BEN
CRISP
About Me
Marketing & Communications Consultant for multiple organisations, non-profits individuals and agencies.
Creative lead and producer of high quality creative content including videography; photography; podcasts & social media. Provide full communications and marketing audits followed by strategy and content for implementation.
Four years international experience for Guatemalan non-profit as Communications Director. Five years as Research and Marketing Manager for UK-based design consultancy.
MA in Journalism, with a portfolio of publications in activism, politics, travel and music, as well as published fiction.
Excellent communicator with strong public speaking skills and proficiency in Spanish.
Final Cut Pro X
Event Videography
Event Photography
Public Speaking
Project Management
Video Research
Photoshop
Keynote
InDesign
Google Analytics
Google AdWords
WordPress (Managing)
SEO
Blogs
Podcast Production
Work
Experience
Research & Marketing Manager - DK&A / Design Thinkers Academy London
2018 - Present
[Now in freelance capacity]
>>Produced ethnographic research – largely through video interviews – for clients including Under Armour, EastWest Rail, Cartier, Richemont & SWR. These videos have been used to impact key stakeholder decisions. I have also produced, shot and edited numerous videos for these clients for design consultancy and event publicity purposes.
>> Led the development of the two brands, creating their new collective mission, vision and identity that launched the new Responsible Revolutions initiative.
>> Conducted desktop research for major international clients, including Richemont and SWR, used to guide key decision making.
>> Responsible for all marketing at the Design Thinkers Academy London, managing a 100k budget. I manage two websites, multiple social media channels (leading a 500% Instagram increase and 800% LinkedIn increase), newsletters, Google Ads, analytics and all content. Produce all videography, photography and blogs. The blog was recently named the world's 14th best Design Thinking blog by Feedspot. Created and managed monthly email newsletter and used CRM to manage database. All this helped to grow the business, continuing to exceed targets, despite the impact of Brexit and Covid-19.
>> Launched their podcast channel (which now has 14,000 listens) and host, edit and produce multiple episodes.
>> Successfully launched our new online courses, co-building the new brand and marketing content. The online courses now regularly sell out.
Communications Director - La Choza Chula
2014 - 2018
>> Co-director of La Choza Chula, a social enterprise running successful education, enterprise and environmental programmes. Transformed a £4,000 loss to £6,000 net profit in first year as a Director.
>> Ran four successful online crowdfund campaigns. Organised and ran
large-scale fundraising events both in London and in Guatemala.
>> Project managed the successful building of a school permaculture
garden, including building organisation, planning and budget control,
working alongside international partners. It now provides produce for
the local community whilst simultaneously generating income for the
school. Assisted in the building of the local secondary school and
computer laboratory.
>> Helped run global volunteer group experiences with external
companies including Salesforce, Carpe Diem and Warrior Surf - a surf
therapy foundation that I have strong ties with and have volunteered
with in South Carolina.
>> Professionally represented the organisation at national and
international events, including sustainable tourism fairs, schools
worldwide and international fundraising events.
>> Created all organisation communications, building a brand that runs
as a clothing & bag company and a tour operator, alongside principal
education and environment programmes. Co-created a 3-year
communications strategy. Produced all visual content including
photography, videography and design. Content created and managed
the website. Created and designed annual reports, newsletters, hard
copy book, product catalogues and more.
>> Managed social media channels to influence an 45% increase in sales
(16/17), organically increasing Instagram and Facebook followers by
over 1000% in three years.
>> Line managed up to 10 international and local volunteers and
interns. Trained a local Guatemalan as my successor to my role,
securing the future sustainability of the organisation. 2 years later he is
a vital member of the team.
Marketing Consultant - Freelance
2021 - Present
>> Delivered bespoke audits of companies entire online presence to improve their offering and increase exposure, sales & performance. Reviewed businesses websites and social media platforms to analyse where they are under-performing and opportunities to improve.
>> Organised and produced the required websites, website improvements, marketing content, videos or more to put the audit into action and enact immediate improvements.
>> Previous clients and organisations from the worlds of therapy, baseball, sociology, yoga and more.
Portfolio
>> Cape Mentors - Produced and edited a video for charity Cape Mentors detailing the work they do
>> Huck Magazine - Change Issue: The London Worker Who Gave Up Everything | Article focussing on the transformative effect of surfing
>> Lost Magazine - Down the Dust Track | 31 page feature article and photography
>> The International Times: The Materialism of Experience, The Big Dirty Smoke, The Middle Class Complacency of Remain & The Privacy of Music
>> UpReach: Freelance instructional videos for UpReach | one video currently has over 68,000 views
>> Anthropology Today; Vol 30 No. 3, June 2014 - Photography: 'Neither Confirm or Deny'
>> Fiction published or forthcoming in the Downtime Review, Left Brain Media, MiniMag, Firework Stories & Short Story Me.
Clients I have worked with or for, either as freelance or due to my role as Marketing & Research Manager at DK&A
Education
2015 - 2017
University of Örebro | Master’s Degree
Journalism Connected | 2013 -14
>> Grade: Distinction / VG
>> Thesis: A comparative study of alternative journalism and mainstream media in response to the case of the exiled Chagossians.
2012 - 2015
University of Southampton | Bachelor's Degree
History | 2009 -12
>> Grade: 2:1
>> Thesis: Why did Ernesto "Che" Guevara join Fidel Castro & the
Cuban Revolution?
A bit about me
>> I spend a lot of my free time with books, by both reading and writing. I am in the process of completing my debut novel - A Question of England and short story collection, And So I Took Their Eye. I also co-wrote an illustrated children's novel about a lonely T-Rex and the importance of communication (that remains unpublished under my bed).
>> I love the outdoors and try to live a very outdoor life. This includes being a keen surfer and also a big skier and tele-marker. I have worked two winter seasons and for a period as a ski guide. I also love to camp, hike and travel too.
>> I enjoy playing football and was the captain of my intramural football team at university and also captain of a (surprisingly) successful Guatemalan five-a-side team (despite my glaring lack of pace).
>> I'm a keen guitarist (annoying attempts at Dylan songs around a campfire kind of level), vinyl collector and live music lover. I also ran a radio show whilst at university (called Mediocre Radio – because it was).