Charles Clapshaw
Charles Clapshaw has been connecting creativity with technology for 25 years – from building the final Ansett website, as a brand manager at P&G, to leading TBWA's worldwide digital network and an augmented artist at Apple.
Charles' diverse skills and experiences are now focussed on sharing his knowledge with current AI tools.
Charles brings an unusual blend of artist, technologist and leader with life experience across advertising, marketing, brand, web development, NFT, virtual realities and AI in 26 countries around the world. He has worked with ANZ, Apple, Adidas, Absolut, Christian Louboutin, G.H. Mumm Champagne, Four Seasons, GE, L'Oreal, Line, Levis, Naver, Mastercard, Singapore Airlines, Standard Chartered Bank and Visa.
In March 2021 Charles created a 'skunk works' AI lab - focussing on generative and Open Source AI and the new tools available, right down to the command line. Two years and one patent later, his diverse skills and experiences are now focussed on sharing his outcome based AI knowledge with AI tools to optimise creativity as well as brand, marketing and the advertising production process which has now become the Futures Factory.
As an artist, Charles has exhibited in Sydney at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital as well as Circular Quay for the augmented drone show during Elevate 2022, The Other Art Fair 2021, the 2020 Biennale of Sydney, the Centre Pompidou in Paris (2019), Improper Walls in Vienna (2017), The Edinburgh festival, and has murals in Mumbai, Angkor Wat, Bangkok and Bondi Beach.
"Working with Alain Rhone, Keith Smith, Jean Marie Dru, Emmanuel Andre and Lee Clow at TBWA creating the Digital Arts Network was definitely the highlight so far. Learning from the visionaries and watching their brilliance was inspirational."
Charles is autistic and after a lifetime of masking now passionately advocates for understanding from a kinder neurotypical society.
Specific to his autism and unusual for an artist, Charles documents all work and agreements so that he can be sure he understood the requirements as well as sticking to fixed schedules each day. Don't worry - this makes his output consistent from a flow-state as well as a depth of understanding that is only possible when thinking about everything all at once.
Travel is currently restricted but he is available on zoom or where he can bring his support sheepdog ElliE. Talking and communication are fine but as a visual thinker, phone calls on multiple topics without clear goals are not effective.
Different not less, Charles' unique perspective is recognised across many industries winning multiple awards including Agency of the Year by Campaign Magazine, Top 40 Under 40 in B&T, the Webbys, a digital Emmy and also has a patent for augmented reality inventions in the US and Australia.