ASTOUND Group Elevates Creative Vision with New Executive Team Leadership

ASTOUND Group Elevates Creative Vision

ASTOUND Group has announced an exciting new chapter in its evolution with the appointments of Ross Guntert and Ivan Druzic as Executive Creative Directors. Their arrival marks a significant enhancement of the creative leadership team at one of the top experiential design and fabrication studios worldwide. This development comes at a crucial time as ASTOUND expands its portfolio, securing new projects within Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League across the United States and Canada.

Leadership Expansion

The appointments of Guntert and Druzic are part of a broader strategy at ASTOUND Group to bolster senior leadership. Earlier this year, the firm welcomed a new Head of Sports and Chief Financial Officer, which has strengthened its commercial and category leadership. Now, with Guntert and Druzic on board, the creative capabilities of the studio are set to reach new heights, ensuring that ambitious concepts are seamlessly translated into built environments.

Ross Guntert: Head of Design

Ross Guntert brings nearly two decades of experience in architectural design and creative leadership. Most recently serving as Northwest Region Design Director at Gensler, he was instrumental in leading ambitious design projects, including NVIDIA's flagship headquarters in Santa Clara. Guntert's rich background includes work with notable studios like Snarkitecture in Brooklyn, where he explored the fusion of architecture, brand, and experiential design.

At ASTOUND, Guntert is tasked with establishing creative standards across various realms including architectural environments, exhibits, live events, and integrated brand experiences. His role emphasizes three critical areas: creative systems, operational excellence, and business growth. Guntert is particularly focused on integrating artificial intelligence into ASTOUND's creative practices, pushing the boundaries of what the studio's designers can achieve. This integration is already underway with new commitments to professional sports venues across North America, marrying rigorous architecture with captivating fan narratives.

Guntert expresses that, "The most powerful experiential design is not the most photographed, it is the most remembered. Space, brand, and experience are where my practice lives, and ASTOUND provides the ideal platform for carrying ideas from concept to execution without losing their essence."

Ivan Druzic: Experiential Creative Director

Ivan Druzic joins the team with over 20 years of experience across various sectors, including live events, digital marketing, and advertising. His work has consistently focused on transforming consumer insights into immersive brand experiences. Druzic's tenure at Mosaic North America culminated in a role as Vice President of Creative Operations, where he led the acclaimed Sensorium immersive dining experience for Stella Artois, effectively encapsulating a brand's essence in a multi-sensory environment.

At ASTOUND, Druzic shapes experiential concepts that will resonate throughout the studio's diverse clientele. His partnership with Guntert blends architectural design leadership with a transformative approach to experiential storytelling, creating a robust creative duo equipped to tackle everything from large corporate showcases to sophisticated stadium sponsorship activations.

Dale Morgan, CEO of ASTOUND Group, states, "The investments we've made in leadership resonate deeply with what we can achieve at venue scale. Ross’s system-based design approach, coupled with Ivan's capacity to translate brands into engaging experiences, elevates the expectations for every client we serve."

Looking Ahead

With the appointment of Guntert and Druzic, ASTOUND Group is strategically positioned to integrate physical environments with digital experiences, fostering stronger connections between brands and consumers. Their collective leadership promises to enhance the firm’s ability to deliver measurable outcomes across various domains such as sports venues, retail environments, and live events. ASTOUND Group is committed to innovating in experiential marketing, creating environments that foster lasting impressions and relationships between brands and their audiences.

As ASTOUND continues its journey of growth and innovation, the experiences crafted under the guidance of Guntert and Druzic are poised to raise the bar in experiential design, setting new standards within the industry.