Hello, I’m René Gebhardt — an award-winning freelance art director in Berlin. For two decades, I’ve created campaigns, visuals, and ideas. After countless nightshifts and 200 awards, I’ve learned that creativity and chaos work best in equal measure — preferably with hot chocolate.
I’m driven by storytelling, with a practical approach: create work that hits the gut, sparks the mind, and occasionally redefines the brief.
About Me
Like a Tinder profile, this “About” is about finding the right match. I’m flexible, adaptable, and happy to dive into advertising campaigns, branding, or art direction projects — ideally after the morning workout and before the deadline.
What really matters.
Curiosity and experimentation built my career — along with a refusal to do anything halfway. My best work? The kind that moved people, not just juries.
About Me
Writing this “About” text isn’t so different from crafting a Tinder profile — it’s mostly about finding the right match and convincing someone you’re both competent and occasionally fun. I’m flexible, adaptable, and happy to dive into advertising campaigns, branding, or art direction projects — ideally before the deadline and after the morning workout.
As a German, I value punctuality, precision, and a mild sense of existential dread when a project isn’t quite on point. Collaboration, however, is non-negotiable — because nothing says “teamwork” like collectively celebrating a successful presentation.
What really matters.
My career has been shaped by curiosity and experimentation, a constant beginner’s mind, and a stubborn refusal to do anything halfway. My best work? The kind that moved people, not just juries.
What I Do – Services
I specialize in a wide range of disciplines, allowing me to deliver creative solutions across multiple platforms. My services include:
What I Do – Services
I specialize in a wide range of disciplines, allowing me to deliver creative solutions across multiple platforms. My services include:
What I Won – Awards & Achievements
I’ve been fortunate to work on projects recognized by over 200 awards in advertising, design, and film. None of these achievements would have been possible without the incredible teams, clients, and employers I’ve had the privilege to work with. Each success is a reflection of shared creativity, trust, and collaboration. Highlights include:
What I Won – Awards & Achievements
I’ve been fortunate to work on projects recognized by over 200 awards in advertising, design, and film. None of these achievements would have been possible without the incredible teams, clients, and employers I’ve had the privilege to work with. Each success is a reflection of shared creativity, trust, and collaboration. Highlights include:
Career Timeline
Present Roles:
Freelance Art-Director
since 2014
Karada HouseCo-Founder & Director
since 2019
Freelance Art Director / Creative
Working independently as a freelance art director. Collaborated with major agencies and clients including antoni, BBDO, CMB Trinidad & Tobago, Edelman, Ensemble Resonanz, Elbphilharmonie, Erdmannpeisker, Fischer Appelt, HEIMAT, Jung von Matt, Ogilvy Germany, Ressourcenmangel, Saatchi & Saatchi, Scholz & Friends, THE GOODWINS, Schokolade Filmproduktion, Serviceplan, THJNK Berlin, Zum Goldenen Hirschen. Projects span advertising, branding, creative direction, film, and photography for both German and international clients.
Karada House
Co-Founder & Director
Co-founded Karada House, a queer collaborative art space in Berlin that explores the intersection of body, art, and politics. Karada House has since become a recognized institution in Berlin’s queer cultural scene, hosting conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and performances for people on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and other marginalized communities.
Scholz & FriendsSenior Art-Director
2010-2014
DDB BerlinJunior Art-Director
2007-2010
Jung von Matt / AlsterArt-Direction Internship
2005
Scholz & Friends Berlin
Art Director / Senior Art Director
Led creative campaigns for clients including Aktion Aufschrei, Bayer, Caparol, Die PATEI, Das Handwerk, Fisherman’s Friend, Penny, Saturn, and Stihl. Focused on concept development, visual storytelling, and campaign strategy for major German and European brands.
DDB Berlin
Junior Art Director
Worked on large-scale campaigns for Volkswagen, IKEA Österreich, Bild.de, Bosch Hausgeräte, Freistaat Thüringen and Premiere PayTV. Developed creative concepts and layouts for digital, print, and television campaigns.
JUNG von MATT / Alster
Art Direction / Internship
Gained hands-on experience working with BMW, MINI, Nintendo, TV Spielfilm and BILD, contributing to campaign design, visual identity, and concept presentations. This formative period solidified my passion for creative direction and storytelling.
Bauhaus Universität WeimarVisuelle Komunikation
2002-2007
Verlag Hermann SchmidtBook Author
2006
Cannes Young Lions CompetitionRepresentative for Germany
2004
Bauhaus Universität Weimar
Diploma
Together with Björn Kernspeckt and Sebastian Locke, I founded and established the international lecture series ‘PROJEKTIL’ at the Bauhaus University in Weimar. Originally launched as an experimental initiative, it quickly gained traction and, after its inaugural year, became a permanent fixture within the design faculty. To this day, ‘PROJEKTIL’ remains a platform for thought-provoking and inspiring lectures and creative workshops.
Speakers since 2007 have included: Stefan Sagmeister, Ruedi Baur, Amir Kassaei, Eike König, Kurt Weidemann, Jörg Waldschütz, Dietmar Henneka, Via Grafik, Moccu, Giraffentoast, and many more.
Verlag Hermann Schmidt Mainz
Book Author
Co-Author and designer of the professional guide book ‘Don't Panic! Der Praktikantenguide’, a comprehensive manual with 300 pages for interns in the communication and creative industry in Germany.
Cannes Young Lions Competition
Representative for Germany
Together with my fellow student Björn Kernspeckt, I represented Germany at the international Young Lions Competition in Cannes. That year, we were the only students competing against established professionals, having won a national preliminary round against junior-level agency teams.
Bauhaus Universität Weimar
Student of Visual Communication
During my interdisciplinary studies at the Bauhaus University, I acquired a wide range of skills. Along with the Bauhaus' strong emphasis on conceptual thinking, I ventured into various fields, including advertising, graphic design, photography, film, and illustration. The structure of the design faculty gave me a great deal of freedom, which I took full advantage of to implement ‘real-world’ projects, such as writing a professional book and establishing a lecture series to aimed to improve the education of future students.