Designing the Never Before: Explored the role of creativity in shaping the future at a moment of rapid technological change. The talk reframes AI as a powerful tool, not a creative replacement, and argues that human perspective, taste, and intuition remain essential. Through culture, curiosity, and lessons from the next generation, it challenges designers to stay adaptive, optimistic, and bold, and to see creativity not as reaction, but as an active force for inventing what does not yet exist.

A discussion about UX becoming the new logo, the moment that shapes trust and emotional connection when everyone uses similar models. As interfaces fade into gestures, language, and invisible systems, small details like tone, timing, warmth, and recovery matter more than ever. Brands now need to communicate clearly to both people and algorithms. And to wrap up, we’ll look at Spark, the AI robot dog whose expressive personality shows how joyful and alive the next generation of AI experiences can feel.

Swell is a curated gathering of ~100 AI leaders, builders, and investors who believe that how AI is experienced matters as much as what it can do.
It’s an intimate, purpose-driven summit — built for deep conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connection. Together, we’re shaping a future where AI goes beyond intelligence to become useful, usable, and truly delightful.

Kiser Barnes on the jury for this year’s Young Guns awards from The One Club for Creativity, recognizing the most original creative talent under 30.

Time and again we see some of the most innovative, boundary pushing work come from those who are just getting started. It’s an honor to play a role in fostering the next generation of voices shaping the industry.

Designing for A Changing World with Marketing Brew/Morning Brew. Kiser explores how brands are built in a fully customized, AI-shaped world where no two people experience the same brand. The talk reframes fragmentation as the new reality and argues that control is no longer the goal. Instead, brands must shift from rigid rules to intelligent orchestration. By defining a clear core truth, designing modular systems, and listening to culture in real time, brands can create millions of unique experiences that still feel cohesive, human, and unmistakably true to who they are.

A dynamic collision of minds where legacy enterprises and scrappy startups converge to rewrite the rules of marketing innovation.
Imagine a space where a Fortune 500 marketing leader trades game-changing insights with a startup founder who's disrupting an entire industry; a place where agility isn't just a buzzword, but a live-wire strategy that transforms how brands connect, grow and thrive. We're bringing together the sharpest minds across the marketing ecosystem to prove that the most powerful innovation happens when we break down barriers and collaborate with one another.

Honored to join the board of AIGA New York, an organization deeply committed to championing the future of design for all.

As we enter the next era of creativity -> where design, technology, culture, and experience collide. I’m excited to help shape multi-disciplinary, experience-led programming that reflects the expansive future of our field.

We’ll explore the power of borrowed equity, dive into best-in-class collabs, and uncover strategies for aligning talent with brand values to maximize impact. Kiser Barnes, Red Antler, Megan Baumann, State Farm, Kerry Benson, Kantar, Emilie Bridon, Microsoft, Jazmine Chase, Amazon MGM Studios, Marie-Laure De Veyt, Microsoft, Tammy Henault, NBA, Cole Mason, Pearpop, Jenny Rooney, ADWEEK, William White, Walmart.

Design Jury. Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Honored (and super excited) to be judging the Design Lions. I can’t wait to bring my perspective and voice to the Jury room as we spotlight the groundbreaking creativity that will set the benchmark for the year ahead.

What does creativity look like in a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI? In this episode, Katy Cowan speaks with Kiser Barnes, partner and chief creative officer at Red Antler, about the evolving relationship between technology and creativity. Together, they explore how AI presents both thrilling opportunities and existential challenges for the creative industry. Kiser emphasises the critical role of storytelling, optimism, and authenticity as we move into an increasingly AI-driven world.

What’s the Future of AI in Creative Work?
Chatting with Red Antler's Chief Creative Officer on creativity in a burning world, how to use as AI as a partner, digging past the noise to make something beautiful.
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, what role do you think artists and creativity play in helping people make sense of it all?

A Day In The Life
Kiser Barnes is a visionary creative working at the intersection of design, culture, and innovation. As chief creative officer and partner at Red Antler, Kiser approaches his work with a "holistic, forward-thinking approach to brand building", turning ideas into innovative experiences.

Brooklyn agency Red Antler named Kiser Barnes as partner and chief creative officer to elevate the work of its client roster, expand its portfolio of global business partners and solidify the agency’s creative reputation.
Barnes comes to Red Antler from Digitas, where he served as executive vice president, head of design. His years of design savvy and a varied background that found him raised in west Africa and the Middle East made him the right fit for an agency that was founded in 2007 by JB Osborne and Emily Heyward and built on a reputation of brand building and design.

Working with Cancer has been recognised by Cannes Lions with the Grand Prix for Good, designed to celebrate the use of creativity to positively impact not only business and brand, but also the world at large. With over 600 pledging businesses, impacting more than 20 million employees, Working with Cancer is a true cross industry coalition, driving societal progress across cultures and geographies, to end the stigma of cancer in the workplace. Momentum continues to soar, spanning corporate sectors including government, most recently with the French state confirming to sign the pledge.

Publicis Groupe is the big winner in LVMH’s North American media review, according to three people close to the situation. The French luxury fashion and wine and spirits conglomerate hired the Paris-based holding company to handle brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moët Hennessy and Celine, the three people said.

Delta and Starbucks won CES best activation with its “Wonder Window” game when a San Francisco software programmer hit the jackpot and tweeted himself winning two roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the world. The sheer exuberance expressed in the video nailed exactly what CES 2023 was all about - a return to good times no matter what.

Barnes was a key member of Dept. W, made up of a group of leaders from Digitas, Publicis New York and Fallon that helped Walmart launch Walmart Land and The Walmart Universe of Play. The activation attracted 4.9 million visitors and increased the brand’s likeability among Gen Z consumers, with a 10% lift in “Brand Affinity” and a 21% lift in “Likely to Recommend.” The experience was named one of the Top 5 gaming activations of 2022 by Ad Age.

Walmart entered Roblox in September with not one but two activations—Walmart Land and Walmart’s Universe of Play. Walmart Land features a "House of Style" virtual dressing room that includes a strike-a-pose challenge, an oversized cosmetics obstacle course and a roller-skating rink. It also includes music festival-inspired Electric Island, with an interactive piano walkway, a dance challenge, Netflix trivia experience and a DJ booth, where users can learn to mix different beats.

Delta Airlines launches it’s Sync App. To promote the partnership, the companies headed to the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a notoriously busy event where cutting through the noise would require an extra dose of creativity.
Enter the Wonder Window, an interactive experience that debuted on the CES showroom floor. In the installation, participants stepped up to a physical window and were virtually transported to immersive destinations far from the crowds and chaos.