Awesome!
Awesome!
I'm an award-winning Creative Director with Nordic roots and international experience. I’ve led, managed and coached multidisciplinary teams delivering global creative strategies, films and experiential.
I’ve also had the fortune to be the executive producer of the critically acclaimed feature documentary film “The Human Shelter” that has been screened at the UN, MoMA and London Design Museum.
I sometimes teach creativity and branding at Hyper Island to the next generation of creators.
Main skills:
Directing // Concepting // Screenwriting // Copywriting // Creative Strategy // Design
Work
Work
THE FEELING OF HELPING THE PLANET
I have been helping Too Good To Go realise an ambitious film project. Shot in Barcelona with the amazing Puerco Production, the film has set a record in being adapted by the highest number of Too Good To Go-partners ever. Made by Too Good To Go Creative Studio. Executive Creative Director: Carl-Emil Jensen. Creative Director: Nikolaj Fremming (me). Head of Video and VFX: Mads Naumann. Director: Joan Cobos. Production: Puerco.tv
Ad of the Day in The Drum UK
💥
Ad of the Day in The Drum UK 💥
7-minutes Branded short film imagines AI advancements
I wrote and directed this 7-minute branded short film that is a commentary on the co-existence of humans and AI-beings. Thanks to an incredibly brave client, Jotex, we’ve been able to create something that is rare in that it doesn’t really feel like advertising. So grateful for the team that contributed with incredible passion and talent: Dancer & choreographer: Marie-Louise Hertog, DOP: Dali Sandic, Photos: Martin Brusewitz/Wei, Set styling: Rasmus Alexander/Wei, Costume design: Julie Svensson, Make-up: Eminah Koçak, Gaffer: PAs Filmkiosk, Stylist & Production: Ivet Haddad, Set build & effects: Elvis, Concrete surfaces: Stuccoitaliano.se, Production: Charlotte Ryding, Music: Shervin Shaeri, Sound design: Audio Nation, Color grade: Mariam Latif, VFX: Asger Kjærholm My role: Creative Director for Jotex, director, writer, caster and co-production.
Celebrating the joys of home for Jotex
This campaign marked my first time as a CD on the client side – and the agency was none other than Forsman & Bodenfors 😬 Together we created four films that capture some of the best moments we can have at home. The challenge was to sheik a balance between something that kinda looks homemade yet with super slick styling and a contemporary look. They ran across SoMe and digital outdoor in eight markets. Client: Jotex. Directed Lina Eriksson. Produced by Jim Elfving & Hanna Krantz. CD: Me. For full credits see under each film.
Animated films for SoMe
For the Swedish furniture brand Jotex I’ve created a series of short animated films. Each film weaves the theme of celebration into the story in a different way. The models are built Ukraine, the animation were made in Denmark and the sound design in London. And I produced and directed from Sweden. CREDITS: Client: Jotex.se. Modeller: Andrew Tsymbal. Animation, light & texture: Sigge Bjerkhof. Sound design & music: Shervin Shaeri/Mutant Jukebox. Concept & Direction: Nikolaj Fremming.
#ThinkSmall – BEST DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IN DENMARK 2021
Small artisan producers have always been an integral part of the Irma chain of supermarkets. Therefore it was natural for Irma to step up when they needed help during the corona crisis. Because without them - there is no Irma. So we thought big by thinking small. We launched #ThinkSmall in the week after Denmark closed down and sold Relief Packages with all income going directly to the small producers. In the campaign we mainly let the small producers do the talking allowing them to express their sincere gratitude. The initiative won gold the Creative Circle Award 2021 and thus became the digital campaign of the year! Made with Sune Overby at Republica.
writer/director of award-winning short film The drama of the drama
What happens if a story can change as it is being told? This short film explores the drama of creating a drama. Through characters unknowingly submitted to the chaotic mind of a filmmaker, we witness the winding road that must be travelled before a story emerges. It received two nominations at the Young Director Award in Cannes and won a silver award at 1.4 Film Festival in London (ahead of a Nike film!). Idea and direction by Me. Script by Niels Kau & Me. Produced by Thirsty/Niels Kau. DOP: Dali Sandic.
making time stand still to dramatise the convenience of shopping online
In the perfect chaos of a family with kids this film dramatise the benefit of simply doing your shopping without having to leave for the store. It was created for digital channels and tv. Agency: Republica. Production: Thirsty.
this FILM for Danish retailer coop will make you wanna dance
This film, produced for digital platforms and tv, aims to dramatise the feeling you get when shopping with the Scan & Pay function in Danish supermarket Coop. It’s such an immersive experience, that you forget the world around you and start shopping to your own beat.
For this idea it was crucial to strike exactly the right balance with the casting and choice of music. And we did. The campaign saw a 100% increase in digital transactions and tested (Millward Brown) as best ever commercial from this company. Agency: Republica. Production: Thirsty.
When Prada is your neighbor and you’re a supermarket
IRMA is the oldest chain of supermarkets in Denmark. To increase the awareness of their store trapped in the basement under high end fashion department store Illum, we presented their most iconic product, the blue coffee, in a way that only a fashion brand would –
with bold simplicity and a bit of attitude: “Everyday fashion by IRMA”. As a physical manifestation we created a giant perfume bottle, Eau de IRMA, made entirely from coffee packs. During Copenhagen Fashion Week we ran Facebook ads. Agency: Republica.
