{"id":1051,"date":"2022-01-24T15:01:51","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T13:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/?page_id=1051"},"modified":"2025-12-05T09:15:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T07:15:42","slug":"richard-bates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/our-team\/richard-bates\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard Bates"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”2426″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Senior Art Director” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23bfbfbf” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1643028979246{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”I\u2019m Richard Bates,
\nArt Director” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643029002402{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Ever since I can remember, I\u2019ve had a love of art and there was not a time that I wasn\u2019t painting or drawing. This led me to attending a unique school \u2013 the Johannesburg High School for Art, Ballet and Music; an experimental government-run high school where there was no sport. Instead, you took on other art subjects like sculpture, stage design or photography, to name just a few.[\/vc_column_text]\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Conceptualisation<\/p>\n\t\t\t

80<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Layout Design<\/p>\n\t\t\t

85<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Adobe Freehand<\/p>\n\t\t\t

95<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Strategy<\/p>\n\t\t\t

75<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Talking Nonsense<\/p>\n\t\t\t

100<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”35″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Work Experience” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643029200942{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n
\n
\n

I so desperately wanted to become a fine artist, but quickly realised there was no money in it and life would be tough taking that route. So I put a portfolio together and went to see an ad agency called Rightford Searle Tripp and Makin, which today is called Ogilvy. It was there that I went on to create advertising that won a number of prestigious awards, including the much-loved \u2018Staffie\u2019 TV commercial for Dunlop Tyres \u2013 which won a prized Loerie, and was voted South Africa\u2019s \u2018best-loved ad of the year.\u2019<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

I spent my first 10 years with them and I loved the job so much I remember telling Robin Putter, the creative director, that even if they didn\u2019t pay me I\u2019d still come to work. In 1990, I moved to Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town, where I worked with Roger Makin and Brian Searle-Tripp, before going on to Young & Rubicam, The White House, DDB, and Network. In 2002 I helped to co-found Machete.<\/p>\n

Though my awards cabinet \u2013 which includes two Loeries, two Plums, one Cat, and one New York finalist \u2013 speaks to my passion for original thinking and creativity, I have no doubt that my strategic nous is just as valued at Machete.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve spent my entire working life in advertising and have loved every minute of it! They say if you love what you do, it\u2019s not a job.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”medium” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Back To Team” url=”https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/our-team\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”When I\u2019m not working” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643029230158{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

    \n
  • I love painting and am currently doing a series of portraits<\/li>\n
  • I also love pottering around in the garden<\/li>\n
  • I enjoy braaing with friends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”What I love about what I do” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643029247484{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n
      \n
    • Cracking the big idea<\/li>\n
    • Trying unusual layouts<\/li>\n
    • Knowing that your ad has helped a business grow<\/li>\n
    • The different challenges that you face every day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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