FORBES
Forbes 30 Under 30
NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR
Young New Zealander of
the Year Finalist (1 of 3)
D&AD
Ones to Watch
ART DIRECTORS CLUB * EUROPE
High Potential
CANNES LIONS RANKINGS
#4 Art Director in the world
WARC
#1 Most Awarded Campaign
for Media in the World 2023
CANNES LIONS
30under30: Creative Academy
CAMPAIGN ASIA
40 Under 40
Léon Bristow is a multidisciplinary creative born in France and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand.
He’s a big believer in challenging systems to support our historically marginalised, and building environments that encourage play, growth, belonging, and excellence.
Early in his career, Léon was named a D&AD New Blood “Ones’ to Watch”, before being ranked the 4th Best Art Director in the world at Cannes Lions, and the first New Zealander in a decade accepted into the Cannes Lions Creative Academy.
In his spare time he’s been rejected from drama school six times. Travelled to 16 countries, lived in four. Received a standing ovation. Forgotten a language. Been granted a wish. Acted in a Scarlett Johansson movie. And, never liked coffee.
This year, Léon was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
COLENSO BBDO
Art Director
BEINGS
Founder & Director
CANNES LIONS
Creative Academy
C14TORCE
Global Jr. Art Director
ROYAL COLLEGE OF ARTS
Editorial Design
MEDIA DESIGN SCHOOL
Creative Advertising
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
& STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, NP
Cultural Anthropology
& Theatre
EXPERIENCE
CANNES LIONS
Grand Prix (1)
Gold (2)
Silver (4)
Bronze (2)
D&AD
Yellow (2)
Wood (2)
ONE SHOW
Gold (1)
Bronze (2)
AWWWARDS
Site of the Day (1)
Developer Award (1)
CLIOS
Gold (2)
Silver (1)
LONDON INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Grand Prix (1)
Gold (4)
EFFIE
Gold (3)
Silver (2)
SPIKES
Grand Prix (2)
Gold (3)
Bronze (1)
AWARDS
SELECT BRANDS
Under Armour
Sony Pictures
Samsung
Disney
All Blacks
NZ Fashion Week
Mars
Volkswagen
SELECT SPEAKING
International Federation of Actors
Cannes Can: Diversity Collective
Art Directors Club *Europe
The Kings Trust
Auckland University of Technology
Victoria University of Wellington
University of Auckland
Diversity Works NZ
AND SOME
Show Me Shorts Festival Judge
Axis Awards Shadow Judge Student Job Search Board
Rainbow Equity Board
SELECT PRESS
Forbes
Lions Daily News
D&AD
Radio New Zealand
Little Black Book
Campaign Asia
M+AD
Listener
Te Ao Māori News
“If you want a creative that will just get the job done and not push any boundaries then Léon isn't for you. He has the great ability to find true insights and turn them into eyeball grabbing ideas that are beautifully crafted.” — Haylie Craig, Associate Creative Director at LEGO
“Léon has a natural instinct for effortlessly marrying provocation with incisive, clever, culturally grounded, witty, and chic editorial design. A smile in the mind. As his coach, it’s been a pleasure to see him grow and refine his concepts. A perfect poach.” — Ritesh Gupta, Founder & CEO of Useful School