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who the hell is J ?

Jay is a self-taught and highly ambitious creative problem solver with a passion for art and design. He started his career at Leo Burnett, Sri Lanka where he had success becoming the youngest 8ball winner (innovation category) in Asia. 

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He went on to achieve three 7+ from Leo Burnett worldwide internal awards for excellent print/outdoor work in 2017 & 2018. While at Leo Burnett Jayana was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Cannes Young Lions 2017 in Cannes, France after winning Gold at the local competition in Sri Lanka. In 2019 Jayana moved to Dubai to take up a role as an Art director at Rapp Middle East.

 

In just three months, he won the agency’s first award in the Loeries show for his Waitrose work and the agency became the 5th most creative agency in Dubai. He is currently working at RAPP Middle East, contributing to winning new businesses such as MG, MetLife, Kia, Samsung, Kelloggs, Evian, Upfield, Ikea, Waitrose and Exeed motors. He was also selected as a Jury Member of the WINA Latin award show & AdForum PHNX awards show.



He strongly believes his best work is yet to come. 

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AREAS OF EXPERTISES

Provocative Ideas
Creative Direction

Team Collaboration
Art Direction
Playing Tennis
Understanding People’s Behaviour
 

WORKING EXPERIENCE.

Designer at PRAUDA

Jan 2012 - July 2014

Intern at LEO BURNETT

July 2014 - Aug 2015

Designer at INMARC

Aug 2014 - Mar 2015

Visualizer / Junior Art Director / Art Director at LEO BURNETT 

Mar 2015 - Jan 2019

Art Director / Senior Art Director / Creative Lead at RAPP

Feb 2019- Present

Co-Founder & Design Director at HURIWEGEN

Apr 2022- Present

Film Director at CLASSIQUE RACER

Jan 2023- Present

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS.

Waitrose Moon - 2 Shortlists for Digital Advertising 

Waitrose Moon - 2 Shortlists for Media

Apsara Pearl - 3 Shortlists for Film Craft 

Apsara Pearl - 1 Shortlists for Film

Dubai LYNX : 2021

Waitrose Moon - Digital Display Advertising - Bronze

Waitrose Moon - Digital Design - Short-listed

Loeries Awards 2019

Waitrose Moon - Best Art Direction - Bronze

Waitrose Moon - Digital Retail Campaign - Short-listed

MDC Awards 2019

Branding Identity design : Leo-care - Gold

Best Design/Illustration : DSI Beatlife - Gold

Best Integrated Print Campaign : DSI - Gold

Best Integrated Digital Campaign : DSI - Gold

Leo Burnett Awards : 2018

DSI Beatlife - Digital Campaign - Bronze

Effies 2018

Mobitel Buzzing Fence-Innovation Category - 8 Ball

Leo Burnett GPC - 2018

Young Lions Silver award for Print - Sri Lanka

Cannes Lions Festival 2018

Young Spikes Silver award for Integrated - Sri Lanka

Spikes Asia 2018

Jeep Print Series - Scored 7+

JEEP - Small parking print campaign - Scored 7+

Leo Burnett GPC - 2018

Young Lions Gold award for Print - Sri Lanka

Cannes Lions Festival 2017

Land Rover Print Series - Scored 7+

Leo Burnett GPC - 2017

Young Lotus Silver Award - Sri Lanka

Adfest - 2017

Jayana was introduced to me as an energetic young creative with unparalleled enthusiasm for new ideas. His constant drive to come up with fresh ideas was magnificent. More importantly, he worked hard to bring those ideas to the final stage. He is a brilliant student of life, always willing to challenge the tradition. His knowledge about current trends in the ad industry and design industry is not common even in his seniors. He is an excellent team player.

His creative achievements within this short period is a definite sign of greatness. He is a unique Creative with lots of positive energy and vibes. He always brings fresh ideas to the table and never reluctant to ditch them and start again. His ideas helped us to raise the bar in our department. He has awards and titles. On top of that, he did some of the best creative work during his tenure at Leo Burnett inspiring young and old alike. I wish Jayana the very best in his future endeavors.

Ranjana Amaradewa - ACD @Leo Burnett

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