Kris Taifalos is a “creative type” —aka an art/creative/design director, designer, and relentless idea seeker who crafts impactful creative for branding, marketing, advertising, digital, and content. Kris blends strategy, storytelling, and a splash of colour for new, established, and global brands.
Bjork, The Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Kylie Minogue—you could say they were his first design teachers. As a teenager, he studied album cover art, exploring how layout, typography, and imagery evoke emotion—and how art direction can tell a story.
These days, you’ll find him walking into Renzo Piano’s glass-clad New York Times building, where he oversees art direction for a broad range of client programs at T Brand Studio. Contributing to an award-winning team, Kris specializes in crafting custom brand content that resonates with Times readers that reflects the global audience.
Before the Times, Kris dove into NYC’s creative energy headfirst at Paramount Global, leading projects and campaigns across brand design, content, and social media. (Ask him about negotiating with the NYPD to shoot the iconic Clueless look in Bryant Park for social content.)
Flipping the globe, Kris hails from the land down under, Australia, where he started his career in TV news, lifestyle magazines, and boutique design studios. Then he stepped into Creative Lead at Drawcard Media (formerly Avant Card), where the team created bold, collectible campaigns that turned ads into art—displayed in cafes, bars, and art spaces across the country.
Bringing focus back to today, Kris is an Awwwards Jury Member, a recognition of his experience in the global design community. When not making client mood boards, he can be found obsessing over avant-garde fashion, contemporary type design, cult classics and international cinema, airline brand identities, postmodern furniture—and hanging with his tiny dog, Sir Pipsqueak. (Yes, he’s as adorable as he sounds.)
Kris sees the world in full colour and believes in the power of storytelling to cultivate bold, unforgettable brands. He welcomes inquiries for new collaboration. ⬤