Achievements &
Awards
Aside from one award-winning project featured in my portfolio — where I contributed through localisation and transcreation as part of the brilliant creative team at VML — I count my proudest accomplishments as directing my first advertisement, creating my first AI-generated short film, and seeing my first copy displayed on a billboard. These milestones mark the beginning of a journey I aspire to build upon with more award-winning work in the years ahead.
For me, however, success is not measured solely by trophies. It is found in the relationships I’ve built with fellow creatives, the smiles my work has brought, and the small changes my words have helped bring about.
If you’re curious about the kind of advertising that inspires me, I’ve curated a selection of my most admired work, organised according to the prestigious Cannes Lions award categories.
Education
Academic
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BSc. in Architectural Engineering, The British University in Egypt (BUE), Accredited by Loughborough University | Sept 2012 - June 2018
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Al Dhafra Private School (IGCSE/ Cambridge Curriculum), Abu Dhabi, UAE | Class of 2012
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Courses & Workshops
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NREA Workshop on On/Off-Grid Solar Panel Systems – May 2021
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Certified AutoCAD Course, Autodesk – Oct 2016
Self-learning
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Microsoft 365 Suite
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Adobe Photoshop + Illustrator (intermediate).
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Adobe Premiere Pro (intermediate)
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Canva
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Capcut
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Hubspot CRM Software (intermediate)
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Primavera P6 (Project management software)
My Resume
Creative Experience
Creative Catalyst | Arabic Copywriter
VML, Dubai, UAE | Sept 2024 – Present
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Selected for the inaugural Catalyst Programme, collaborating with top creatives post Wunderman Thompson & VMLY&R merger.
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Developed Arabic copy for 360° campaigns, strengthening brand resonance across digital, print, and outdoor.
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Enhanced storytelling craft and cultural communication within a global agency environment.
Bilingual Copywriter / Content Writer (Arabic-focused)
Freelancer, Egypt & UAE | Dec 2021 – Present
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Delivered ad copy, brand storytelling, and digital content for regional and international clients.
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Partnered with designers, videographers, and marketers to produce culturally aligned campaigns.
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Directed first advert project and supported academic and corporate clients with research-based content.
Creative Copywriter
Nawwar Studio, Cairo, Egypt | Sept 2020 – Mar 2022
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Wrote copy for animations and infographics targeting audiences in Egypt, GCC, and the EU.
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Produced brochures, social media content, and brand materials that supported client growth.
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Contributed to campaign development and creative concepts for diverse industries.
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Who Am I
Ismael Nasr
Copywriting Since Covid,
Writing Since Always...
My Story
My journey into copywriting began in the midst of the Covid pandemic, when my brother — knowing my love for storytelling, literature, and poetry — handed me my very first gig. What started as a favor quickly became a calling: the agency loved my work and offered me a position, where I honed my craft for nearly two years before moving into freelancing.
Before that, I had studied Architectural Engineering and worked in various engineering roles. I loved researching concepts, shaping ideas, and exploring visions, but disliked the long hours spent on design software just to bring them to life.
Copywriting gave me what architecture couldn’t: a way to express creativity through words, working alongside designers and art directors who could transform those ideas into striking visuals.
Since then, I’ve collaborated with agencies in Egypt and worked with clients across the GCC and EU. Growing up in Abu Dhabi gave me a natural familiarity with Emirati and wider Gulf culture, which helps me create work that feels authentic and relevant to audiences in the region.
Writing in Arabic comes instinctively, while English offers me an equally powerful outlet for ideas. Together. Both languages fuel my love for storytelling, rhetoric, and strategy.
In 2023, I returned to the UAE and joined VML Dubai as a Creative Arabic Copywriter, tapping into the WPP network to refine my craft and broaden my strategic perspective. Beyond advertising, I aspire to one day direct films and write novels, carrying the same love of narrative into new creative frontiers.