Stephen Whittier
Creative + Design Director · Contentious Inc
Brooklyn, NY
In My Own Words
For 20 years Steve has been fortunate to work with many iconic brands while partnering with talented writers, designers, strategists, directors, illustrators, photographers, editors, artists and creative minds. Steve have run both domestic and international accounts in digital, social, experiential, traditional and editorial space. For the last 6 years he has spent his time being on staff and freelancing with some of the top agencies in the country. The previous 11 years Steve served as the VP/CD of Factory Design Labs where he was a partner in the company that built a team that grew from 13 to 147 people in under 10 years. In this time Steve and his teams have won multiple awards at the most prestigious shows in the industry. Cannes. Clios. One Show. Etc...
Outside of work Steve takes photos, rides motorcycles, snowboards, skateboards, runs, play tennis, cycles and tries to remember all the names of his nephew’s and niece’s 14+ kids. If you asked Steve his main goal everyday the answer would be to just be a good person. With his off time he recently published a photography book of the New York subway titled “Ten Feet Away”. In addition he Art Direct ‘s fashion editorials for some of the more avant guarde fashion magazines in the US and Europe. Mostly he just falls on his skateboard all weekend
Work Experience
Creative Director/Founder
Contentious Inc2011 – Present
Recruit a creative network than can consist of at any given time writers, photographers, designers, video teams in the creation of branded content and brand development for clients in the fashion and actions sports industries. Brands: Outdoor TV, Dr Marten, Shoes.com, Lincoln, Dannon, Global Sales Guys, Schoolhouse
Creative + Design Director
Harvest Health & Recreation2019 – Present
Manage all current and new brand creation and marketing for all of Harvest's cannabis and retail brands. Supervise internal client creative teams and outside creative resources as well. Brands. Harvest House of Cannabis, CO2LORS, Evolab, Roll One, CBx Sciences, Dream Steam. Modern Flower
Group Creative Director
Code and Theory2015 – 2015
Lead all creative for Maybelline global social. Led a team of 10 creatives.
Executive Digital Creative Director
Select NY2014 – 2014
Led the team and all creative efforts in the digital space for multiple beauty, fashion and lifestyle brands. Brands: Napapijiri, Fekkai, St John, Macys
North American Creative Director
Y&R/Wunderman2010 – 2012
Creative Director for all traditional, digital and social for Land Rover for North America while also leading the launch of the Range Rover Evoque globally.
Group Executive Creative Director
RGA2012 – 2012
Led creative team and all creative for Nike digital.
VP/Partner Executive Creative Director
Factory Design Labs1999 – 2010
In charge of creative vision and direction for the agency and it's clients. Management of a team of writers and art directors working of a variety of accounts for both traditional and interactive projects. Under my leadership the agency grew gross billings from 1 million to 46 million in 11 years through a combination of new business wins and client growth. Brands: Audi, The North Face, Oakley, Revo, Rawlings, Airwalk, Scarpa, Hot Tuna, Gregory

