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2 Minutes With … Roberto Fara, CCO of Ogilvy Spain
'The idea is what matters'
With over 20 years of experience in design and advertising, Roberto has lived and worked in Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Madrid and New York. Roberto currently holds the position of chief creative officer at Ogilvy Spain, guiding work produced by offices in Barcelona and Madrid. He is also global creative experience lead at Ogilvy.
He has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, eBay, Audi, Diesel, Coca-Cola, HBO and Converse.
We spent two minutes with Roberto to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.
Roberto, tell us …
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
I was born in Buenos Aires. In 2000, I relocated to Spain, where I resided until 2012. Subsequently, I spent seven years in New York before settling in Barcelona, my current home.
How you first realized you were creative.
Since I was 5 or 6 years old, I loved drawing, painting, sculpting or inventing things. I loved anything related to having ideas. If I didn’t have a toy or a game, I would invent one. Sometimes, I spent afternoons thinking about inventions to share with my parents.
A person you idolized creatively early on.
Leonardo da Vinci, because he embodied in a single person all the things I wanted to do—paint, sculpt and create inventions.
A moment from high school or college that changed your life.
When I went to university, I was considering enrolling in the architecture program because I really liked it. However, while reading the brochures, I discovered they had introduced a new program: graphic design.
A visual artist or band/musician you admire.
A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.
Movie: The Square
One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on.
A recent project you’re proud of.
Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.
Someone else’s work you admired lately.
Pancho Cassis and David
Your main strength as a creative person.
Curiosity
Your biggest weakness.
Distractibility
How you’re paying it forward with the next generation of creatives.
I try not to be a boss. I like the way things were done at the Bauhaus, where young people collaborated with the masters on the same project. The idea is what matters, and the entire team is dedicated to it. I try to convey my passion for ideas with curiosity as fuel. I encourage the success of the collective over the individual.
What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.
Working as a graphic designer. Or on theater and opera projects as a visual motion designer.
2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch.
