About Us
We’re a highly experienced, creative agency that combines creativity with pragmatism gained from years of experience in what was previously known as ‘above the line advertising’. We’re grounded in best-practice marketing philosophy gained from years of experience doing business with multi-national companies and award-winning advertising agencies on a wide range of international blue-chip brands. We’ve also been very fortunate to have worked with some of the very best international award-winning film production companies, media and digital companies, photographers, illustrators, art directors and copywriters. This has spoilt us for doing the ‘ordinary’. Having worked on many brilliant marketing strategies and in a variety of FMCG, retail and corporate categories, we’re able to quickly understand market segments and deliver relevant, fresh, exciting, results-driven creative solutions in today’s digital communication channels. We place a lot of emphasis upon doing our ‘homework’ well, before trying to ‘take over the world’. Experience has taught us that good research data, combined with marketing opportunity and a good brief, delivers good results. There is no ‘magic wand’ or short-cut to business growth.
THE OWNERS
Chris Casalena (Italian) is the founder member & brings 30 years of advertising experience with him. Chris, a former musician, built his career in some of the most awarded advertising agencies in South Africa and the UK. His creative leadership and fanatical drive for excellence inspired many creative departments he headed up, to create advertising that resulted in brands and businesses to grow exponentially. He earned the respect of his peers by winning over 50 major local and international advertising awards. He believes that to create impactful advertising you need to enjoy people and understand what motivates them – it’s key to creating brand loyalty and builds profitable brands. Chris spearheaded concepts and strategies, creating national advertising campaigns for Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt & Colman, Liptons, Elida Ponds, and brands like Mercedes Benz, Honda, Ford, KLM, British Airways and Standard Bank. At Imagine Creative Services, Chris currently works with a wide range of clients from South Africa, UK, France and USA in the Retail, Hospitality and Corporate industry.
Ellen Casalena (Co-owner) Ellen is a senior art director, designer, illustrator, painter, box packaging sculptor, photographer, finished artist & magician, having gained experience in many award winning advertising and design agencies. She thinks ‘out of the box’ and has the ability to ‘realise’ anything you can think of. Her sunny personality and enthusiasm mixed with a perfectionistic streak ensures that high production standards are maintained. Chris & Ellen met in the advertising and design industry and celebrate their 40th anniversary this year….and yep, they do enjoy working together. In her spare time, Ellen does oils on canvas and runs a small art club in Cape Town. View her website here
