About

Hi, I'm Daniel — 25+ year creative professional, strategist and project executor, and lifelong learner.

Originally from Budapest, Hungary, my parents moved us to the US to direct cancer research laboratories in Houston's medical center. I spent many years in Austin participating in its live music, film, startup, and creative renaissance. Eventually I split time between Austin and LA for years before a fateful surf trip to Baja, Mexico inspired me to settle in a beach town near San Diego, where I continue to explore the coast and surf daily.

I'm currently the VP of Experience Strategy at Service Direct, where for 10 years I've been helping build it from a startup to the leading marketing technology platform in the US.

Alongside that, I take on a select number of creative direction and design projects through Daniel Perlaky Studio — most often for documentary filmmakers, producers, and production companies like Sidney Kimmel Entertainment / SK Global, along with long-time clients like Lush Greenscape Design.

Earlier in my career I ran two studio brands of my own, Pacifica Studio and City On Fire, doing full-time creative and design work across film, media, education, and music for 16+ years. Most of that history lives on in my project archive.

Career highlights include Director of Design and Creative Strategy at Arcos Films, behind the Switch Energy Project and the Mental Health Channel; Creative Director at Tugg, Inc., a crowdsourced theatrical film distribution platform I helped launch at SXSW 2012; and Director of Design at Broad Green, a Hollywood movie studio and distributor.

I enjoy speaking on media topics at universities and conferences like SXSW — see my speaking topics.

I co-produced and creative directed Echotone, a New York Times critics' pick documentary also named a Top 10 documentary by Paste magazine.

I've designed and provided creative input for legendary director Terrence Malick, who said I have "a brilliant graphic sense," which is better than receiving an award as far as I'm concerned!

While steeped in the vibrant music scene of Austin, TX, I photographed national artists for publications and festivals, produced sold-out shows during SXSW and ACL, and founded and operated Indierect Records, an indie label that launched international stars Ghostland Observatory and helped many other bands get on the cultural map.

I've also had many unforgettable experiences touring almost every corner of the country in rock bands — long roads in old vans, epic live shows, and meeting amazing people all over.