Stephen Gates

About Stephen Gates

Stephen Gates started learning design before he could read — at age two, on his father\'s letterpress in Pittsburgh. He never graduated from college. He has been laid off three times, had the electricity shut off, and was evicted from his first apartment when his agency folded without warning. He would also like you to know that Apple has featured his work in 10 keynotes, and has won over 150 international design awards. Most people only want to hear the second part. Stephen will give you both. For more than 30 years, Stephen has built campaigns, brands, and digital products that do not just win awards — they change what companies are capable of. His career has run through McCann Erickson, Starwood Hotels, Citi, and InVision, where he led global design organizations that blended research, strategy, and craft into work that worked. His clients have included American Airlines, Disney, Verizon, W Hotels, ExxonMobil, and Old Navy. The output has earned 150+ international design awards. Apple, apparently paying attention, has featured his work in 10 keynotes, 4 television commercials, and the Human Interface Guidelines. Today, he runs CRZY, an independent strategy and design studio built for founders and brands that are done with comfortable work that gets ignored. The work spans brand strategy, visual identity, digital experience, and much more. Clients have included Metallica, Pernot Ricard, Kenny Chesney, Code and Theory, and others who needed more than a refresh — they needed a rethink. He also hosts The Crazy One, an award-winning podcast on creativity, leadership, and building a career worth having. It has been named Inside Design\'s number one design podcast, HOW Design Live\'s number one leadership podcast, and a Webby Award Honoree. Spotify ranks it in the top 5% of globally shared podcasts. Listeners in over 160 countries have given it five stars. Stephen speaks at SXSW, Adobe MAX, HOW Design Live, and events worldwide. He has donated more than minutes to free mentoring sessions. He co-founded the Pittsburgh chapter of ADPList, and serves on the Webby Awards jury and General Assembly\'s Career Standards Board. Creativity is what he does. Pittsburgh is where we come from. He takes both seriously.

Experience

1. Founder Chief Creative Officer

   Crzy Strategy And Design Studio

   May 2022 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA, US

   CRZY isn’t just a strategy and design studio - it’s a revolution. Born from the mind of global design leader Stephen Gates and his crew of fellow visionaries, we believe that real creativity demands boldness, risk, and trust. We live for those moments when the world says, ‘That’s impossible,’ and only prove them wrong.With a wealth of experience leading some of the biggest brands on the planet and partnering with the most daring founders, disruptors, and visionaries, we’ve forged a new way of doing things. We bring our unapologetically unique style to branding, advertising, digital experiences, and products. Because to transform businesses, you can’t just think differently - you have to be CRZY.We help brands with- Business, product, and brand strategy- Digital product, advertising, and brand designCLIENTS INCLUDE: Metallica, Code & Theory, Bethpage Financial, Blackened Whiskey, NED Bank, Abercrombie and Fitch, Pernot Ricard, Sonesta Hotels, Strawberry Frog, Rabbit Hole, Health, Prudential, Coca Cola, and more.These visionary partners trusted us to ignite their passion, connect with their audiences, and turn bold ideas into reality. Together, we’ve crafted brands that don’t just make a mark—they transform industries. It’s been our privilege to guide them toward a long-term vision, while celebrating every milestone along the way. Every success story is a testament to the power of partnership, belief, and the magic that happens when we push boundaries together.

Education

• Syracuse University

  Studied, Computer Graphics

  1991 — 1995

Skills

• Brand Development
• Mobile Applications
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Online Marketing
• User Experience (UX)
• Art Direction
• User Interface Design
• Thought Leadership
• Mobile Devices
• User Interface
• Advertising
• Interactive Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Digital Strategy
• Public Speaking
• Social Media Marketing
• Web Design
• Corporate Branding
• Strategy
• Integrated Marketing
• Online Advertising
• Design Thinking
• Creative Strategy
• Leadership
• Typography
• Mobile
• Interactive Advertising
• Social Media
• Creative Direction
• User Experience
• Content Strategy
• Experience Design
• Information Architecture