1-hour documentary feature film as executive producer and idea conceiver
This cinematographic expedition around the world exploring the question of "What makes a home?" was three years in the making. Collaborating with acclaimed Danish director Boris B. Bertram and Creative Alliance it was shot in 14 countries across 5 continents. The overall ambition is to make people across the globe reflect upon what defines a home in a world where megacities are growing rapidly, millions of people are displaced due to conflicts – and where climate change and natural catastrophes has become
a part of life in this time of massive global change. The film is made possible by IKEA and had its World Premiere at Copenhagen Architecture Festival in 2018 and has been shown at museums and cultural institutions across the world including the UN, MoMA and London Design Museum. The film is based on an original idea by Nikextension. Agency: Nikextension
Global creative platform & Film for ikea 2019-20
From 6,5 hours of material shot in Stockholm, Kuwait and Bangkok we made this 2 minute film. Made in collaboration with MSL Group and Film de Liberté in Stockholm. Director was Niklas Fröberg and DoP Viktor Kumlin. My role was Creative Director.
Agency: Nikextension
I wrote the creative platform for the IKEA global commercial theme of 2019-20 “Get Ready For Life” together with my team at Nikextension. We were also charged with making a short film that follows three women recharging from the hustle and bustle of everyday life each in their own way.
3.500 SQM experience space nominated for "best show" at milan design week 2017
Creating a major 6-day exhibition launching 400 products and a new global creative direction from IKEA: "Make Room for Life". This was as challenging as it gets in terms of collaborating across companies, silos, nationalities and disciplines on a 100+ people team. My partner and I were in charge of concept, curation, architectural plan, content for LED screens, design and execution of the Democratic Design Challenge competition, the build-up
plus the production and budget thereof. The IKEA Festival received a nomination for "Best Show" in all of Milan by the official organization behind the Milan Design Week (Salone di Mobile) which is a first for IKEA!
Agency: Nikextension. Chief Curator and Architect: Christian Aronsen
films about real people
I've directed quite a few internal films for international clients lately. In all of them we've tried to keep things real. No actors, no models – just real people shot documentary style by a very small crew. This is a small selection of some of the wonderful people we've worked with.
Shot on location in New York, Copenhagen and Mallorca.
Director: Nikolaj Fremming
DoP: Morten Kühl Christensen
Producers: Christian Aronsen & Karen Cecilie Sørensen
IKEA+HAY film. winner at the Lovie awards & shortlisted at the one show
We were tasked with creating a film that would give the first look into a collaboration between IKEA and Danish furniture design company HAY. The main dogma was that we could NOT show any products since they didn't exist at the time of shooting. Talking to the designers we learned that what they had in common was a deep fascination for the raw materials. Thus they became the narrative in this cryptic and surreal choreography.
The film has received a lot of attention and press: Dezeen, Fast Company, Adweek and was featured as Spot of the Week in Lüerzer's Archive. It was also shortlisted for The One Show in 2017.
Made in collaboration with Morten Kühl Christensen of Kühl & Solvstrom (Motion Director/Animation/Concept) and Barkas (Concept). My role was Creative Direction and Concept. Music & sound by Kong Malthe & Jakob Littauer. Agency: Nikextension
Global Creative strategies for ikea
I've assembled and led teams that are responsible for the global creative platforms for 2018 (Make Room For Life) and 2019 (still confidential). We worked directly the global HQ of IKEA.
We've looked at where the world is going through the lenses of social- and cultural anthropology, psychology and common sense. Those findings were then condensed into a inspirational mindset and a methodology that can be used as springboards for the design process and in turn serve as creative briefs for local agencies in all IKEA markets.
To bring the strategies to life and anchor them internally we employ different kinds of methods including workshops, architectural visions and film productions of considerable size. All projects are confidential.
Agency: Nikextension.
Made in collaboration with Barkas, 44 & Karen Cecilie.
social Content created for carlsberg global
A selection of content pieces created with Carlsberg Social Media Newsroom that I helped kick off. The aim is to create engaging content concepts across platforms – more or less at the speed of the internet.
Carlsberg: The Feeling of the Season End. "Editor's Pick" in CREATIVITY magazine
To mark the end of the Premier League season (soccer) in the UK we created a film that dramatizes the emptiness that fans feel when it's over. We also created a countdown site using the visual concept from the movie - a Newtons Cradle made with footballs.
This is a creation from the Carlsberg Newsroom. All work is created within short deadlines and on small budgets - which makes me even more proud of the result. My role: Concept, copy and creative direction.
Agency: Carlsberg Newsroom
The Sound of Freshness - Featured in Google Creative Sandbox
Irma, an old chain of high end supermarkets in Denmark, asked us to raise awareness about its new online shop. The client believed that we needed to communicate convenience. But the real problem with buying fresh products online is that you can’t smell or feel the products through a screen. That's why they had to be at the center of attention.
While smelling and feeling isn’t possible you can still see them, and we engaged another sense: hearing. We asked the musician J.Views to make music with the vegetables and fruits, allowing the products to take center stage and getting people moving to the “Sound of Freshness”.
Artist: J.Views. Agency: Republica
Teaching at Hyper Island
Teaching at Hyper Island
Working with Hyper Island as an INDUSTRY LEADER
"One of the world’s most innovative and digitally driven marketing schools"
— Forbes Magazine
For ten years I’ve had the fortune to collaborate with Hyper Island in Sweden. As an Industry Leader I am responsible for planning and running the modules "Branding & Communication" and “Storytelling in branding”.
I also give workshops on the creative process, concept development, pitching and I am also regularly brought in as an External Examiner.
The aim of my workshop “Create or Die” is to shed some light on the creative process, enabling the students to navigate therein and make the most of it.
I show how results can be achieved through simple proactive methods rather than sitting around waiting for inspiration.
The students are given simple tools to improve their output and are taught how to deal with the pitfalls and ambiguity that comes with any creative process. We explore how to come up with ideas for the next big thing and we strive to discover unmet needs through custom made exercises.
A challenge from a real client is always integrated into the workshops. The latest was adidas NEO (briefing via Skype on the bottom-left photo).
Awards and Honors
Awards and Honors
