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Daniel Kestenbaum, professionally known as Dak, has made an undeniable impact as a creative director. Displaying perseverance and passion throughout his inspiring journey, Dak’s talent has propelled him to establish an iconic portfolio of work with some of the industry’s most successful artists and labels.
Born in Honduras, Dak always knew being an artist was his calling. Moving to the US at 12, he faced a culture shock and a language barrier, yet he overcame these challenges. This experience equipped him to overcome the obstacles that arose while pursuing his dreams and breaking into the industry. Encouraged by an art teacher, the young creative evolved into a multifaceted talent, adeptly blending various art mediums as a creative director. At the same time, he learned to embrace the rich uniqueness and fresh perspective of his Honduran identity.
Dak’s creative history boasts an impressive array of accomplishments, dating back to his youth, when his art was chosen to represent his native Honduras at the Children’s Museum in Hamada, Japan. This early recognition marked a pivotal moment for Dak, igniting his path toward a triumphant professional career in the arts.
More of Dak’s visionary achievements include contributing to the creative direction and illustration for the cover art of the wildly viral TikTok hit “If We Ever Broke Up” by Mae Stephens, which has garnered over 250 million streams. Dak’s contributions to this platinum song resulted in his artwork and illustrations being shared hundreds of thousands of times globally.
Dak served as the creative director and editor for the music video of Grace Weber’s “Lonely,” for which he also received writing credits. The “Lonely” music video is now in regular rotation on BET TV, fulfilling Dak’s long-held dream of having one of his creations featured on television.
The gifted artist has provided creative direction for numerous commercially successful songs, music videos, and talented artists. Dak directed, shot, and edited the cover art for IV4’s widely-streamed single “Stroke ft. Jeremiah,” and he was the creative director for the music video, which has garnered nearly 500K views. Dak’s creative direction work on Loony’s single “First Thing Smoking” allowed him to construct a visual world for the song, leading to his first billboard placement in Toronto and his images being featured as cover art in collaboration with Apple Music’s Acoustic Sessions.
Dak spearheaded the creative direction of his custom handbag line, The Dak Bag, which is highly coveted by celebrities. The bag also took center stage as a focal point in French Montana’s music video for “Bag Season.”
Well-acquainted with life’s twists and turns, Dak has come to appreciate the significance of moving forward with kindness. Rooted in kindness and creativity, Dak has a clear vision for his projects and future. He envisions leaving a significant mark in the realms of creative direction and fashion. His plans include collaborations with his favorite art brands and ventures into shooting major fashion magazine covers, campaigns, and billboards. Dak’s array of accomplishments and collaborations with major artists and labels stands as a testament to his remarkable ability to bring artful, ambitious visions to life.
