Hi, I’m Derek

I’m a Creative Director and Copywriter based in the SF Bay Area.

I’ve spent 12+ years working both in-house and at agencies, navigating the creative chaos of each without crashing out. My approach is relentlessly strategic: I turn complex product logic into narratives that are impossible to skip. I don't just solve the brief, I find the human truth in categories that don't have a playbook yet.

I’m known for two things: being the person with the most concepts, and the most likely to kill them to make way for the best work. I use AI to accelerate the messy part of making things so the human idea can lead.

I'm originally from LA, though I don't surf or know anyone famous. But I did accidentally buy McLovin a tank of gas once.

Likes: The delete key, tiki bars, blind taste tests, building tiny gaming PCs, and moonlit walks in the Tenderloin.

Dislikes: The phrase “it is what it is,” Unnecessary Initial Caps, the fact that Sean Bean's name doesn't rhyme, and whoever the hell owns detayl.com.

DEREK TAYLOR

Creative Director
Gen Digital July 2023 – Jan 2026
Creative Director
NortonLifeLock June 2019 – July 2023
Associate Creative Director
Symantec Feb 2018 – June 2019
Senior Copywriter
Cutwater SF Oct 2016 – Feb 2018
Senior Copywriter
Duncan Channon Sept 2013 – Sept 2016
Copywriter
Miami Ad School
Copywriting Program
Art Center at Night
Pasadena Art Center
UC Riverside
BA, Creative Writing & Economics
Tech Google, Adobe, Norton, LifeLock, Avast, Avira, StubHub, Prosper, Auction.com/Ten-X, Outset
Food & Beverage Peet's Coffee, Pop Secret, Kona Brewing Company, Diamond Foods, Yogi Tea, Redhook, Sonoma-Cutrer
Packaged Goods Brawny, Sparkle
Healthcare John Muir Health, MDsave
Travel Tahoe South
ANA In-House Excellence
Grand Prize Social Media
Graphis
Gold (8x), Silver (1x)
SF ADDY
Gold (2x), Silver (9x), Bronze (∞)
ANA Reggie
Bronze (1x)
Clio
Bronze (1x)

HUMAN CONTACT IS GOOD FOR YOU