Hi I'm Nelson, when I was a toddler I got in trouble for doodling on walls, as a teenager I got arrested for the same thing. I've since learnt that my doodles are best suited to ad campaigns.

Menactra
Yonex
Great Western
Xolair
Pilot
Psoriasis
Minions
Alcon

Social Media — Sanofi · 2023

Menactra

Beware of what you share — a grotesquely viral campaign

ClientSanofi
SectorPublic Service Announcement
CategorySocial Media
Year2023
AwardsGold Clio Award
Creative Floor Award
Silver & Bronze London International
New York Festivals Finalist

The award-winning Beware of What You Share campaign for Sanofi Australia raised awareness of meningococcal disease among young adults in New Zealand. Using a twisted take on ASMR, it replaced soothing sounds with unsettling audio to spotlight the risks of sharing in communal living — turning a social media trend into a powerful health warning.

This innovative strategy proved highly effective, garnering over 400,000 views on TikTok, surpassing 813,000 impressions on YouTube, and achieving a 99% view-through rate on digital channels.

"The ads on YouTube are absolutely disgraceful!"— Concerned Parent, Christchurch NZ

Campaign — Yonex Sports · 2024

Yonex

The Woodland Classic — Yonex heritage with a Wes Anderson touch

Yonex Woodland Classic hero
ClientYonex
SectorSports
CategoryCampaign
Year2024
DisciplinesConcepts · Design
Copywriting
Merchandise
Social & Digital

A campaign for Yonex's Woodland Classic activation in Osaka, reimagined the brand through a handcrafted, heritage lens. This whimsical tennis world blends stop-motion aesthetics, autumnal tones, and character-driven storytelling.

With brand world-building to vintage-inspired merch, the campaign brought Yonex's roots to life with nostalgic charm and limited-edition flair. I took the lead on concepts, designs and copywriting across merchandise, social content and digital materials for emails and newsletters.

Branding — Animal Health · 2025

Great Western

Teaching an old clinic new tricks

Great Western Animal Hospital
ClientGreat Western Animal Hospital
SectorAnimal Health
CategoryBranding
Year2025

A fresh rebrand of Great Western Animal Hospital, crafted to match the warmth and trust the community already felt. A modern, approachable look with a tongue-in-cheek tone of voice — paired with eye-catching social content and playful print pieces.

As part of the rebrand, custom car air freshener hangers were created, turning the all-too-familiar dog-car smell into a playful brand moment. Unexpected and shareable, they became a fun piece of everyday marketing — taking the clinic's presence beyond the building and into the backseat.

The result: a modern, memorable brand that's still unmistakably pet-obsessed.

Campaign — Novartis · 2022

Xolair

There's a better way — how far would you go to keep asthma at bay?

Xolair campaign
ClientNovartis
SectorPharmaceutical
CategoryCampaign
Year2022
CGI StudioIllusion

People suffering with severe allergic asthma usually require much stronger medication than your average inhaler. Promoting Xolair meant straying far from the typical happy, smiling stock shots usually associated with pharma advertising — and finding an insight with real cut-through.

That insight: imagine what some people might do to avoid an allergic reaction. Now they don't have to. My first collaboration with Illusion CGI Studio, who were incredible in bringing the vision to life. If you look closely, our mascot Fluffy is hidden in each key visual.

Campaign — FMCG · 2018

Pilot

Tough stuff — introducing Pilot Pen's boldest marker

Pilot Pen campaign
ClientPilot Pens
SectorFMCG
CategoryCampaign
Year2018
DisciplinesConcept
Photography Direction
Retouching

Scribble. Slash. Circle. Correct. Every mark tells a story, and with Pilot, each one hits harder. This campaign helped launch Pilot's most permanent marker — the P-100 — using gritty typography, snappy headlines and a bold key visual.

With a tiny budget, I took the reins on concept ideation, photography direction and retouching to bring this campaign to life. Proof that great creative doesn't need a big spend.

Campaign — Johnson & Johnson · 2025

Psoriasis

The enemy within — attacking the root cause

Psoriasis campaign
ClientJohnson & Johnson
SectorPharmaceutical
CategoryCampaign
Year2025

Psoriasis isn't just skin deep — it's driven by complex internal factors. The Enemy Within reframes the condition not as a surface issue, but as something deeper, hidden, and systemic.

