Sundance Brunch: Michael Kern

At my 😍 heart, I'm a maker, a doer, an entrepreneur, a creative. I started pushing pixels out of curiosity. Twenty-five years later, I'm privileged to have built some of the world's most innovative digital experiences, content, and design.

Today, I serve as Chief Creative Officer and Founder of Playfight, an independent creative, story, and production studio. We believe different is everything. That brands need both art and commerce. We are founder-led and craft-driven, because the future of creativity lives in tight, experienced teams. No bureaucracy, just better relationships, deeper customer connection, and ultimately, a better business.

Before Playfight, I founded Welikesmall, a world-renowned digital agency acquired in 2019 by Thinkingbox. Then, as CCO, I led an amazing team of 50+ creatives, orchestrating the successful acquisition and integration of Antisocial (social media agency) and The Heist (film production studio) helping make it one of AdAge's fastest-growing agencies.

I've been fortunate to collaborate with brands that dream big – Adobe, Nike, Starbucks, Disney, Google, Netflix, Meta, and more. But what really gets me excited? Creating experiences that make people feel something. Whether I'm directing a film, designing a product, or mapping out a brand strategy, it's all about the emotional connection.

Outside the studio, you'll find me climbing mountains, skiing sketchy lines, or cycling ridiculous distances. Like great storytelling and design, it all demands equal parts persistence and calculated risk.

Fighting for authenticity. Making the different.