ABOUT
Aloha,
My name is Beau Hanson, which thankfully works quite well with this URL.
Most recently, I was a Group Creative Director client side at Credit Karma. I ran several verticals of business, overseeing all creative from emails to TV commercials. Prior to that, I was a Creative at many an agency, both full-time and freelance. My clients have ranged from Apple & Dodge to Shiner Beer & Brookside Chocolates.
I grew up on the most southern tip of Texas, on South Padre Island. Most folks don’t know of it, but it's like growing up in Mexico. Except with a heavy side dish of MTV Spring Break. Throughout my career I have been happy to call Atlanta, Austin, LA and The Bay Area my home.
Now I reside right dab in the middle of the Pacific. Once again, on an island. This time Kauai, HI. I thank my lucky stars everyday for the string of serendipitous events that led me and my family here. And yes, I do indeed farm mangos.
This doesn’t mean I am on “island time”. You know how in the old newsrooms they have all the analog clocks on the wall for each timezone? That’s me now. Long way of saying, I will bust my booty and craft your creative needs in whatever time zone you desire.
Please email me about freelance opportunities, or if you want to discuss the Dallas Cowboys and/or rainbows. 🤙🏼 🌈
CAPABILITIES
• Creative Lead
• Creative Direction
• Art Direction
• Design
• Copywriting - Scripts | Headlines
• Campaigns
• Branding
VERY KIND WORDS
Beau is pretty much the best creative I’ve worked with. He’s funny, smart, has impeccable taste, he works hard, and always has an incredibly positive attitude. Throw anything at him, and he’ll make it shine. Give him a team to lead, and he’ll bring out the best in each of them. You can trust your team, your projects, and your brand with Beau.
- Craig Erickson, SVP Brand & Creative
Beau pisses me off. Not only is he the best all around creative I have ever worked with who concepts award winning ideas on the daily, art directs and designs beautifully and has written some of the most hilarious copy I've ever read—he also manages to be one of the nicest guys on the planet. I mean, what an asshole.
- Rus Chao, Former ECD Credit Karma
I worked under “Aloha” Beau Hanson for a glorious period of time at Credit Karma. As a creative director to his group creative director—he provided me with air, support, keen guidance, encyclopedic brand knowledge, a huge swath of TV skills to crib from, and real partnership.
As the first Black senior director to join the Credit Karma creative team in February of 2021, who I reported to and their sincere commitment to opening up opportunities for creatives who’d historically had less access was a huge priority for me. Beau is the best partner I could have hoped to find. I cannot wait to work with him again. His impact on our team was widely known as “the Beau glow.” Any script he touches, campaign he creates, or team he leads will be funny, human, beautiful—and a pleasure to work on. His natural wellspring of talent brings joy to the craft. It doesn’t get better.
- Kenya Lewis, Creative Director
Beau is an incredibly talented creative director and an even better human. He's able to flex between leading the work, doing the work, and mentoring younger creatives seamlessly. I've found myself staying at jobs longer than intended to be able to work with and learn from him. He cares for everyone around him just as much as he cares about any project he is on. He finds humor in the small things and doesn't take life too seriously. This ability to make every project fun makes the work better and enriches the lives around him. You're lucky if you get the opportunity to work with Beau. Appreciation for good puns is a must.
- Angie McDonald, Brand Design Lead
Beau Hanson is a world class creative who elevates every brand that he works with. I had the pleasure of working with Beau for 5 years at Credit Karma when he was a Group Creative Director. During that time, Beau led several key projects as a creative lead and many others as a group director. What makes Beau so special is not only his creative prowess (which is second to none), but also his ability to think strategically. He is able to get to the heart of any brief and understand the assignment from every elevation. The ideas he comes back with are usually an embarrassment of riches, each poignant, relatable, and impactful.
During his time at Credit Karma, he led some of our most successful campaigns - from the funniest comedy dialogue spots you've ever scene, to the coolest visually driven ads out there. He possesses the rare talent of being both an incredible copy writer and art director, something he does equally well. As a leader, Beau was beloved by his team, helping to bring out the best from his team while guiding the careers of several junior creatives. I can truly say that Beau is the most talented creative that I have ever worked with and will move heaven and earth to be work with him again in the future.
- Slava Basovich, Broadcast Production Manager Credit Karma
If you're thinking about hiring Beau you may be asking yourself, "Self, what does this Beau know?". Allow me to tell you.
Beau knows how to do copy better than most copywriters I know. His mind is like a headline machine and he knows how to help a writer make any project better and more fun to do. Beau knows design. His work speaks for itself, but its really how he works that makes it an experience anyone is lucky to be a part of.
But what Beau knows best is people. I've never had a CD that was better able to get the best out of me. He is kind, he is smart, he's worldly, and fun. He's compassionate and even better he always has a joke that will make you smile even on your worst day. I have laughed against my will at how "punny" he is countless times. He's helped me crack the hardest of copy problems and he's helped me face the blank page with enthusiasm anytime we were working together. He makes it easy to fail in front of him which I think is really the mark of a good creative leader. Because when you can fail without fear you can also succeed without limits.
I also just want to say that as a WOC I have always felt seen and heard and supported by Beau and that's why he's not just one of my top 5 CD's of all time, he's my friend. He listens and he learns and I've made some of the work I'm most proud of with him. He has never made me feel anything other than that I belong on a team and he's a great cheerleader to me as a professional and a person. He's taught me a lot, he's supported me a lot, but I'm not special in that regard. He gives everyone his best and anyone would be lucky to work with him or for him. I hope one day I get to do both of those things with Beau again.
- Iman Omar, Creative Director
Beau is a great problem solver and has the ability to boil things down to simple, and oftentimes, unexpected solutions. He is a team player and a good hearted person. He was always willing to help others "plus" their work. I was sorry to lose him but knew he was going to a great agency. He was missed. He loves the Cowboys. Poor sap.
-Cameron Day, Former Boss at McGarrah Jessee
Beau is creative with low ego and high creative capacity. He's a utility knife that can jump into a situation and do whatever needs to be done --- anything from coaching and mentoring creatives to plus up their work to jumping in and doing the "heavy lifting" needed to get something across the finish line. Would definitely recommend for any company that's looking for a creative with deep expertise and the ability to manage through chaotic times.
- Greg Lull, CMO Credit Karma