Leading experience design and production agency, Thinkwell Group, has responded to the rapid growth of its Asia operations with two key appointments.
Evi Sari takes on the role of Managing Art Director and Yan Yan assumes the position of Director of Business Development.
Yan has more than 15 years’ experience in the entertainment and media industries having worked for Reuters TV, Getty Images and Condé Nast China. She has been tasked with sourcing and reviewing new business opportunities, retaining and developing existing client relationships and executing long-term strategic plans.
Sari brings 10 years' experience to Thinkwell, most recently as creative development director at Tim Yip Studio. Her work at the studio, set up by the Oscar-winning production designer of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", included "The Banquet" produced by Huayi Bros, The Weinstein Company and Netflix series "Marco Polo, " and the Kennedy Centre’s Festival of China.
Her new role is to liaise between Thinkwell’s U.S.- based art directors, the China-based design teams and clients in Asia, to manage talent, mentor designers, and support business development.
Kelly Ryner, President of Thinkwell Asia, comments, "Building a design studio in Beijing to mirror our studio in Los Angeles is no small task, but the talent we are finding here in China is quickly solidifying our ability to continue the amazing work we do in the location based entertainment industry.”
These two key appointments are designed to further advance the company’s operations in the region. Thinkwell already has a significant presence in the marketplace, having helped major studios, casino owners, and Fortune 500 companies to expand their brand and intellectual properties overseas. Recent projects in China include partnering in the strategy, creation, and development of new intellectual properties, as well as diverse projects for heritage attractions, educational experiences, theme parks and resorts with developers such as Zhonghong Group, Eontime, Le Song, Legend Tourism, and Huayi Brothers Studios.
Ryner: “Our team in China is an extension of our U.S. operations, providing our clients just the right balance of Eastern and Western creativity and business sense.”
