes you think, ‘I wish I’d done that’, what would it be and why?

I mean that Moldy Whopper was a big thing this year. All of our years of thinking ‘show your product at its best’ were thrown out of the window. I wish I’d done that because, unlike most of advertising, this will be remembered for a very long time.

What top tips do you have to help people get creatively inspired?

To inspire yourself, don’t only look at good work, also look at the bad. There is a lot to learn from mistakes and lucky perfections.

What’s the first thing you do when starting a new project?

Nowadays I start an online deck. Rona changed the way we work and collaboration is now bigger than ever.

Through our Members in the Spotlight feature, we aim to get to know both professionally and personally the unique qualities of our ADCN Members. If you would like to join ADCN, the Club for Creativity, you can find out more here.