who the hell is J ?
Jay is a self-taught and highly ambitious creative problem solver with a passion for art and design. He started his career at Leo Burnett, Sri Lanka where he had success becoming the youngest 8ball winner (innovation category) in Asia.
He went on to achieve three 7+ from Leo Burnett worldwide internal awards for excellent print/outdoor work in 2017 & 2018. While at Leo Burnett Jayana was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Cannes Young Lions 2017 in Cannes, France after winning Gold at the local competition in Sri Lanka. In 2019 Jayana moved to Dubai to take up a role as an Art director at Rapp Middle East.
In just three months, he won the agency’s first award in the Loeries show for his Waitrose work and the agency became the 5th most creative agency in Dubai. He is currently working at RAPP Middle East, contributing to winning new businesses such as MG, MetLife, Kia, Samsung, Kelloggs, Evian, Upfield, Ikea, Waitrose and Exeed motors. He was also selected as a Jury Member of the WINA Latin award show & AdForum PHNX awards show.
He strongly believes his best work is yet to come.
AREAS OF EXPERTISES
Provocative Ideas
Creative Direction
Team Collaboration
Art Direction
Playing Tennis
Understanding People’s Behaviour
WORKING EXPERIENCE.
Designer at PRAUDA Colombo
Jan 2012 - July 2014
Masterclass Intern at LEO BURNETT Colombo
July 2014 - Aug 2015
Designer at INMARC Colombo
Aug 2014 - Mar 2015
Art Director at LEO BURNETT Colombo
Mar 2015 - Jan 2019
Creative Lead at RAPP Dubai
Feb 2019 - Apr 2024
Head of Art - PORSCHE at KEKO Dubai
May 2024 - Present
Creative Director at HURIWEGEN Dubai
Apr 2022- Present
Film Director at CLASSIQUE RACER Dubai
Jan 2023- Present
Automotive Photographer at RAFWERKS Paris
Jan 2024- Present
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS.
Waitrose Moon - 2 Shortlists for Digital Advertising
Waitrose Moon - 2 Shortlists for Media
Apsara Pearl - 3 Shortlists for Film Craft
Apsara Pearl - 1 Shortlists for Film
Dubai LYNX : 2021
Waitrose Moon - Digital Display Advertising - Bronze
Waitrose Moon - Digital Design - Short-listed
Loeries Awards 2019
Waitrose Moon - Best Art Direction - Bronze
Waitrose Moon - Digital Retail Campaign - Short-listed
MDC Awards 2019
Branding Identity design : Leo-care - Gold
Best Design/Illustration : DSI Beatlife - Gold
Best Integrated Print Campaign : DSI - Gold
Best Integrated Digital Campaign : DSI - Gold
Leo Burnett Awards : 2018
DSI Beatlife - Digital Campaign - Bronze
Effies 2018
Mobitel Buzzing Fence-Innovation Category - 8 Ball
Leo Burnett GPC - 2018
Young Lions Silver award for Print - Sri Lanka
Cannes Lions Festival 2018
Young Spikes Silver award for Integrated - Sri Lanka
Spikes Asia 2018
Jeep Print Series - Scored 7+
JEEP - Small parking print campaign - Scored 7+
Leo Burnett GPC - 2018
Young Lions Gold award for Print - Sri Lanka
Cannes Lions Festival 2017
Land Rover Print Series - Scored 7+
Leo Burnett GPC - 2017
Young Lotus Silver Award - Sri Lanka