From concept sketch to final render, I directed the visual narrative, characters, and environment to create a hyper-detailed, unforgettable metaphor. The final artwork became the centrepiece of the campaign: dramatic, disruptive, and deeply memorable.

Launch — Universal Pictures · 2015

Minions

Despicably yellow — Minions takeover Sydney

Minions takeover Sydney
ClientUniversal Pictures
SectorEntertainment
CategoryLaunch
Year2015
ChannelSydney Trains · OOH
Public Transport

To launch the first Minions film in Sydney, we teamed up with Sydney Trains to bring the yellow mischief-makers into commuters' daily routines. Custom safety messages blended transport etiquette with Minion humour, turning everyday announcements into playful, high-reach moments.

Using a range of public transport touchpoints to deliver safety messages with Minions' trademark quirk, the usually overlooked messaging came to life — building real buzz before the film hit screens.

Campaign — Alcon Pharmaceutical · 2020

Alcon

Precision1 — life's better without glasses

ClientAlcon
SectorPharmaceutical
CategoryCampaign
Year2020
DisciplinesArt Direction
Copywriting
Storyboarding

A playful, high-energy campaign that puts a cheeky spin on the category cliché. With bold typography, snappy edits, and a self-aware script, this spot reframes contact lenses as more than just a daily essential — they're a precision-engineered confidence boost.

How do you make a contact lens feel like a statement piece? That was the creative challenge behind Precision1: small in size but packed with technology, confidence, and bold personality.

"Art directing a shoot like this in lockdown was no easy task — luckily we had amazing talent and technology that allowed decision-makers around the globe to give us the thumbs up in real-time."— Nelson Stoker

About

I'm an Art Director with big ideas, sharp instincts, and an unhealthy relationship with vintage magazines. I lead teams, love a challenge, and create campaigns that matter.

Nelson Stoker
Ideator· Designer· Storyboarder· Art Director· Tennis Addict· Photographer· Camper· Skateboarder· Bike Builder· Book Collector· Doodler· Ideator· Designer· Storyboarder· Art Director· Tennis Addict· Photographer· Camper· Skateboarder· Bike Builder· Book Collector· Doodler· Ideator· Designer· Storyboarder· Art Director· Tennis Addict· Photographer· Camper· Skateboarder· Bike Builder· Book Collector· Doodler·

Art Direction

I bring ideas to life with clarity, craft and a strong visual point of view. From concept to execution it's about balancing the big picture with obsessive attention to detail. Shaping tone, guiding teams, making sure every frame lands. Whether it's a full brand world, a fast-turnaround TVC or a social post with stopping power, the original idea stays intact.

Campaign Execution

Good work comes from good culture. I try to create a space where ideas can breathe and people can do their best work. With juniors I'm hands-on, with senior creatives I collaborate where needed. Either way, I'm focused on elevating the work and the people making it.

Pitching

I genuinely love the pitch. Getting an idea over the line, turning tricky feedback into something better, reading the room. I keep it real and lose the fluff. Clients should feel like collaborators, not an audience.

Ward7 Senior Art Director
2023 — Present
McCann Sydney Art Director
2021 — 2023
McCann Toronto Art Director
2019 — 2021
Elevate Tech Festival Senior Designer
2019
Sunnylife Senior Designer
2017 — 2018
One For All Designer
2013 — 2017

Journal

Personal work, side projects and things that caught my eye.

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Mild Praise

"I worked closely with Nelson from January 2020 through to March 2021. In a nutshell, Nelson is a keeper. If it were not for his visa expiring, we would never let him go.

His most obvious strengths lie in his conceptual ability and strong design sense. But beyond that, he is a true team player and I know that I can count on him to give me a brilliant result no matter the size of the ask or the timing.

He is well-loved here at McCann Health Canada, we are all sad to see him go and if he ever returns to Canada, I hope he looks us up first." All the best, Sean Riley

Say Hi

Got a brief you'd like to collaborate on? I'd love to hear about it.

hello@nelsonstoker.com

Find me on LinkedIn or follow the work on Substack.