You made it! I’m David A. Hays (aka DHays) a creative director, artist, and entrepreneur with 25+ years in the game telling stories for global entertainment brands like Riot, Blizzard, Sony/PlayStation, Disney, Hulu and HBO. I believe great creative connects the soul of a product with the heart of a brand, creating something authentic and uniquely meaningful for a specific group of people.
At Riot Games, I shape strategy and execute global campaigns for players around the world. I set the creative vision and lead the concerted efforts of global multidisciplinary teams producing cinematic films, music videos, campaigns, and live experiences that reach hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the most impactful creative professionals don’t just master one discipline. They build an arsenal of creative skills, driven by curiosity, experimentation, and the constant desire to create new and exceptional things. I’ve been honored to work and learn alongside world-class talents who've inspired me to pursue my own creative instincts across a multitude of crafts such as illustration, cartooning, graphic design, music, web design, animation, apparel brands, footwear design, and–most recently–physical card game design.
That diverse creative path has given me a hands-on understanding and the confidence to turn my most ambitious dreams into reality. Whether I’m directing a hand-drawn 2D-animated trailer or building an indie game publishing studio from the ground up, I'm always putting new tools and fresh ideas into practice every day. Most recently, I’ve aimed everything in my arsenal at JOKERS, my first physical card game.
It’s the kind of project I’ve been chasing my whole career: not just a game, but a wholly original intellectual property built from the ground up. Product development, character design, copywriting, illustration, world-building, branding, marketing, content creation, community-building, production, publishing...every discipline working together in service of one ambition: to create an original IP that succeeds as a game, but can also grow into a true multimedia global franchise with the staying power to become a household name.
Play along with me: instagram.com/getjokers ❤️
That diverse creative path has given me a hands-on understanding and the confidence to turn my most ambitious dreams into reality. Whether I’m directing a hand-drawn 2D-animated trailer or building an indie game publishing studio from the ground up, I'm always putting new tools and fresh ideas into practice every day. Most recently, I’ve aimed everything in my arsenal at JOKERS, my first physical card game.
It’s the kind of project I’ve been chasing my whole career: not just a game, but a wholly original intellectual property built from the ground up. Product development, character design, copywriting, illustration, world-building, branding, marketing, content creation, community-building, production, publishing...every discipline working together in service of one ambition: to create an original IP that succeeds as a game, but can also grow into a true multimedia global franchise with the staying power to become a household name.
Play along with me: instagram.com/getjokers ❤️
