https://robkleckner.com robkleckner Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:34:58 +0000 https://robkleckner.com en https://robkleckner.com/Homepage Tue, 15 Jan 2019 17:04:34 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Homepage Welcome to the official website of Rob Kleckner, an award-winning and frankly very nice creative director and writer. According to a brief Google search that I haven’t independently verified, the soft blue color of this website “mimics an open sky, lowering visual tension and promoting a calm state of mind.“ Is it working?In my career, I’ve become most passionate about building big brand campaigns, helping brands stand out on social, cranking out TV scripts and growing/mentoring creative teams. There’s a lot of work to look at below, but if you’re more interested in some cold, hard facts, here you go: Agencies VML / BBDO / Wieden + Kennedy / Mekanism / Publicis / Leo Burnett Clients Microsoft / Smartwater / T-Mobile / ESPN / Alaska Airlines / Intel / Heineken / AT&amp;T / liquor / cars / cereal / insurance / big tech / small tech / medium tech / etc. Email kleckner@gmail.com https://robkleckner.com/Smartwater Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:34:58 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Smartwater This wasn’t Jennifer Aniston’s first rodeo with Smartwater. But it might have been the (fake) director’s first time near a rodeo. Here are some highlights from this 2025 campaign that put Jen pretty much everywhere -- on big screens, medium screens and the tiny screen in your hand right now. <img width="2100" height="1114" width_o="2100" height_o="1114" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8288e1cf74affd823596e3c7def98a27a6461e09d4ebcc1cbe168a8ff1955c3a/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.56PM.png" data-mid="251969019" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8288e1cf74affd823596e3c7def98a27a6461e09d4ebcc1cbe168a8ff1955c3a/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.56PM.png" /> <img width="1028" height="1242" width_o="1028" height_o="1242" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b56d1a7293bd1f41cc450f75a3cc86753a5a62f1b468e1c24cc197acc2b0e524/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.31PM.png" data-mid="251969017" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b56d1a7293bd1f41cc450f75a3cc86753a5a62f1b468e1c24cc197acc2b0e524/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.31PM.png" /> <img width="1022" height="1244" width_o="1022" height_o="1244" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/575054317d72ec833c616878545a7aec5ede48b9fdd95d6b4cf065dfecd8a10f/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.26PM.png" data-mid="251969016" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/575054317d72ec833c616878545a7aec5ede48b9fdd95d6b4cf065dfecd8a10f/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.26PM.png" /> <img width="1030" height="1248" width_o="1030" height_o="1248" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b8d7ab2bf1cb23c82fdadea9568ca64e2a94716194c9c31fd5a31a9e8a6e1695/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.41PM.png" data-mid="251969018" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b8d7ab2bf1cb23c82fdadea9568ca64e2a94716194c9c31fd5a31a9e8a6e1695/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.53.41PM.png" /> <img width="2094" height="1098" width_o="2094" height_o="1098" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0727cc874a67a8586a99c03fcb9c17059e5b0757418da1d9bbc4f7592f1fdd6d/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.54.13PM.png" data-mid="251969020" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0727cc874a67a8586a99c03fcb9c17059e5b0757418da1d9bbc4f7592f1fdd6d/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-12.54.13PM.png" /> Directors: Jake Szymanski / Sergio CilliPhotographer: Zoey GrossmanRole: GCD and writer https://robkleckner.com/ESPN-This-is-SportsCenter Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:43:38 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/ESPN-This-is-SportsCenter Sometimes, your advertising dreams come true. It was an honor to contribute to ESPN's This is Sportscenter, one of the greatest campaigns of all time. The SportsCenter anchors get new uniforms. Bubba Watson and his caddie come across an obstacle in the office. CC Sabathia and Steve Levy react to Scott Van Pelt's fashion statement. Stephen Strasburg ices his pitching arm at lunchtime. Bubba Watson sharpens golf pencils. Big Red desperately wants to hitch a ride with Brad Keselowski. Pre-show is a little different when Barry Melrose is in the office. All spots directed by David Shane.Role: Writer https://robkleckner.com/Intel Tue, 31 Aug 2021 23:37:11 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Intel To demonstrate Intel’s data leadership from the edge to the cloud, we personified just how far Intel is willing to go to help customers get the most out of their data. These were targeted at companies’ IT decision makers -- so if you don’t understand exactly what they’re talking about, don’t worry. That’s what they pay those folks for. Directed by Dan OpsalRole: CD and writer https://robkleckner.com/T-Mobile-1 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 17:31:48 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/T-Mobile-1 T-Mobile knows people hate scam calls. So they put a stop to them. We told this story through a series of videos featuring Brett Gelman and David Spade. On Instagram, we made stories that felt like scam calls interrupting you as you thumbed through your feed. Goodbye, scammers. &nbsp; Director: Jody HillRole: CD and writer https://robkleckner.com/Microsoft-Social Mon, 07 Aug 2017 17:21:49 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Microsoft-Social I spent a couple years leading a powerful, crafty and downright weird crew of creatives on a pretty wide assortment of work for Microsoft Edge, Copilot, Windows, 365 and more. From unhinged tweets for Edge and unexpected reels for Copilot that did the darn thing of going viral, we pretty much did it all. Somehow one with a dancing snail racked up over 600k views and 70k likes. This is a small selection of that work. Role: Group Creative Director https://robkleckner.com/Intel-1 Sat, 13 Mar 2021 03:34:11 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Intel-1 Simply put, building your IT infrastructure with Intel makes your life a hell of a lot easier. So you can do whatever. These short videos appeared organically and paid on Intel’s social channels. And they very well may be the first Intel videos that don’t feature any Intel tech or products. Shhh, don’t tell the clients. Director: Owen TrevorRole: CD and writer https://robkleckner.com/Alaska-Airlines Mon, 05 Jun 2017 20:08:20 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Alaska-Airlines In 2026, Alaska Airlines went global in a big way. To get people excited and ready to book, we showed them that no matter where or what your travel dreams looked like, Alaska was ready to get you there. