From arty kid to Art Director

Kayla Tully didn’t have a lot of guidance growing up, she says, but she had a drive to create. And though she moved around a lot, having been born in Alabama and grown up in Nashville Tennessee, she painted and created and never ceased to find new ways to channel her inner artist. Later, when she found herself living in New York City, bartending to support herself, she still painted in her spare time and put on small DIY art exhibitions with her friends. Creativity was in her bones, but it wasn’t until she took part in the D&AD Shift Programme that she “embraced her weird” and channelled it into a career.

Having developed her professional skills and made important connections on the Shift Programme, by meeting leaders in the industry she might otherwise have never had access to, Kayla works as an Art Director in the creative industry, and has worked for advertising giant BBDO. Hear Kayla’s story in this short film by Shift London Alum Edem Wornoo, who himself has built a name as a director since his Shift graduation. 

Learn more about D&AD Shift with Google here, including how to apply for the next Shift London programme.

Credits: Director: Edem Wornoo; Executive Producer: Juliet Cass; Line Producer: Lucy Rennick; DOP: Lauren Mendoza; 1st AC: Virginia Taglia; 2nd AC/Loader: Hilla Eden; Art Director: Jean Tarza; Sound Op: Kevin Fann; PA: Jana Luste; Post house: Avenues Studio; Editor: Amy Dang; Motion Designer: Stefan Iyapah; Colourist: Sharon Chung; Producer: Amanda Jenkins; Mixer: Ieva Vaiti; Music & Sound Design: AyChibs