Peter Arnell Explained

Peter Arnell
Birth Date:1958 4, df=yes
Occupation:Branding and design consultant
Known For:Founder and CEO of Arnell Group

Peter Eric Arnell (born April 22, 1958) is an American designer and branding executive, author, photographer, and founder of Arnell Group. He is known for creating products, brands and campaigns for companies including Chrysler, PepsiCo., Reebok, Fontainebleau Resorts,[1] Donna Karan and Unilever, and he has written extensively on architectural theory and art history.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life and education

Arnell was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. His father, who changed the family name from Abraben to Arnell, was a mechanical engineer. His grandfather, a Russian immigrant, was a fishmonger; as a child, Arnell sometimes accompanied him to work at the Fulton Fish Market.[6]

Arnell studied architecture at Brooklyn Technical High School. He graduated in 1976.[6]

Career

Arnell started his career as an intern working for Michael Graves. There he met Ted Bickford, and the two collaborated on a series of books about artists and architects[2] before forming Arnell-Bickford in the early 1980s.[7]

Bergdorf Goodman fashion director Dawn Mello hired Arnell-Bickford to create ads for Bergdorf, and they later worked on in-store designs and promotions for Donna Karan's new clothing line.[7] During his work for Donna Karan, Arnell created DKNY and its signature style, first with a black-and-white photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge, and later with DKNY's logo featuring the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

By 1985, the agency's income reached $4.4 million per year, with clients including Anne Klein, Bank of America, Chanel, Condé Nast, Consolidated Edison, Ray-Ban, Rockport and Tommy Hilfiger.

In 1993, Bickford left the company and Arnell renamed it Arnell Group.[7]

Arnell partnered with architect Frank Gehry on projects such as the Barclays Center[8] and the Sentosa resort and aquarium between 2006 and 2010.[9]

In early 2000, Arnell sold a 55% stake in Arnell Group to Draft Worldwide, and the firm became AG Worldwide.[10] Shortly after in 2001, Arnell bought back his shares from Draft[11] and sold the entire firm to Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC).[12] In 2008, AG was hired to redesign the logo for Pepsi[13] and Tropicana.[14] For both companies, Arnell wanted to "evolve [it] to a more modern state"[15] but the rebrand for Tropicana was scrapped after being poorly received by consumers.[16]

He remained chairman and Chief Creative Officer until 2011, when he left Omnicom amidst disputes with the company which were then settled in 2012.[17]

Arnell founded Intellectual Capital Investments (ICI) in New York City in 2011.[18] In 2013, Arnell worked with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to create ThaiWorks for SMEs (small and medium enterprises), artisans and OTOP's of Thailand.[19] He has also worked with GNC,[20] Digicel,[21] Fontainebleau Resorts and Lowe's Home Improvement.

In 2014, Arnell's photography was showcased in Milk Gallery in New York City.[22]

Arnell, in his role as chief brand and design officer for Fontainebleau Development, designed the animation for the Times Square Ball for New Years' celebrations of 2024. The 'bow tie' design Arnell used connected the New Years event with the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and the inaugural opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotels.[23] [24]

He also was responsible for the architecture and design of the "Hall of Excellence," a museum housed in the Fontainebleau Las Vegas featuring sports memorabilia from the collections of Tom Brady and Jim Gray, which opened in early 2024.[25]

Community service

Arnell created the identity and graphics for the Council of Fashion Designers of America's "Fashion for Haiti" fundraising drive after the earthquake in 2010,[26] and the charity shirt "Fashion for America," which raised $2 million for the 9/11 Twin Towers Fund in 2001.[27] He designed the 9/11 Tribute Museum's exhibit to commemorate the rescue workers.[28]

Arnell has worked with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the FDNY Foundation on safety campaigns.[29]

Publications

Arnell has written, edited and contributed to over 20 additional publications in architecture, art history, photography and branding.

