Oliver Thein is a Creative Director and Designer with 13+ years of experience leading projects across industries, with a strong focus on tech and innovation. He has worked in Los Angeles, New York, and London, translating strategic insights into visual work that drives real business impact. He has partnered with some of the world's largest companies to shape brand identities, campaigns, and experiences. Oliver holds a BA in Communication Design from the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg, Germany. He does not sound like Anna Delvey. Okay, maybe a little bit.

Clients

InstagramThreadsMicrosoftGoogleAmazonCoinbaseVISAEarnIneBayHyattKPMGSAPGE

Experience

Freelance, Los Angeles
2024–

Sterling, New York
2017–2024

Wolff Olins, New York
2015–2017

Wolff Olins, London
2013–2015

Contact

oliver.thein.mail@gmail.com
LinkedIn ↗

Awards & Press

Awards

Red Dot Award, Best of the Best
Integrated Campaign, Microsoft

Red Dot Award
Integrated Campaign, Microsoft

Graphis Design Award, Gold
Product Design, Microsoft

Graphis Design Award, Silver
Education / Print, Microsoft

Graphis Design Award, Silver
Education, Microsoft

iF Design Award
Integrated Campaign / Educational, Microsoft

iF Design Award
Product / Gaming / VR / AR, Microsoft / Xbox

Transform Awards North America: Silver
Best Brand Experience, Microsoft

Transform Awards North America: Bronze
Best Use of a Visual Property, Microsoft

Clio Awards: Bronze
Event / Activation Design, Coinbase

Clio Awards: Bronze
Special Build, Coinbase

Clio Awards: Shortlist
Experience / Activation, Coinbase

Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards: Honoree
Advertising & Marketing, Microsoft

Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards: Honoree
Best Graphic Design, Microsoft

VIEW MORE +

Press

It's Nice That
Studio Nari Wordmark Gives Threads a Voice of Its Own ↗

Fast Company
Threads Finally Gets a Logo Worthy of Its Ambitions ↗

ADWEEK
Cade Cunningham Takes on Robot Basketball Hoop ↗

Fast Company
Why Microsoft, Absolut Vodka, and Skittles' Pride Activations Actually Worked ↗

Finance Magnates
Inside FXCM's New Sister Trading Platform ↗

The Dieline
Sterling Gives Alcon a Trustworthy and Consumer-Centric Packaging System ↗

Dezeen
Microsoft's Open-Source Design for Pride Flag Incorporates 40 Communities ↗

Microsoft Design
Pride Should Be Open-Source ↗

Ad Age
Microsoft's Pride Platform Spans Product, People and the Metaverse ↗

Tearsheet
Brittanie Williams on EarnIn's Recent Rebrand ↗

Business Wire
Earned Wage Access Pioneer EarnIn Announces Strategic Brand Identity ↗

Design Milk
Microsoft Leads With Design + Technology to Celebrate Pride Through Radical Joy ↗

Design Milk
Microsoft Invites Xbox Gamers to Take Control of Pride ↗

IGN
Xbox Starts Pride Month With an Amazing New Controller Design ↗

Threads

New logo and wordmark for Threads. The brand refresh signals the platform's independent identity beyond Instagram, with italicized letterforms that convey forward momentum and distinction. The design features angled terminals and chiseled cuts inspired by the highlighter visual language, rendered as a continuous line that reinforces the hand-drawn aesthetic and the principle that conversation never stops. This work is establishing the foundations of a new design system for Threads' standalone era.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Creative Directors: Brett Itaya, Christy Silva Design Lead: Oliver Thein Executive Producer: Hannah May Designers: Aliza Grant, Mads Jakob Poulsen Product Design: Gui Schneider Agency Partner: Studio NARI

Coinbase One Card

Collaborated on the concept and visual execution of the Coinbase One Card announcement video, unveiled during the 2025 State of Crypto Summit.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Client: Coinbase Creative Director: Min Choi Senior Art Director: Oliver Thein Motion & 3D: Bérénice Golmann, Tendril Studio Producer: Allison Raich

Microsoft

Led creative development for Microsoft's global Pride campaign four years in a row, working closely with the Director of Global Brand Marketing and cross-functional teams. The annual initiative celebrates LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion, reimagining community flags through expressive visual storytelling across 50+ markets.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Agency: Sterling, New York Creative Director: Oliver Thein Executive Creative Director: David Israel Designers: Achu Fones, Joe Baglow, Ferran Feixas, Marisa Balmori, Nicholas Wright, Adrian Sie Client Directors: Neridah Leembruggen, Amanda Wittenberg

