Apparent creative director departs for ‘social impact future’
Long on the 'Change Direction' set
Jackson Long, creative director at Apparent, is departing the agency to pursue new creative endeavours, following the success of the recent ‘Change Direction’ initiative he led.
Long had been with Apparent for over three years. After six months as an associate creative director, he was promoted to creative director. Prior to the indie agency, he held roles at Dentsu, Microsoft, and spent a number of years as a freelance writer, journalist, and lecturer.
He recently spearheaded the ‘Change Direction’ initiative, which focused on the staggering rates of suicide in Aboriginal communities. It looked at disenfranchisement and disempowerment within Aboriginal communities.
Long on the ‘Change Direction’ set earlier this year
“Change Direction was launched without a brief or commercial goal,” he told Mumbrella.
“It started from a moral imperative. That meant spending a long time seeking out, listening to, and building trust with Aboriginal voices and organisations to tell their stories. That environment felt so right and necessary to me, and the result was something special and incredibly successful.”
Over the past two years, he worked closely with Aboriginal leaders, artists, and activists. According to Long, that experience deepened his belief that “their stories are the ones we need to hear the most”.
“I’ve been privileged to become well-versed in writing, film, creative leadership, narrative building, and fundraising across my career. I enjoy allyship and I want to use those skills — and the access I’ve been fortunate to have — to support areas of
real need.”
He said that in order to pursue social impact “more fully”, he has made the decision to leave Apparent.
“Apparent has been a great home with great people,” he said. “I’m especially proud to have built the Change Direction initiative there. That work showed the agency’s real commitment to making a difference.”
In a statement sent to Mumbrella, Apparent’s managing director Suzy Smiley said: “Since joining Apparent more than three years ago, Jackson has left a strong creative mark with the delivery of Change Direction – the short film which brought together powerful Aboriginal voices and storytelling to confront the national crisis of Indigenous suicide.
“We’re incredibly proud of what was achieved in collaboration with our partners. As he embarks on his next chapter, using his talents to work more closely with Indigenous communities, he does so with our support, respect and deepest thanks.
“We wish him the very best for the future,” Smiley said in the statement.
Long will take some time away to study new creative techniques, set up personal business ventures, and continue his consultation and education with Aboriginal communities.
“Whether it’s through agency collaborations, corporate partnerships, solo work, or community initiatives, there are so many ways to tell stories that truly matter.”
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