How did Young Guns get on your radar?

I first learned about Young Guns after moving from a small city in Norway to a slightly less small city where I got admitted to a locally famous ad school 10 years ago.

My talented classmates were suddenly winning awards, which had me look up www.theoneclub.com where the YG14 winners had just been announced on the front page. Seeing their portfolios made me realize how good it’s possible to be at what we do.

When also realizing they were not students and I still had time, I put it as a yearly reminder in my calendar and finally applied this year.

How did you end up in the creative field?

I grew up without a lot of money, and in order to change that as fast as possible I started using my (only) talent of drawing to make album covers, nightclub posters, restaurant logos and eventually brand identities until I got the job as Art Director in a local agency at age 19.

I know it sounds weird but I actually want to make advertising ideas more than anything else. I am doing this on purpose. I think changing people’s attitudes and behaviors by making them feel something is one of the most interesting things you can do in the world right now.

Why did you decide to enter this year?

It’s my first year entering, I wasn’t sure if my obscure Norwegian stunts would make it through. But I’m happy I did.

You only get to submit six projects. How did you decide what made the cut?

I could have submitted more international work from more famous brands, but I think deserved fame is more interesting than paid fame and I wanted to win on the right terms if I won.

The pieces I chose are based on what I actually think are interesting ideas that had a measured creative effect over whatever had a big budget behind it. Although a combination is of course optimal. I’m still working on that.

“Deserved fame is more interesting than paid fame.”

What was your reaction when you found out you won?

I was at the dentist when I saw the email. It was hard to celebrate there. But I had purple taro boba with jellies in all the colors on my way back to the office in Tribeca.

In what ways does where you’re living right now inspire your creativity?

I grew up with learning through youtube tutorials and seeing creative work from across the world on social media. While it’s important to look at what other people are looking at, I think everyone is increasingly looking at the same references, in similar feeds and algorithms.

Even though it’s harder, I now try to find reference in anything that isn’t trending right now — in something unexpected, in real life around me, in history, from my home town, from pixelated home made bad bodega food footage in my street in New York.

Now that you’re a part of the Young Guns community, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?

I have so much respect for this list. I think it’s my favourite list on the internet. If you are here reading this and haven’t already, I recommend looking through all the previous years too.

Some of my favs: Eric Hu (YG8), Jessica Walsh (YG8), Mah Ferraz (YG17), Daniel Wenzel (YG22), Carlos Bokai (YG22), Gabriel Sheringer (YG22).

If you could create a new Young Guns tradition what would you want it to be and why?

Everyone liking my instagram story. Or a ritual somehow including the salmon cannon here.

Name a creative/professional dream project that you have yet to fulfill.

I want to work with Special Offer Inc on unexpected activations for anything they are working on. Me and my best friend in Mexico City who’s a creative director are having a weekly meeting about this. We have a lot of ideas for them by now but still no idea of how to reach them.