james mills
phone: (UK) +447525 066233
(AU) +61 481 439 935
email: jamesalanmills@gmail.com
professional portfolio
2022
In 2021, Sipsmith partnered with globally renowned tennis tournament Wimbledon to assist in building our global credibility and brand fame. The campaign strategy and lead messaging were developed in-house, with creative development split between our in-house team and select agencies. Below is a selection of my work from across the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
LAUNCH
THIS SECOND
OUTING FOR
MR SWAN SEE'S
HIM getting rather carried away during a visit to the iconic wimbledon centre court - all rendered in stop motion
THE PROJECT: WIMBLEDON ATL
mEDIA: TV, OOH, DIGITAL
BRIEF / CLIENT: JAMES MILLS
CREATIVE: OGILVY
THE PROJECT: WIMBLEDON LAUNCH FILM
mEDIA: SOCIAL MEDIA, DATABASE, PRESS
CREATIVE / STORYBOARD: JAMES MILLS
PRODUCTION: MANY MAKERS
ATL
PROJECT: WIMBLEDON welcome
mEDIA: waterloo digiTAL screen
concept: james mills
development: OGILVy
production: ogilvY
Campaign: Wimbledon
1
SOCIAL
this video
was part of an activation both on social media and on-site at wimbledon
THE PROJECT: WIMBLEDON SWANCIERGE
mEDIA: social, youtube pre-roll & PRESS
cREATIVE CONCEPT: JAMES MILLS
DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCTION: LIVEWIRE
THE PROJECT: PERFECT YOUR SERVE 2021
mEDIA: YOUTUBE PRE-ROLL
CREATIVE concept: JAMES MILLS
DEVELOPMENT/ PRODUCTION: ACNE
THE PROJECT: STRAWBERRY SMASH LAUNCH 2021
mEDIA: YOUTUBE PRE-ROLL
CREATIVE CONCEPT: JAMES MILLS
PRODUCTION: MANY MAKERS
2
ACTIVATION / BTL
THE PROJECT: WIMBLEDON ON-SITE 2021
mEDIA: EVENT SPACE
CLIENT CREATIVE LEAD: JAMES MILLS
FREELANCE CREATIVE SUPPORT: tess acheson at studio beam
creative DEVELOPMENT AND BUILD: OCTAGON
THE PROJECT: WIMBLEDON BTL 2020
mEDIA: ON AND OFF TRADE ASSETS
CREATIVE CONCEPT:JAMES MILLS
PHOTOGRapher: jason bailey
design: sipsmith in=house
3
During Christmas 2018 we worked with activation agency Hot Pickle to create a retail experience on London’s Piccadilly. Offering a full-service bar and a masterclass area, the store was designed as a haven from the hustle and bustle outside. The store look and feel, displays, and windows were designed in-house by Sipsmith, with the retail experience, bar design and build by Hot Pickle, with input from Sipsmith.
concept artwork for the front of store alongside the live activation
THE PROJECT: The gin shop
mEDIA: retail space
in-house creative lead: JAMES MILLS
agency: hot pickle (development, experience & build)
The Gin Shop
4
We launched our first non-alcoholic spirit at Sipsmith, FreeGlider, in 2020 and we wanted the product to have a separate identity to the main brand with a focus on the uplifting experience of consuming it, rather than on what was missing (alcohol). This was interpreted literally with a sky-blue look and feel with drinks defying gravity in mid-air.
THE PROJECT: freeglider launch
mEDIA: digital 6 sheets, youtube, social
BRIEF / LEAD CLIENT AND CONCEPT: JAMES MILLS
creative DEVELOPMENT: Ogilvy
photographer: jonathan knowles
SOCIAL
LAUNCH
THE PROJECT: freeglider image
mEDIA: organic social
styling: james millS
photographer: macgregor marshfield
in-store
the swancierge WAS A JOINT 'DRY JANUARY' ACTIVATION WITH THE PUBLICATION SHEERLUXE
THE PROJECT: freeglider swancierge
mEDIA: activation on social and press
CONCEPT & STORYBOARD: james mills
film production: many makers
FreeGlider
ACTIVATION
5
THE PROJECT: WHOLE FOODS KENSINGTON WINDOW
CONCEPT: JAMES MILLS
DESIGN: SIPSMITH
PRODUCTION: 3rd party
the london skyline was handcrafted out of card & paper, with the river thames recreated with juniper berries
The 3d mirrored geode refracted the screen behind it to give the impression of infinite swans for Selfridges 2019 "Future Fantasy Christmas"
window
THE PROJECT: SELFRIDGES OXFORD STREET WINDOW
BRIEF & CONCEPT: JAMES MILLS
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN: OGILVY
PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT: CLEMENTS CREATE
Brand Displays
6
Mr Swan was the first ATL campaign from Sipsmith. The character was designed to embody the wit, charm and humour that is intrinsic to the brand's personality. The entire film is stop motion animation - mirroring Sipsmith's handcrafted distillation process. Mr Swan's jacket even has inside pockets - true attention to detail.
Mr Swan was
sipsmith's first major atl campaign and after a VERY positive INITAL reception, the character has become a figurehead for the brand globally
THE PROJECT: Mr Swan
mEDIA: CINEMA, TELEVISION, VOD, PRINT
BRIEF / LEAD CLIENT: JAMES MILLS
creative DEVELOPMENT: Ogilvy
mr swan explores
the usa in this bespoke
creative for a non-uk
market
THE PROJECT: ACROSS THE POND
mEDIA: SOCIAL AND YOUTUBE PRE-ROLL
BRIEF / LEAD CLIENT: JAMES MILLS
creative DEVELOPMENT: Ogilvy
Mr Swan
7
PAUL SMITH
This collaboration with Paul Smith was launches exclusively in Selfridges, the design encapsulating the handcrafted nature of both brands.
THE PROJECT: PAUL SMITH COLLABORATION
mEDIA:PHOTOGRAPHY, IN-STORE DISPLAY, EVENT ASSETS
IN-HOUSE CREATIVE LEAD: JAMES MILLS
DESIGNER: SIPSMITH IN-HOUSE TEAM
READY-TO-SIP
This 'ready-to-sip' G&T in a can was launched in major train stations across the country to appeal to the British love of countryside picnics.
THE PROJECT: READY-TO-SIP G&T CAN
mEDIA: SOCIAL, 6 SHEETS, STORE DISPLAY
CONCEPT / CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT:
JAMES MILLS
ILLUSTRATOR: LIAM O'FARRELL (FREELANCE)
FURTHER PRODUCTION: SIPSMITH IN-HOUSE
Launches
8
Thank you
phone: (UK) +447525 066233
(AU) +61 481 439 935
email: jamesalanmills@gmail.com