Dante Media
We are thrilled to announce our newest addition to the Ethical Agency Alliance: Dante Media.
Dante Media is a creative agency that believes in the power of creativity to make a real difference. They partner exclusively with organisations driving positive impact, helping them tell their stories, shape strategies, and create work that lasts. At Dante, creativity isn’t just about campaigns or branding: it’s a mindset woven into every step, from strategy to reporting. With purpose, ethics, and sustainability at their core, they don’t just deliver projects: they enable change, giving clients the insight and tools to amplify the impact they’re already making.
Find out more: https://www.dante.media/
Below, read the interview with Âli Okumuşoğlu, Founder of Dante Media👇
What does creativity for good look like to you?
I think creatives today have a big role to play in systems-level change and innovation globally. It's not only about coming up with creative campaigns, strategies and brands, but finding new ways to make an impact through our work and focusing on the role it can play in the bigger picture of things, beyond immediate KPIs and ROI.
At Dante, creativity isn't only for designers and copywriters, but something we focus on at every step of our work from strategy to reporting.
How do you drive change in your work?
We see it as quintessential to partner exclusively with organisations creating a positive impact. Regardless of budget or size, we don't work with organisations not aligned with our mission and values.
Considering the lasting impact our work can have beyond immediate results, we see driving change as a process rather than a product. By giving our clients the insight and tools to communicate the impact they are already making, we see ourselves more as an enabler for driving change.
What are some examples of creativity being used to drive climate action that inspire you?
The 'Atmospheric Agency' initiative was really striking to me and was perhaps the first moment I realised how much of an impact communication professionals can have in the climate discourse globally. Both the serious framing as well as well-thought messaging initially made me confused, until I realised the whimsical goal of this 'new agency' which clearly shows the important role we have to play as agencies.
When and how did you have the 'aha'-moment to transition your agency to focus on sustainability?
Dante was built as an agency that exclusively works on positive impact.
My 'aha' moment came during university at an advanced PR class while doing a case study on how an petrol company might do crisis communication following an oil spill on a local lake in a small town. Working to draft several press releases alongside a campaign to mitigate the negative impact this might have on the image of the company, I realised I could not possibly spend a moment of my career - nor life - serving a purpose that is harming the planet and humanity.
Coupled with a brilliant professor teaching a 'communication for change' class, I realised that there are more paths to go down as a communication professional and align my career goals with personal values to wake up everyday doing something I deeply care about.
What is your biggest challenge as an Ethical Agency?
It is often difficult to convince clients to make a decision on a project that has a long-lasting, system's level impact than that of immediate results and ROI. Our biggest challenge is implementing large-scale projects with the goal of making lasting change over time when clients tend to require short-term results to justify business expenditure.
Why did you join our Ethical Agency Alliance?
We feel that the Ethical Agency Alliance closely aligns with the mission & vision of Dante and can enhance the work we do through connecting with other professionals who are going through similar challenges while sharing experience and knowledge from our work. We are very excited to be part of this Alliance and to stand tall with other agencies making a commitment for a better world through their work.
What do you believe needs to change for the creative industry to be a real force for good?
I think change really needs to happen in the board room. More decision-makers need to realise the importance and value of creatives as well as the communication industry overall in realising the impact which their organisations are trying to make. Unfortunately, I see this as going in the opposite direction right now, with many perceiving AI as a potential agent to 'replace' creatives. Communication professionals need to be given trust and space to help facilitate change.