I am a creative director in tech and gaming.
I spent six years of my professional life developing and maintaining the brand identity of a start-up tech unicorn.
I directed, produced and designed the narratives of a number of high profile gaming projects. that's been featured in international press publications such as; The New York Times, BBC, The Telegraph and many more.
One of our gaming projects was even mentioned in the UK's House of Lords.
I have worked with small and large businesses including Microsoft, Mojang, Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, Royal Foundation, Tate Gallery and Museum of London to name a few.
Expertise
- Branding & Visual Communication
- Digital Storytelling
- Creative Project Management
- Content Visualization & Execution
- Production Design
- Educational Gaming Evangelist
- Data Driven Multi Platform Narrative Design
- Creative Mentoring
History
Creative Director
Noz Studios 2013 - Present
Creative Director
Wandering Wizards, 2017 -2020
Senior Project Manager
Red Dog 2011-2013
Creative Director
Mimecast 2005 -2011
Game & Experiences design
A small selection of games and experiences I designed or have been involved in.
Mimecast is a rare tech unicorn that sold for approximately $ 5.8 billion in 2022. I reworked and refreshed the brand and creative direction. I was critical in strategizing and creating visuals for new territories that adhered to local narratives and policies.
Brand Spotlight:
MIMECAST
Johan is the creative force behind many marketing initiatives Mimecast has undertaken during its meteoric rise .
James Blake , CISO
Wandering Wizards is a gaming brand and was a joy to work with. Artists were commissioned to create a unique set of characters that embodied each of the primary members. A brand was then built around it.
The idea was that each persona had a mini brand and brand colours that linked into a homogenous whole.
Brand Spotlight:
Wandering Wizards
Digital Goods / Vanity Items
Personal NFT Project
Symposiums & Apearances
Cyberport, Hong Kong
This symposium brought together leaders, educators and influencers in the Minecraft domain from different parts of the world to share cross-cultural knowledge and experience with our local educators, industry practitioners and users. How Minecraft will empower coding, STEM education, as well as A.I. will be thoroughly discussed. The power and unlimited potentials of Minecraft in education and unlimited are to be unleashed from it!
Sonar +D, Barcelona
In this session, led by Adam Clarke and Johan 'Dragnoz' Kruger, emphasis will be placed on two key factors: curiosity and play, and how Minecraft is the ideal tool for building a global creative community. It will also explore why it is important to think about the potential of videogames as an agent of positive change in the world.
Digital Education
Show,
Johannesburg
Games use a language that kids understand It’s a world that, to a great extent, they can control. A world that makes sense to them, a world where they understand the rules.
Educators are realising that by embracing this world our kids inhabit, they gain access to unprecedented learning opportunities.
Moderator
& Panelist
A number of the projects I've worked on has been featured in several international publications.
Here are a few notable ones:
Press
Johan always pushed the boundaries to explore new ideas, and together I have to say we produced some of the most amazing work. If you have the opportunity to work with Johan, grab it with both hands.
- Lara Irwin, Head of Field Marketing EME
Testimonials
He has a very clear vison on what is required to make a lasting impression and perhaps most importantly understands the new ages mediums.
- Al Kenny, GM
Johan is the creative force behind many marketing initiatives that Mimecast has undertaken during its meteoric rise over the past several years. He has the ability to both conjure compelling ideas and deliver the required creatives. Johan also works well with other creatives in a group to nurture ideas and develop consensus
-James Blake , CISO
The project was a themed world in Minecraft associated with in-store collectable cards. Johan's passion and drive resulted in on-time delivery and support for this component of the national digital campaign. His multi-vendor collaborators were geographically spread around the globe, with agency leads from Sydney Australia
- Adrian Brightmoore, Account Executive
Full of energy and passion, Johan keeps everyone on their toes to achieve the best possible result.
- Samantha Stone, CMO
I've worked closely with Johan as guardians of the brand which has evolved over the years to meet the changing business positioning and messaging - a tough role in such a fast-paced and growing startup.
He's truly creative and always delivers. Everyone needs a Johan on their team.
- Sarah Kok , UK Marketing Manager
Johan demonstrated a strong understanding of both game development and the importance of wildlife conservation. He was able to effectively blend the two, creating a game that was both fun and educational. His creativity and attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the game, from the graphics to the gameplay mechanics.
- Peter Jacobs, Head Of Product