On My Radar: Kris Smith

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?

I love the simplicity of the latest Sonos work (Listening Fails). As a music lover and hater of tangled cables, it speaks to my soul.

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?

ESPN. I love American sports (NFL Football, baseball, NBA) and I always go there to get my fix.

Pitchfork Music is another one I use daily. Not only is the content fantastic, the UX and design is killer. 

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?

I bought a used iPod for my daughter. Apple Music has changed her life! My parents were always really open and encouraging about me discovering music from a young age and this had a profound effect on me. I want to pass that on.

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?

I dig Instagram. I’ve always been a visual person. I’ve never been able to get into Twitter. Facebook has evolved into politics and baby pictures.

What’s your favourite app on your phone and why?

Duolingo. It’s super-usable and the lessons are the perfect size, especially when I’m on-the-go. Now that I’ve been in Amsterdam for eight years, I need to up my Dutch game.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

The wife and I usually pick a series and watch it together. Ray Donovan [below], The Killing, Peaky Blinders and Fargo are recent faves. The combination of great writing, suspense and brutal violence usually do it for me.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

The Big Lebowski. It appeals to my California sensibilities, taste for White Russians and affection for Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Where were you when inspiration last struck?

I recently attended a seminar on the future of personal mobility and found it extremely inspiring. As the world becomes more urbanised, the way in which we get from point A to point B is rapidly changing.

You see it already with Uber, the sharing economy, Boris bikes [below] and self-driving cars. It’s a perfect storm of user-centric design, environmental impact and disruptive business models.

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?

Being a digital guy, it has to be the invention of the smartphone. On the horizon, virtual reality is showing what will be possible in the coming years. Did you see the Facebook Oculus Connect Event? Insane.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

The egos. Some of us need to get over ourselves.

What or who has most influenced your career and why?

The opportunity to do amazing work with talented people has always been my guiding light. There are a few folks who’ve made a great impact in my career. I’ve tried to steal a little from each along the way.

The journey that’s led me to MediaMonks has been a great ride. I’m excited about the years to come.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…

I was on Rock n’ Roll Jeopardy. I’m undefeated.