One time, as a kid, he built a "time machine" out of Legos, cardboard, and duct tape. It didn’t work (obviously), but it sparked endless hours of storytelling about where he’d go if it did.

Fast forward to today, and that same imagination fuels Davor Bruketa, Co-Founder of Bruketa&Žinić&Grey — for those able to see beyond the heavy accolades of a 20+ year career that’s soared from Cannes Lions to AdAge’s celebratory pages.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet a true maverick: a “naughty boy” with innocent guilty pleasures like swimming naked or throwing epic, styrofoam-filled pool parties in his office — which, fun fact, used to be a toilet paper factory. An architectural comment on the quality we should aim for in our work, by the way.

Davor is not only a brilliant chairman — a respected presence on influential boards and in academia — but also a rare hybrid: a designer turned PR Houdini, able to convert unexpected perspectives into “spontaneous combustion”-like conversations that set media outlets on fire worldwide — no cent asked in the process.

Forged to outsmart the system and bring to life new, delightful worlds — even for the most challenging clients and topics out there — Davor does it all with an outrageous ease.

Davor, just being Davor, is a comforting thought for all the Mad Men still out there. And that’s exactly why we’re bringing him to Bucharest — to celebrate The Alternative School’s 20th anniversary as pioneers in private diplomacy, cultivating and promoting exceptional talent abroad since 2005, with box office results for the entire industry.

1. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Easy. Summer at our Croatian coast. And of course, swimming naked :)

2. A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY

Ah, Legos. My first love and my first creative obsession. As a kid, I didn’t just follow the instructions, I ignored them completely. Instead of building castles or spaceships, I created bizarre contraptions that made no sense to anyone but me. One time, I built a "time machine" out of Legos, cardboard, and duct tape. It didn’t work (obviously), but it sparked endless hours of storytelling about where I’d go if it did. That’s when I realized: creativity isn’t about following rules, it’s about breaking them and imagining something no one else can see yet.

3. BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS

Midnight brainstorming sessions with my team, fueled by a bit of good wine and questionable playlists. Something magical happens when you're sleep-deprived and laughing at terrible ideas that somehow morph into good ones.

4. THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST

Stina wine.

We received an order for a wine label.

We stuck a blank piece of paper on the bottle, got paid, and the brand became well-known within a few months.

Okay, we also made a short video explaining why the label is blank.

5. THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST

After 30 years of creating, it’s hard to pinpoint one project that stands out universally, everyone has their favorites. But if we’re going by the ones that made waves and brought home awards, “Untouched by Light” and “A soup to remember” are strong contenders. One pushed boundaries with a bold concept, while the other connected deeply through emotional storytelling. Both prove that great ideas resonate when they challenge expectations or touch hearts.

6. THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCAL CREATIVITY IS

We don’t take ourselves too seriously. There’s humour, grit, and a touch of rebellion in everything we do. It’s like we’re saying, “Yeah, we’re small, but watch us make something huge”.

7. BEST STATEMENT OF LOCAL HUMOR

I am really bad at jokes but here is one:

How do Croatians time travel? They started a government project in 2010, but whenever they check the project, it is still 2010.

8. ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO LOCAL CREATIVES

Don’t just look at portfolios, look at personalities. We’re not just creatives but storytellers, hustlers, and occasional magicians.

9. BEST PLACE IN ZAGREB

Our agency, of course.

10. BEST PLACE IN CROATIA

Hm, probably one of the many islands. I love Pag. And Vis.

11. MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS

That Croatia is just a summer destination with pretty beaches and talented football players. Sure, the coastline is stunning and we are good at sports, but reducing the country to sun, sea and football completely misses the mark. Croatia is bursting with creativity, innovation, and cultural depth, our design work is globally recognized, and our people are some of the most resourceful you’ll ever meet. We’re not just a postcard, we’re a powerhouse.

12. CROATIA SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

Beautiful landscapes, good people and even better food.

13. YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

It’s like creativity, you don’t have to see it to believe it.

14. YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

Honestly, money isn’t and shouldn’t be the most important thing in life, but it makes it better.

15. AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE (A BOOK, A DESTINATION, A MOVIE, FOLLOWING SOMEONE RELEVANT ON SOCIAL-MEDIA)

They should follow me on Instagram ;)

16. A LOCAL BASED FEMALE TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE PROMOTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AS EXPONENT OF LOCAL CREATIVE SPIRIT

I have to say my dear friends and colleagues, Andrea Knapić and Vlatka Mifka.

BIOGRAPHY

Davor Bruketa is a Chief Creative Officer and co-owner of Bruketa&Žinic&Grey. Advertising Age recognized BZG as an International Small Agency of the Year, and Campaign ranked it among the world's top independent agencies. In 2017, Bruketa&Zinic became a part of WPP as a brand and design hub within the global agency group Grey. Bruketa is a permanent member of the New York Cresta Awards Grand Jury and has also served as a jury member for other prestigious competitions, such as Cannes Lions, Red Dot, D&AD London, Art Directors Club New York, New York Festivals, Graphis, Young Guns, and OneScreen New York..

If you want a pre-taste of what it’s like to meet Davor, just spend half an hour in his digital company.

If you want to meet him live, drop us a line at andra@thealternativeschool.com and join us on April, 24th, at Brands Talk. Identity & Culture: Eastern European Creativity at the Czech Centre