Chris Davey.
Creative Design Director, Leader, Collaborator, Mentor, Educator, Speaker, Dreamer, Doer, Maker, Cap Lover*
Hi there 👋
I’m a Design and Creative Leader with 20+ years creating award-winning, strategic work that helps brands and services connect with people through the power of design, creativity, experience, and innovation.
I’ve built teams, agencies, and brands. I was an Associate Board Director and Head of Creative at Whitespace, which was acquired by Dentsu Isobar in 2019 and later became Dentsu Creative. There, I became the UK Head of Design, building and leading a multi-award-winning design team across London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
Now, I’m looking to help agencies, brands, and businesses dream up, craft, create, and bring the next great thing to life.
I’ve worked as a designer, interaction and flash designer, digital design director, creative director, agency leader, and founder. As one of 6 partners and Head of Creative at Whitespace, I contributed to its growth to become one of the most respected full-service creative and design agencies in Scotland before it became Isobar and then finally Dentsu Creative in 2022.
Visit my Linkedin
Experience
Creative Design Director, Leader - 2025 to now
UK Head of Design, DC - 2024 to 2025
Joint MD & Head of Creative (Edinburgh), DC - 2023 to 2024
Head of Creative, DC - 2022 to 2023
Head of Creative, Isobar - 2020 to 2022
Associate Board Director & Head of Creative, Whitespace - 2017 to 2020
Creative Director, Whitespace - 2014 to 2017
Digital Design Director, Whitespace - 2010 to 2014
Senior Designer, Whitespace - 2007 to 2010
Freelance Designer - 2006 to 2007
Designer, Sketch - 2003 to 2006
Junior Designer, Engine Creative - 2001 to 2002Awards
I consider myself very, very lucky to have worked with incredibly talented people throughout my career. Every piece of work I have been involved in is the result of intense collaborative effort. I’m credited in close to 100 awards, shortlists and nominations, whether through direct involvement, or as a creative leader empowering the environment for ideas to flourish - it took many others to make it all happen through teamwork, grit and passion.
In 2021, I was named a Change Maker and one of the UK’s most influential people working in digital and creativity as part of the BIMA 100 and in 2022, I was ranked 6th in the Top 25 Digital Design Directors for Creative Pool.
x1 D&AD - Wood Pencil
x1 Lisbon Ad Fest - Gold
x1 Lisbon Ad Fest - Bronze
x3 The FWA - SOTD
x1 LIA - Bronze
x1 Creative Pool - Silver
x2 Creative Pool - Bronze
30+ Scottish Design Awards
30+ Scottish Creative Awards
x3 Roses Awards - Gold
x2 Roses Awards - Silver
x3 Roses Awards - Bronze
x8 The NODS Creative Awards
Creative Edinburgh Awards
Awwwards - Commendation
BIMA 10 - Daydream Believers
BIMA 100 - Changemaker Award
Ranked 6th in the Top 25 Digital Design Directors on Creative Pool 2022
hundrED Top 100 K12 Education Innovations - DDB
Global Dimensions Top Resource 2022 - DDB
-
The One Show - Shortlist
Kinsale Sharks - Shortlist
DMA Awards - UX - Shortlist
Creative Edinburgh Awards - Leader - Nomination
Many, many, many other shortlists!Over the years I have been a judge for The FWA (and still am!), AdForum PHNX Awards, The Lisbon Advertising Festival, BIMA 100, D&AD New Gen Awards, The Scottish Design Awards, The Drum Cream Awards and Marketing Society Awards as well as involvement with Adobe Behance Portfolio Reviews and D&AD New Blood Mixer.
Juries
Ongoing - The FWA2025 - AdForum PHNX
2025 - Scottish Design Awards
2024 - AdForum PHNX
2023 - DMA Awards - AR, VR, Innovation, Technology
2023 - Lisbon AdFest - Design
2023 - D&AD New Gen Awards
2023 - AdForum PHNX
2022 - BIMA 100 - Tech Innovation
2022 - AdForum PHNX
2020 - AdForum PHNX
2021 - dentsu Creative Link Awards
2021 - Lisbon AdFest - Film/Campaign/OOH
2019 - 2023 - BIMA Creative Council Member
2017 - Glasgow Design Festival Scotland (GDFS)
2014 - The Drum Cream Awards - Design
2012 - Marketing Society Star AwardsNextGen
I believe hugely in the next generation of young creative talent and have started and am involved in many initiatives across Scotland and the UK.
I am a founding creative partner and a director for the incredible award winning not for profit Daydream Believers, a program which is bringing Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Creativity into schools, and was recently awarded as being one of the top 100 K12 Education Innovations in the world by the hundrED.
Learn more about the incredible Daydream Believers initiative at www.daydreambelievers.co.uk
What folk say
“Smart, passionate and a brilliant creative mind”
— Alex Hamilton, Innovation Director, Dentsu Lab
“He balances guidance with compassion, consistently providing opportunities for others to take the lead”
— Ruth Bucknell, VP Experience Design, Merkle
“Throw him into any situation, and he thrives”
— Adam Wilson, Principle Designer, Skyscanner
“He is both talented AND nice. A rare combination”
— Rachael Ford, Head of Brand and Digital, Rathbones