Don Synstelien
Bio
Don Synstelien is the Creative Director for the Fox Interactive Media's Labs group, where he leads a research and development team responsible for driving creative and technical innovation and integration across FIM's online properties. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Synstelien joined FIM in August of 2005.
Prior to FIM, Synstelien was a principle member and served as Chief Creative Officer and Product Strategist at Sidereus Technologies, a desktop software development company, which was acquired by Fox Interactive Media in August of 2005. He has owned or been a strategic influence in numerous start-ups, building successful products for various companies including The Weather Channel, DirecTV, FoxSports, Scientific American, Motorola and 3M, to name a few.
As a technical and creative entrepreneur, Synstelien has contributed to several books, been published in trade publications and won numerous awards in the advertising and design industries throughout his career.
Work History
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July 2005 - present
Provide disruptive R&D, Strategy and guidance in relation to Social Networking and new advertising and interaction models. Discover and suggest ways to monetize "Blue Ocean" opportunities that are in line with company goals. Have championed several initiatives within FIM. Most visibly, I initiated and launched SpringWidgets.com, the first (and so far, only) internally incubated business produced by FIM. Break the rules.
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November 2002 - July 2005
(Sidereus Technologies was purchased in 2005 by Fox Interactive Media.) Prior to acquisition by FIM, I managed all creative efforts and provided guidance to all departments and disciplines as needed in order to generate and implement company and product vision. Some highlights were: • Provided key direction across departments in order to re-imagine and re-brand a splintered set of individual products in order to allow for a concise and understandable unified product line • Led all creative and IA efforts for DirecTV GameTracker. Success, measured by downloads and use was over 1200% above client expectations set by the prior year’s application • Led all creative and IA efforts for Desktop Weather Platinum, the Weather Channel’s premium subscription product. This product has been called the most comprehensive desktop weather solution available
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October 2000 - November 2002
Provided solutions for several companies and agencies around the globe, fulfilling needs for high-end interactive and award winning creative. Highlights include: • Provided creative for Audi MarketSphere product, a powerful lead generation tool • Provided all IA and creative for Counselware, the most easy-to-use comprehensive automated legal document system available for use by lawyers and paralegals
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April 2000 - October 2000
Led the design arm of a digital media start up: • Insured brand consistency and creative excellence for all projects • Contracted freelancers, recruited, hired and mentored in-house designers • Led shut down procedures and closed the business - trust me, this might be the most valuable experience that I have and certainly was the most costly.
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December 1998 - April 2000
Caribiner International Digital Media Creative Director Atlanta, GA - December 1998 - April 2000 Led the creative and visual efforts of the Atlanta Digital Media Group, including: • Led all creative efforts for the 3M Volition lead generation tool. The total amount of leads generated exceeded expected performance by over 300% with an increased quality-of-lead ratio shown • My work directly influenced the 3000+ employee events-production company referring to the Atlanta office as it’s Center for Creative Excellence
Online profiles