Remembering David Kennedy: Adland legend passes at 82

Advertising legend and agency founder David Kennedy passed away on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at age 82. 

Kennedy was born on May 31, 1939 in Kansas to a family of third-generation wildcat drillers. Growing up on oil fields on the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains, he spent his childhood trout fishing in streams and rivers in the region.

After kicking off his career in advertising as a designer and art director at various agencies in Chicago, Kennedy joined McCann Erickson’s Portland, Oregon office in 1979. That’s where he met a young copywriter named Dave Wieden—and the rest was history. On April Fool’s day, 1982, the two struck out on their own to launch their world renowned, namesake agency.

Wieden+Kennedy’s iconic work spans clients including Nike, Honda, Travel Oregon and many more. Under the duo’s creative direction, the agency came up with legendary taglines, like Nike’s “Just Do It.” They also revolutionised creative style, through ads such as the Honda scooters spot featuring Lou Reed, which was shot documentary-style with a shaky camera and would soon become popular across the industry.

Kennedy retired in 1993, but remained involved with the industry and the agency he helped build. In 2011, Wieden+Kennedy launched The Kennedys, a creative incubator in Kennedy’s honor to bring in new talent outside of the industry pipeline. 

Kennedy also stayed involved with work for the American Indian College Fund, one of the agency’s longest-running accounts, serving on its board of trustees and taking part in developing its most recent campaign, which launched the day after his death. Kennedy’s family asks that gifts and donations be directed to the fund. 

In addition to his advertising career, Kennedy was a passionate welder. His first job at 13 years old was as an apprentice welder, and he received a fine arts degree in printmaking and metal sculptures from the University of Colorado. He continued to weld metal sculptures up until his death. 

Kennedy studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Artists Guild, the Pacific Northwest College of Art and the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, and was a member of the United States Marine Corps. He met his wife Kathleen in 1963 and they had five children.

He was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, the One Club Hall of Fame and AAF Hall of Fame. His work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. 

Dan Wieden once said, “David Kennedy’s heart and soul and neural pathways are etched deep inside Wieden+Kennedy. It’s who we are, it's what we do and it’s why we do it.”

Below are some recollections from Kennedy’s colleagues and friends. 

Dave Luhr, former chairman and president, Wieden+Kennedy

David wasn't just humble in advertising; he was humble in life. Even though he was a legend, David barely tolerated the advertising industry. 

David had three passions. His family and creativity were on that list. But his passion for helping the little guy is what made him so unique. Those who are too often overlooked and under-valued. And inspiring them to step up and do great things. People often ask me what made W+K so special. David Kennedy made W+K so special. We lost a great one. His imprint and legacy will live on.  

Karl Lieberman, chief creative officer, Wieden+Kennedy

His humility was so inspiring. You'd walk into the office in Portland and there he was—the co-creator of one of the greatest advertising agencies in the world—present and just massively humble. 

He was curious about our work and our lives. He was always ready to lend a hand in any way—whether that was helping find a photograph or design to reference that might make our work better, or literally taking the recycling out so that someone in facilities didn't have to do it. The man was a legend, but he never fell into any of the trappings that could come with that.

Colleen DeCourcy, president, Wieden+Kennedy

David Kennedy was the purest part of the heart of Wieden+Kennedy. 

Tom Blessington, chairman, Wieden+Kennedy

David Kennedy was the quiet craftsman. 

The Teller to Dan's Penn Jillette. 

The Art Garfunkel to Dan's Paul Simon. 

The John Oates to Dan's Daryl Hall. 

OK, you get the point. 

A man of few words, but gifted with a keen eye. David cared deeply about creativity in all forms. But he obsessed over art direction. When comping up ads moved from hand-drawn boards to computer layouts, David was a holdout. You could always find him (even decades post-retirement) tinkering in the Wieden+Kennedy Studio drawing, cutting, mounting something he was working on for the agency or his passion account, The American Indian College Fund. You could say he was a modern-day Mike Mulligan, and his steam shovel was a marker, an X-acto knife and a cutting board.

Because he was quiet by nature, you had to seek David out to get to know him. But when you made the effort, you were rewarded with the friendship of a man with a huge heart, a gentle soul, a sharp wit and a treasure trove of hilarious stories. 

Trish Adams, president; Rob Palmer, executive creative director; and Mark Fitzoff, founder and executive creative director, Opinionated Group

As W+Ker’s would put it: Who the fuck was David Kennedy?

He was a Westerner in the purest sense. He was anti-establishment, anti-authoritarian and pro-independence. The kindest human in the building, a link to the past, a legendary cowboy-art director shuffling along among us, his keys, like spurs, jingle, jangle jingling.

And damn, the three of us (and a few others at Opinionated) got to work with David for much of our careers. Amazing, just to reflect on that. Thanks to David, we became Westerners as well. We learned humility, the value of hard work (preferably done with one’s own hands) and an obsession with craft. 

Thank you David. Hoka hey.