David is an accomplished keynote speaker and guest lecturer who has given keynote talks at Harvard, Cornell, Pratt and Columbia University in addition to speaking at industry events such as the Cannes Lions, One Club, Ciclopes, D&AD, C2 Montréal and more.
Podcasts
The Only Job Left is Creative
Jake Neske and Gully Flowers, co-founders of Also Known As sat down with David Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Squarespace, live at SXSW in Austin to discuss the intersection of creativity, technology, and business.
David shares insights from his career journey, emphasizing the importance of creativity in driving business success and the need for creatively trained individuals in leadership roles.
The discussion also touches on the future of work, the role of education in fostering creativity, and the evolving landscape of C-suite roles.
Takeaways:
Creativity is essential for business success.
The entrepreneurial itch drives innovation.
Creativity should be viewed as a competitive sport.
In-house creativity can rival external agencies.
Education should focus on fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Human craft will be the new luxury in the future.
The future of work will prioritize creative jobs.
Leadership roles will increasingly require creative thinkers.
The next five years will be crucial for the evolution of creative roles.
The Cult of Squarespace
David Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Squarespace, joins us on this weeks episode. Discover the truth about unleashing creativity beyond your full potential, the roadmap to how award-winning campaigns happen, and why connecting your ideas to your passions is the key to breaking societal noise. Dive into the "Cult of Brand" podcast, where brand creatives and cult scholars unravel the mysteries behind iconic followings. Explore the parallels between cult devotion and brand allegiance, sipping from the cup of forbidden knowledge in a realm where the Kool-aid flows freely, revealing the secrets of brand strategy and psychological allure.
Why Creativity Needs a Seat at the Adults Table
Creatives are often seen as the crazy ones, and creativity as a nice-to-have in the context of business. But that’s not going to be enough for businesses and individuals in an age where creativity may be the only job left for humankind. On this week’s episode, we welcome back David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear about the importance of creativity at the adult’s table, effective ways to understand a company’s value proposition and what it truly cares about, and insights on companies placing ads during the Super Bowl.
Thriving in an Age of Automation
The world around us keeps changing, and that’s unlikely to slow down any time soon. What does it take to remain relevant in a deindustrialized world increasingly automated age of AI and machines? On this week’s episode, we welcome David Lee, Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, to hear his journey from designer to leader at one of the most successful tech companies in the US, his thoughts on why creativity is the only job left for humankind, and the increasing importance of working close to decision-makers to have a meaningful impact on business.
Exploring the Creative Landscape
On this week's episode, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Squarespace’s Chief Creative Officer David Lee to discuss the intricacies of creativity, brand strategy, and the evolving role of in-house capabilities. During the conversation, Lee shares his journey from the agency world to Squarespace and the company's focus on design, creativity, and personal brand representation as core pillars of its mission. They discuss the brand's presence at the Super Bowl and how their marketing initiatives expand beyond the Big Game. He also shares why he believes that creativity is inherent to all and that it will play an increasingly vital role in the future of work.
How to tell Sexy Stories About Unsexy Brands
Not every company has a whiz-bang product, so how can you make it pop? Squarespace Chief Creative Officer David Lee has done that, winning tons of awards and making campaigns with the likes of Adam Driver, Zendaya, Dolly Parton, Keanu Reeves and John Malkovich (which earned him an Emmy). Here, he offers a unique way for entrepreneurs to think about their brands, and some big questions to ask when you start crafting your new stories.
Listening to Your Inner Voice
"The Inner Voice". David Lee is the CCO of Squarespace. He is thoughtful, self-aware and restless. As you’ll hear, he’s allergic to the status quo. Which makes David and Squarespace a good fit. In many ways, Squarespace have been at the heart of the democratization of the internet. Unleashing creativity for millions of people who suddenly found they could be the designer of their own web presence. As a species, human beings crave control. With control, we can take care of the bottom two layers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Without it, everything else that we aspire to and yearn for is hopelessly out of reach with the emphasis on the hopeless.
Talks
One Show 2025
At the One Show 2025, Jury Presidents David Lee and Nancy Crimi-Lamanna have something to say about the judging experience. Lee, CCO of Squarespace, is leading the Brand-Side/In-House jury, while Nancy, CCO of FCB Canada, spearheads the Creative Use of Data + Creative Use of Technology, putting them in two separate rooms with different entries to judge and different objectives to meet.
Ciclopes Festival 2022
The Ciclope Festival is an international conference and award show that celebrates the craft of moving images. The festival is a platform for directors, producers, and other creatives to share a, be inspired, and celebrate the best work. The festival is a gathering of some of the top creative minds in the industry. It provides a chance for the most talented directors, producers, editors, and composers to get inspired, build professional networks, and elevate film craft. The festival also offers a library of over 100 talks by the most recognized directors, producers, and creatives around the globe.
D&AD Festival 2023
In his talk: Why creativity needs a seat at the adult’s table, held at D&AD Festival in London, Lee delves into the origin story of SquareSpace as a proud NYC brand and the way this is reflected within the design of its headquarters, located in Manhattan’s West Village. Speaking on how every brand touchpoint, no matter how small, offers a glimpse into the company’s narrative and what they actually care about he says, “Our DNA is built on creativity, design and craft. This is in the water that everyone is drinking.”
C2 Montréal 2022
C2 Montréal meaningfully connects people and organizations from diverse backgrounds, fields and industries in order to drive development in all its forms. We believe that society is at the heart of business. Which is why we put people’s stories and perspectives at the centre of the conversation. The theme this year is “Innovation Nation” and will be led by the Chief Creative Officer of Squarespace, David Lee.