A BRANDING AGENCY FOR
CHALLENGER BRANDS
Det finnes ikke dårlig vær,
bare dårlige klær.
Norwegian saying: There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
THINGS THE SECRETLY SCANDINAVIAN DO
Integrated Branding
AI Empowered Creative
Creative Direction
Creative Positioning
Art Direction & Design
Messaging & Copywriting
BRAND EXPERIENCE
ABOUT US
Secretly Scandinavian was founded in 2020, when two Scandinavians—Erik and Kiumars (Q)—found themselves thousands of miles apart, working on projects together from home. That’s when it clicked: this whole remote thing wasn’t a limitation, it was a better way to partner—and to do great work.
What kind of great work? Glad you asked. We’re brand architects—experienced creatives who stay agile, move fast, and know how to deliver strong ideas on time and within budget. We create the idea, design it, and build the creative blueprint so your internal team (or your preferred version of AI) can take it from there.
So if you need a big idea—a campaign that’s relatable, memorable, and built to scale—we’re your team.
Q GOURKI
Less Obviously Scandinavian
Creative Director / Art Director
Kiumars “Q” is the less obvious Scandinavian of the Secretly Scandinavian, and a creative veteran with extensive brand building and rebranding experience. Q has led teams and created campaigns for products ranging from coffee to luxury yachts, earning press and awards for their creativity and effectiveness. With his traditional Swedish work ethic and focus on results-driven advertising, Q has established himself as an experienced creative lead who brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, creativity and aesthetics to every project.
Q lives in Encinitas CA with his family. He’s an avid surfer and a geek about staying active when not solving the world’s branding problems. He also takes an interest in current affairs, music, and things on wheels!
ERIK KVÅLSETH
More Obviously Scandinavian
Creative Director / Copywriter
Erik is the more obvious Scandinavian of the Secretly Scandinavian and has extensive experience as a creative director and copywriter. He helped Harley-Davidson celebrate their 100th, Indian Motorcycles relaunch, Purina re-brand and has led integrated branding for local, national and international brands.
He is currently married, has two kids that are also secretly Scandinavian, and lives in a probably-never-to-be-completed house right outside Minneapolis. In his spare time he’s an avid cyclist, motorcyclist, rock climber and telemark skier.
THAKO HARRIS
Technically Not Scandinavian
Director of Project Management
Thako is the only member of the team who does not have any kind of scandinavian citizenship and, sadly, has to get by with US and German passports. However, thanks to his studies in Fisheries and Wildlife Management at the University of Minnesota, this dynamic, bi-lingual executive brings a unique set of skills to operations and resourcing. Thako is adept in strategic and tactical planning, and has a proven track record for creating, delivering, and implementing solutions that align with business strategies and objectives, improving business performance, reducing overhead, generating revenue, and reducing risks. That’s a lot of big words, but we can sum it up simply as, “Thako is a really interesting guy with the skills to get it done.”
Thako and his family live in Idaho where he loves logging miles on his gravel bike during his free time.
“I had no idea they were both Scandinavian. Even the whitespace feels intentional.”
“I had no idea they were both Scandinavian. Even the whitespace feels intentional.”
— Senior Marketing Director at a major brand
