my name is Steve O’Rourke; a freelance creative director, creative strategist, and copywriter working with some of the world’s biggest brands.
i’m currently available for freelance enquiries.
based in Dublin, Ireland, i work with brands from all around the globe.
for highlights, keep scrolling. or, if you’d like a deeper dive, please click here.
Diageo
as the creative lead for Monks on Diageo in northern Europe, my role was two-fold. firstly, to ensure consistent quality across the thousands of assets produced every year; and secondly to spot creative gaps we could help Diageo fill.
in addition to hands-on work on numerous case studies and video projects, i also worked as the creative lead on LinkedIn overseeing the day-to-day writing, design, and production of the brand’s multiple high-profile global annual reports as for seven regional markets.
TikTok
working with both the b2b and b2c teams within TikTok, i provided creative direction for— and was involved in the production of —100s of case studies and videos for the brand. this includes major collaborations between TikTok and the Oscars, Nike, and a number of other brands.
embedded across a variety of Google brands, from YouTube to Think with Google, i was heavily involved in content production, scripting, storyboarding, email campaigns, content marketing strategy and spent six months as editor of Think with Google Nordics.
nice things people have said about working with me
stuff like this is pretty embarrassing really, but it’s nice of them to say it
“Steve is a stellar creative director who balances a sharp creative vision with business needs. he leads with empathy creating a collaborative environment where not just creativity but also his team thrives. Steve is a trusted client partner who strengthens business relationships with his ability to take clients on a creative journey.”
- Vatsla Bagai, senior account manager, Monks
“something that really stood out to me was how frequently people sought out Steve specifically to work on their projects. Both clients and internal teams would work with Steve once, see how excellent his work was, and want him on all their projects.
work with Steve yourself and you’ll easily see why. he is a real creative talent, strategic and conceptual, can lead those really important, high level projects or pitches that need big ideas and fresh thinking, while also overseeing and directing multiple projects with his team.
if you need strong creative thinking, brand positioning, creative leadership or copywriting, Steve will deliver exceptionally high quality work every time.”
- Fiona Trickey, creative service director, Verve
“what sets Steve apart is his ability to combine strategic thinking with compelling storytelling, ensuring every piece of content not only resonates but drives results. he’s a natural leader, guiding teams with clarity and inspiration, and his versatility makes him an invaluable asset in any fast-paced, high-stakes environment.”
- Orlaith Cruise, brand and content communications, ESW
as well as what you see here, there’s an awful lot of work i’ve been involved in that’s very difficult to represent. this includes content strategy, messaging frameworks, customer journeys, and pitch work. i’m still working out the best way to showcase that work, but i can definitely speak to it if you fancy a chat?
say hi.
in addition to my work as a creative director, in 2023 i had the honour of ghostwriting my first book.
and a bang on the ear tells the true story of Phil Quinlan, a promising young athlete whose life was changed forever by a head injury. the book, published by O’Brien Press, debuted as a number two bestseller in the Irish non-fiction charts.
some praise for and a bang on the ear:
“And A Bang On The Ear is an exceptional book. Superbly written and constructed by Steve O’Rourke. It's the most originally put together autobiography I've seen in years. It's a tough but wonderful read.’
Michael Foley, The Sunday Times
“And A Bang On The Ear’s style is unnerving, its narrative veering wildly like a literary meeting of the films ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ and ‘Memento’.”
David Kelly, Chief Sports Analysis Writer, Irish Independent
“[And A Bang On The Ear] is an enthralling read… A sports book unlike any other I’ve read.”