Kai Thomas

Diploma Communication Designer (FH)
Muthesius School Kiel
Armgartstraße Hamburg
 
Online Marketing Manager
HMS Hamburg Media School GmbH

As the owner of ktd.agency, I have been a passionate creative consultant and designer for 16 years, as well as a strategic partner and personal contact person for my long-standing and, of course, new clients.

Vocational stations

Art Director, Teaching & Brose
Senior Art Director, Heuer & Sachse
Senior Art Director, ConradGleyThieme
Creative Director, SelbyNolte DDB
Freelance Art Director
Creative Director and Managing Director, kai thomas design GmbH

What motivates and drives me

What does my passion for fly fishing have in common with my profession as a designer?

First and foremost patience – and lasting practice, training and experimentation. The art lies in the best possible presentation of the fly to outwit the fish. But also the choice of material and bait is important. It is similar with the typical design process. The goal is mostly clear, but the way there is also marked by many decisions. Which layout tool, which software, which fonts, images and colors lead to the goal is also always a learning process, sometimes straightforward, sometimes curvy – but always with a view to the optimal result …

What motivates me to take up the challenge every morning to create an unmistakeable design?

Many years of professional experience, now over 25 years, have taught me that creative work is very much dominated by trends on the one hand, but the blind, unreflected use of trend-driven design is not always the right choice. Rather, it is more important for brand building to create a constant that survives trends. It is really great to see self-created designs that still confirm their relevance in the market years later. Even in the digital world, good strategy-consistent design is an important component in generating attention and lasting interest. For me, the increasingly sophisticated design tools of Adobe Creative Suite are a real driving force. What seemed impossible years ago is now a reality. And experimenting with these possibilities is a lot of fun.

 

REFERENCES BY CATEGORY

Adult education:
ILS Institute for Learning Systems, FEB Fernakademie für Erwachsenenbildung, Hamburg School of Ideas

Financial Services:
ALD Automotive, Aspecta Life Insurance, Car Professional Management, GAM Global Asset Management, Dahler & Company

Food:
Duckstein, Foster’s Beer, Fruitopia, VIO, Minute Maid, RESET-ME, CAPPY, St. Michaelis, Schneekoppe, Hella, Fucking Hell,

Lifestyle:
Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH (Davidoff), Vorwerk Carpet, Fielmann, Bacardi

Technology:
Audi, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Automobile Hamburg, Tesa

Transport:
agilis Eisenbahngesellschaft, BOB Bayerische Oberlandbahn, BRB Bayerische Regiobahn, HAMBURGER HOCHBAHN, HVV, metronom, nordbahn, Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn, Regensburger Verkehrsverbund, BeNEX, cantus, erixx, enno,

Tourism:
Killadangan House, Clare Island Lighthouse, Blue House Westport, White House Westport, Westportrenting, irish digital detox, Red John’s, Land Fleesensee

Publisher:
Jahreszeitenverlag (Vital, A&W Architektur & Wohnen, Der Feinschmecker, Merian), Tomorrow Internet AG, Milchstraße Publishing Group, Bertelsmann (BOL), POPNet Internet AG

Institutions:
Working Group of the Free Welfare Work Hamburg e.V. (AGFW), Kita-Entieg Hamburg, Perspektive Hamburg, Body-Centered Work,

Consulting agencies:
The Link, AdEx Partners, Strategy m, Wirkung Plus, Mami Beteiligungsgesellschaft, IOE, Berg Works