Hi, we’re
Familiar Creatures
Together, we outsmart brand behemoths.
About Us
Justin Bajan and Dustin Artz won big awards at big agencies but they wanted to get in deeper with clients. Solve their actual problems. Do great creative yes; but also provide strategy that transformed the business. Not just make it slightly more relevant that year.
So they designed Familiar Creatures to do just that.
ADWEEK FASTEST GROWING
For the second year in a row we're among the fastest growing agencies in the world.
AdAge Small Agency Panel
We joined our Duke’s client to talk about our partnership and growth
Crunch Fitness | Feel More
We collaborated with Hype Williams for Crunch’s new campaign.
Duke's | Duke's is Coming
Taking the fastest growing mayo brand national.
We've worked on brand behemoths in our past. We're
Familiar.
And we run circles around them, like a crafty band of
Creatures.
Justin Bajan
Co-Founder
Justin is Co-Founder and Head of Business Development. A lifelong copywriter, he cares deeply about his wife, kids and Seinfeld seasons 2 through 6.
Dustin Artz
Co-Founder
Dustin is Co-Founder and Head of Operations. He got into this business because he loves ideas. He’s stayed because he loves seeing them work.
Carey Ely
Director of Accounts
Carey is Director of Accounts and a 2025 Campaign Inspiring Woman. She is a fearless protector of great work, an empathetic mentor and company culture warrior.
Kate Luxton
Brand Director
Kate is a Brand Director. She leads with curiosity, calm and compassion and has an ability to grasp all the details without losing sight of the big picture. She still enjoys talking on the phone and hand-writing notes.
Sarah Wallace Carr
Associate Creative Director
Sarah is an Associate Creative Director with a background in art direction. A chronic hobby collector, she loves anything to do with art, photography, and design.
Joel Stiling
Sr. Copywriter
Joel is a senior writer and a 2025 AdWeek Rising Star. He cares that people are heard and believes that advertising is more about listening than trying to be relevant.
Ryen Harris
Jr. Art Director
Ryen’s a Junior Art Director. He enjoys learning all things design and production. He also enjoys all things Michael Jackson.
Ellen Veith
Art Director
Ellen is an Art Director. She nerds out on type and colors as well as writing by hand. Catch her at a concert around here or wherever Portugal, The Man is playing.
Ben Englander
Sr. Copywriter
Ben is a Senior Writer. He writes with surgical precision and has strong opinions about burritos, judo and audio mixes.
Together, we help Challenger Brands outsmart Behemoths.
We’ve worked on brand behemoths in our past. We’re Familiar.
And we run circles around them, like a crafty band of Creatures.
Aaahhhh, that feels nice.
Using BrightSuite from Dominion Energy is super satisfying.
We tapped into the zeitgeist of the #oddlysatisfying phenomenon all over social media as inspiration to describe what it feels like to use BrightSuite every day. That feeling of uber-control, where everything in the universe is just as it should be. We brought this to life with calming videos shot by Ben Weinstein, ASMR-quality radio spots, plus a pleasing color palette and photography style in print and banners.
Want to become a Creature?
We've Worked With
These Challenger Brands
Capabilities
BRAND STRATEGY
We craft effective and fruitful strategy that is insight-led, stands the test of time and informs how your brand thinks and behaves.
CREATIVE
Our expertise from working at A-level creative agencies helps us bring you breakthrough ideas that are sticky and solve your business problems.
BRAND DESIGN
We can design it all: including logo/identity, campaigns and robust brand guidelines for your internal teams.
PRODUCTION OVERSIGHT
Our relationships with elite production companies ensure your brand will look just as great as the leaders in your category.
IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION
We have the tools and know-how to deliver top-tier animation, video editing and photography when the job calls for it.
Capabilities
BRAND
STRATEGY
With research, positioning, brand houses, consumer journeys and comms planning, we uncover rich insights that shape your brand.
BRAND
DESIGN
From logos, naming, to full identity systems, to packaging and merchandise, we have the goods to make you look good.
IN-HOUSE PRODUCTION
Need photography, simple videos or editing? We got you.
CREATIVE
We can go big with creative platforms that last for years or create one potent commercial that gets the job done asap.
PRODUCTION DIRECTION
From our years working on brand behemoths, we have a strong network of A-level partners we can tap into anytime.