Coinbase, Riot Games

Developed the visual identity, broadcast graphics, announcement video, and supporting assets for Coinbase's partnership with LoL Esports and VALORANT Esports; uniting the brands in a bold, cohesive presence across platforms.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Client: Coinbase Creative Directors: Jaysn Kim, Mike Lee Senior Art Director: Oliver Thein Designers: Oliver Thein, Jordan Hoagbin Motion & 3D: Bérénice Golmann, Diegofunken Producer: Sem Kelati

Coinbase, NBA

Collaborated on an immersive fan experience for NBA All-Star Weekend, featuring a 17,000-pound pop-a-shot robot with gameplay tracked on a personalized, blockchain-powered microsite. Fans competed for exclusive prizes, including signed gear from James Harden, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Cade Cunningham.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Client: Coinbase Creative Directors: Esteban Cardona Jiménez, Jordan Pories Senior Art Director: Oliver Thein Robot Faces: Oliver Thein, Eric Reigert, Diegofunken Photography: Harrison Ford Spatial, Tech & Design: Hovercraft Robotics & Case Study Video: Volvox Labs Producer: Caitlin Killorin

Tradu

Led the brand identity development for Tradu, a multi-asset trading platform offering advanced tools across diverse financial markets. Collaborated closely with senior leadership, product, marketing, and strategy teams to shape the brand through intuitive guidelines, and a comprehensive asset library. Led the design of key platform screens to organize complex data clearly while embodying the brand, and provided ongoing consulting to refine the user experience and support rollout.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Agency: Sterling, New York Creative Director: Oliver Thein Executive Creative Director: David Israel Designers: Claudia Sandoval, Nick Dean Smith, Joe Baglow, Achu Fones, Marisa Balmori, Adrian Sie Executive Strategist: Jessica Trief Lighton Senior Strategist: Tyler Young Account Director: Amanda Wittenberg

Coinbase, Deribit

Collaborated on the announcement video and developed supporting visuals for Coinbase's milestone acquisition of Deribit, positioning the brand as the most comprehensive global crypto derivatives platform.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Client: Coinbase Creative Directors: Esteban Cardona Jiménez, Jordan Pories Senior Art Director: Oliver Thein Motion & 3D: Peter John Kearney, Diegofunken Producer: Esther Downie

EarnIn

Led development of a vibrant new brand identity for EarnIn, the leader in on-demand income access serving millions across the U.S. Rooted in consumer insights, the rebrand highlights EarnIn's mission to reduce financial anxiety and empower those living paycheck to paycheck. Collaborated closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to bring the app, TV ads, and multiple touchpoints to life.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Agency: Sterling, New York Creative Director: Oliver Thein Executive Creative Director: David Israel Designers: Ferran Feixas, Jimmy Canipel, Achu Fones, Lisa Nesbitt, Sydney Bradshaw Executive Strategists: Jessica Trief Lighton, Matthew Loebman Account Director: Amanda Wittenberg

NOS, Liga NOS

Developed the visual identity for NOS, the merger of Portugal's two largest entertainment and telecom companies. Crafted a visual system centered on connection and unity, represented by a wheel of spokes. Collaborated closely with senior leadership and local teams to ensure cultural relevance and broad engagement. Designed applications across digital, print, OOH, TV, packaging, and in-store experiences. Developed visual language for sub-brands and partnerships, including a music festival and Portugal's football league. Partnered with cross-functional teams to execute a successful brand rollout.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Agency: Wolff Olins, London Creative Directors: Sandy Suffield, Oliver Helfrich Designer: Oliver Thein Senior Strategist: Ben Maxwell Account Director: Natalie Bellis Case Study Photography: R-Typography

Grubhub, Seamless

Collaborated on the development of a bold new visual identity for Grubhub and Seamless, designed to capture a playful, mobile-first approach to food culture. Developed concept directions, crafted key assets and guidelines, and supported the design of Grubhub's updated app. Collaborated with internal teams to ensure a smooth implementation across touchpoints.

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PROJECT CREDITS +

Agency: Wolff Olins, New York Creative Director: Lisa Smith Designers: Oliver Thein, Erik Yang, John Provencher, Sue Murphy Illustrations: Albin Holmqvist Motion: Peter John Kearney

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