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b9172be4b0f10a34128520863c243b9c00fca5eca8a445ce4a0c3e4d8f53edc/AA-2026-BC-SEA-PDX-08_Cherry-Blossom_1920x1080.jpg" data-mid="251965643" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b9172be4b0f10a34128520863c243b9c00fca5eca8a445ce4a0c3e4d8f53edc/AA-2026-BC-SEA-PDX-08_Cherry-Blossom_1920x1080.jpg" /> <img width="2574" height="1306" width_o="2574" height_o="1306" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ab3bad3ca08a13e1827583c38073edea756dc8f432b8334fd638976cca8f9b95/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.39AM.png" data-mid="251966114" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ab3bad3ca08a13e1827583c38073edea756dc8f432b8334fd638976cca8f9b95/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.39AM.png" /> <img width="840" height="400" width_o="840" height_o="400" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/de3a18de3e6635ec7d40262c48f954092b7a0ad53f2f3e22c08af1846d574642/Alaska_360_DOOH_Portland_London-is-Calling-840-x-400.jpg" data-mid="251966117" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/840/i/de3a18de3e6635ec7d40262c48f954092b7a0ad53f2f3e22c08af1846d574642/Alaska_360_DOOH_Portland_London-is-Calling-840-x-400.jpg" /> <img width="2674" height="1230" width_o="2674" height_o="1230" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/960dfc0bc805d63cc83cb40be78261071520f787d5fdbacee58c7c0002e7d31f/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.12AM.png" data-mid="251966116" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/960dfc0bc805d63cc83cb40be78261071520f787d5fdbacee58c7c0002e7d31f/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.12AM.png" /> <img width="2678" height="1426" width_o="2678" height_o="1426" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6be80b899238664c5ce2615d5408e71cc922a9b1cf88d7f877b192302813b743/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.25AM.png" data-mid="251966115" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6be80b899238664c5ce2615d5408e71cc922a9b1cf88d7f877b192302813b743/Screenshot-2026-09-08-at-11.25.25AM.png" /> <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9e26524c448d74096bf1814d3302a636285d207437dbf331c90574844ae747cb/Social-Lie-Flat-Suite-1x1.png" data-mid="251966119" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9e26524c448d74096bf1814d3302a636285d207437dbf331c90574844ae747cb/Social-Lie-Flat-Suite-1x1.png" /> Role: Group Creative Director https://robkleckner.com/Microsoft-Copilot Tue, 20 Sep 2016 16:28:57 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Microsoft-Copilot How do you show people that with the help of Microsoft Copilot, work doesn’t have to feel like work? By showing them it feels like this... Role: Group Creative Director https://robkleckner.com/Bundaberg-Rum Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:51:08 +0000 robkleckner https://robkleckner.com/Bundaberg-Rum Bundaberg Rum is one of Australia's most beloved brands. But until we created this campaign, they'd been using a talking polar bear for 40 years. We figured it was time to explore some of Bundy's glorious history. Director: Mike Maguire Approximately .0002% of the Australian public was outraged that we blew up a fake crocodile. So we apologized. And then we apologized for our apology. The apologies helped earn quite a bit of press around the globe. Not bad for a little Aussie spirit. The Thinking Man's Think Tank was a digital and social extension of our "Thinking Man's Rum" campaign for Bundy. We asked people to submit horrible conundrums and the community was asked to offer their ingenious solutions. The results were turned into short videos. The campaign was launched with this online video: Finally, here’s some print and poster work from the campaign: <img width="495" height="700" width_o="495" height_o="700" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/daa96fdac185930ef977491a126a19c402af035a1d82980f27c1b577ddbd6737/bundymolasses_o.jpeg" data-mid="62003297" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/495/i/daa96fdac185930ef977491a126a19c402af035a1d82980f27c1b577ddbd6737/bundymolasses_o.jpeg" /> <img width="495" height="700" width_o="495" height_o="700" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/398b4aaeb15a94a3cc722d8ab39118c0f5ebd41bf47e541641f398e48659b7e2/bundycane_o.jpeg" data-mid="62003294" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/495/i/398b4aaeb15a94a3cc722d8ab39118c0f5ebd41bf47e541641f398e48659b7e2/bundycane_o.jpeg" /> <img width="495" height="700" width_o="495" height_o="700" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8548f8f7a89d902f90b988a4a3350e639762cea0e2fbed433bd8bfddc3fe58f7/bundyframes_o.jpeg" data-mid="62003296" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/495/i/8548f8f7a89d902f90b988a4a3350e639762cea0e2fbed433bd8bfddc3fe58f7/bundyframes_o.jpeg" /> <img width="495" height="700" width_o="495" height_o="700" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/40524a514557237472d0b2ba53627439643e0b1321ea96c0de1769ccb867e2af/bundycar.jpg" data-mid="62003295" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/495/i/40524a514557237472d0b2ba53627439643e0b1321ea96c0de1769ccb867e2af/bundycar.jpg" /> Role: Writer