still playful at 5

Clay started out with a simple dream: to build a better creative agency, and have fun doing it.

 

Five years on, we’re still here. With the same playful spirit, but with bigger curiosity—and even brighter ideas. 

 

The past years have been a journey of the adaptability and innovation that have defined us.

 

We look back on how we’ve shaped Clay Creative Studio into our very own playground.

 

 

Breaking out of the mold

 

Every creative agency starts with a vision: ours was to break away from the template. 

 

We aimed to question, explore, and find better ways of creating, with the freedom to approach ideation, execution, and processes differently. 

 

Flexibility has proven essential since 2021, as we built and grew Clay despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic—making remote work our only choice.

 

“Ivan and I thought of putting up a company na hindi siya strict na ‘Ganito lang tayo dapat pwede mag-isip, ganitong klaseng campaign lang gagawin natin,’ shares Diona, one of Clay’s founders. 

 

Then came ‘Shaping better ideas.’

 

Our tagline has become our mindset in design-thinking and problem-solving to find the most effective answers “not just for creative work, but also in terms of workflow, our relationship with clients, and the way we evolve as a team,” adds Ivan.

 

 

Half a decade of shaping creativity

 

We’ve seen trends come and go, algorithms shift, and ‘AI’ go from a buzzword to something that’s now part of everyday conversations.

 

Clay kept moving through change, big and small.

 

We’ve grown client partnerships across industries as we took on bigger challenges and updated our ways of working. From just one in 2021, we’ve gained 14 clients in the last five years.

 

Some projects started out small. Others were monumental. 

 

All of them continue to remind us of our why.

 

“Clay’s approach is fresh, relevant, relatable, and bold. They work with their creative liberty intact without losing sight of the client’s vision,” says Jeff Mejia of MEJIA Strategic Solutions. “The result? My website, which, by my own accord, has become a standout in my industry.”

 

Mayer Steel Pipe shares, “Clay was able to break down the steps, taking us through the rebranding process in which we were able to articulate our needs. Their guidance and support in refining our ideas further are much appreciated as well.”

 

“We work closely with them to a point where they can trust us with their production autonomously,” Ivan shares. “That’s a milestone for us kasi we’re not just developing materials, but also a good relationship with clients.”

 

 

Opening our Clayground

 

Clay is its people—our Claymates.

 

We’ve built a work-smart culture grounded in continuous discovery. 

 

Mar, a Claymate of five years, describes it as “our openness to potential.” Whether it’s an idea in a brainstorm, a new team member, or something outside our usual, we’re always trying, learning, and figuring out what works best. 

 

Openness goes hand in hand with trust. 

 

It’s a balance that strengthens workplace collaboration and employee engagement. Syd, one of Clay’s first employees, shares, “I like that we’re trusted to take ownership of our work, but at the same time, we know that the team is there to support us.” 

 

No pressure to get it right the first time. Our Clayground allows us to discover and genuinely enjoy what we do, so we can flourish together.

 

 

Making room for play

 

Sustainable creativity is the product of our work culture. 

 

At Clay, we collaborate with each other at the same level. No calling anyone ‘ma’am’ or ‘sir’ needed—just respect that doesn’t require any label. 

 

“If you remove those barriers, everyone will be free to express themselves. We want to create a safe space muna, kasi quality ideas will naturally come out if we have that,” Ivan says.

 

From our annual Claycon to trips abroad and out of town, making it out of the group chat to recharge from our back-to-back deadlines is just one of the many ways we connect with the team to boost our employee experience. 

 

Playing, as Diona puts it, “is being as authentic as we can,” which carries into how we work—building a creative environment where one feels comfortable bringing their true self in.

 

 

The shape of things to come

 

For us, looking ahead means staying open—to emerging ideas, ways of collaborating, and strategies to solve our clients’ problems. 

 

“Of course, we need to talk about AI as it affects us in many ways,” Ivan reflected. “But right now, we’re just trying to uphold our core values, while being flexible and adaptable.” 

 

Our founders see Clay’s future much like its namesake: something that continues to take shape, overcoming whatever challenges lie ahead. Growth becomes possible in every opportunity that pushes us to evolve as an agency. 

 

Through it all, our core service remains: human creativity.