His works include:

Selected awards and recognition

Several of Arnell's ads and campaigns have won awards, including:

2003: Cannes Gold Lion for Best in Category – “Terry Tate, Office Linebacker”[33]

2007: Ellis Island Medal of Honor[34]

Notes and References

  1. News: Lochhead . Colton . Peter Arnell, chief creative and brand officer, center, mingles with John Callahan, managing director . Las Vegas Review-Journal . 9 November 2021.
  2. Web site: November 18, 2002. The gospel of Peter: Arnell on a mission. www.adage.com.
  3. Web site: October 4, 2004. Like him or not, Arnell can help us design next generation. www.adage.com.
  4. News: Elliott. Stuart. November 3, 2004. Thinking Outside the Marketing Box. 0362-4331. www.nytimes.com.
  5. Web site: February 11, 2009. 'Breathtaking' Is One Word for Purported Arnell Pepsi Doc. www.adage.com.
  6. Web site: March 27, 2009. The Crazy Genius of Brand Guru Peter Arnell. www.newsweek.com.
  7. Web site: Adbrands Archive:Arnell Group.
  8. Web site: September 11, 2006. The true brand architects. www.adage.com.
  9. Web site: Atlantis Sentosa Frank Gehry. Mutual Studio - Independent design studio in Amsterdam.
  10. News: March 10, 2000. THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Hard to believe, but the direct marketer Draft Worldwide will acquire the iconoclastic AG.. 0362-4331.
  11. News: May 7, 2001. Addenda: Executive Buys Back a 55% Stake in AG. en-US. 0362-4331. www.nytimes.com.
  12. Web site: Omnicom snaps up Arnell Group. www.campaignlive.co.uk.
  13. Web site: Pepsis Nonsensical Logo Redesign Document. Jim Edwards. 10 February 2009.
  14. Web site: Peter Arnell Defends Tropicana Rebrand. 27 February 2009.
  15. Web site: What to learn From Tropicana's Packaging Redesign Failure. Marion. 1 May 2015.
  16. Web site: Tropicana Discovers Some Buyers are Passionate About Packaging. Stuart Elliot. 22 February 2009. New York Times.
  17. Web site: February 15, 2012. Peter Arnell Settles With Omnicom, Closing Book on Library Lawsuit. www.adage.com.
  18. Web site: Marketing Guru Peter Arnell Shares his Thoughts on Creativity and Branding. 11 October 2017.
  19. Web site: September 11, 2003. Thaksin hires 2 global top creative, Peter Arnell & Frank Gehry, to help Thai SMEs build brand. Thai Intel Economics News.
  20. Web site: January 31, 2013. See Peter Arnell's First New Work Since He Was Fired From His Own Agency 2 Years Ago. Business Insider.
  21. Web site: January 30, 2013. Peter Arnell Is Back -- and Creating Campaigns for GNC. Ad Age.
  22. Web site: March 24, 2014. Peter Arnell's Personal Photography at Milk Gallery – Peter Arnell iPhone Photos. DuJour.
  23. News: Morillo . Elly . 2024 NYE ball unveiled ahead of iconic Times Square celebration . brooklyn.news12.com . 28 December 2023.
  24. News: Zanger . Jesse . Times Square New Year's Eve ball gets bow tie makeover . cbsnews.com . 27 December 2023.
  25. News: Gaydos . Ryan . Fink . Larry . Tom Brady's Super Bowl rings shine brightly at Fontainebleau Las Vegas . FOX News . 9 February 2024.
  26. Web site: January 25, 2010. CFDA Launches Fashion For Haiti Effort. WWD.
  27. Web site: Feb 10, 2010. Beyonce Official Face for "Fashion for Haiti" T-Shirt. Hollywood News.
  28. News: Lockwood. Lisa. Media People: Peter Arnell Talk About his Career, How Branding has Changed, and His Most Memorable Campaigns. 15 March 2023. Women's Wear Daily.
  29. News: Chan. Sewell. 2006-05-09. Fire Department Tries a Softer, Gentler Approach. 0362-4331.
  30. Web site: Shift by Peter Arnell.
  31. Web site: Gucci: The Making of.
  32. Web site: Peter Arnell, Branding Expert, Designer, Photographer, Author, and Marketing Executive Releases his Book on his 40 years of Groundbreaking Creativity and Innovation. 28 February 2023.
  33. Web site: Wiese. Mike. 2016-02-05. Terry Tate: The Forrest Gump of branded content. www.campaignlive.com.
  34. Web site: Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007). www.govinfo.gov.