ERIK BUTH
director / creative director / designer / animator / artist
Los Angeles, CA · erikbuth.com · buth.erik@gmail.com
SUMMARY
Visionary and passionate creative director with 30 years of experience in advertising, film, television, and digital experiences. Strong communication and collaborative skills that encourage creativity while driving engagement, exceeding business goals, and delivering visual excellence.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Creative Director
hexeosis, Los Angeles, CA — 2013 – Present
• Creator of an independent studio producing animation, design, digital art, and interactive systems for commercial clients and artistic projects, organically reaching over 150,000+ followers on social media and digital art platforms.
• Designed, animated, and scored HX-01, a 36-minute Kickstarter funded short film, delivered on Blu-Ray and digital download and listed on IMDB.
• Minted and sold animated art gifs since 2019, pioneering digital art as collectible media as the broader digital collectibles market emerged.
• Commissioned by HTC to create Platonic Frequency, an interactive art game world for the Viverse platform.
• Developed and shipped Breathington, a cross-platform breathing exercise app with original character design and animation. Currently available for iOS in the App Store and for Android on Google Play.
Creative Director / Director
Freelance, Los Angeles, CA — 2013 – Present
• Freelance Creative Director for studios and agencies including Brand New School, 72andSunny, Los York, and Not to Scale.
• Led projects from concept through final delivery across 2D motion graphics, stylized and photo-real 3D, and live-action production.
• Directed national television commercials and brand films for Subway, FitBit, Google, and other major corporations.
Creative Director / Director
Blind, Santa Monica, CA — 2006 – 2013
• Creative Director of live-action, animation, and motion graphics projects for advertising, film, television and internet. Led from concept and design through production and delivery for clients including American Airlines, Pringles, AT&T, Microsoft, Verizon, Chili's.
• Recruited talent and assembled project teams of designers, animators, and artists.
• Created and presented pitch materials, storyboards, and written briefs to clients and agencies.
Editor / Art Director
Blind, Santa Monica, CA — 2001 – 2006
• Editor, designer, and art director of advertising, film, and television projects.
• Designed title sequences for How I Met Your Mother, Watching Ellie, and Commando Nanny.
• Created network promotional packages for Fuse, Spike TV, and other broadcast clients.
Editor, Designer & Animator
Freelance, Los Angeles, CA — 1997 – 2001
• Editor, Designer, and Animator for clients including RealTV, Food Network, History Channel, and Lifetime Network.
Editor
yU+co, Hollywood, CA — 1998 – 1999
• Edited feature film main title sequences for Enemy of the State, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Lost Souls.
• Created spots for Intel, HBO, Showtime, and a theatrical trailer for Dolby Digital.
Editor / Producer
Creative West, Hollywood, CA — 1996 – 1997
• Produced and edited trailers, sales promos, television spots, and EPKs for feature films.
• Created budgets, scheduled and supervised narration, online, and audio mix sessions.
Post Production Supervisor / Assistant Editor
Creative Partnership, Hollywood, CA — 1994 – 1996
• Assisted producers and editors creating trailers, promos, and television ads for feature films from creative meetings through final delivery.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Communication Arts
University of Wisconsin–Madison
International Baccalaureate Program
Rufus King High School, Milwaukee, WI
TOOLS
Cinema 4D, Avid, Premiere, After Effects, Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, PlayCanvas, ComfyUI
SKILLS
Creative Leadership
Concept Development
Pitch Creation
Art Direction & Design Systems
Budget & Resource Management
Client Relations