We work with start-ups and mid-size companies who share our values and trust us to build something meaningful together. Instead of talking big, we make things with big impact.

We provide brand development, creative direction and consulting, design for web and print as well as brand photography and videography, content, and campaigns that matter. 

Our leadership team consists of highly qualified creative and strategy experts, coming together with the utmost care and optimism.

Our Ethos:

We work with companies that share our values and build brands that make a difference. But we always set the highest standards for ourselves. 

We strive to eliminate waste and use the most regenerative materials possible. That means continuous research and collaboration with partners like California Green Press to use recycled, non-toxic printing materials and tree-free paper, or Green The Bid to make our productions as sustainable as possible. We consistently vet our vendors and our own practices to make sure everyone is being as ethical and equitable as possible. 

As a certified B-Corp, we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. With 1 % for the Planet, we support local nonprofits and learn from a great community of like-minded companies. We are formally committed to donating the equivalent of 5% or more of our time through pro-bono services. We volunteer our time with FoundHer, and other organizations to support native Hawaiian women on their entrepreneurial journey. 

In all of this, we have realized, it’s essential to stay curious and never cease to learn from your mistakes. Deep listening, curiosity, empathy, and care are at the forefront of our ethos.

Lisa Hennessy – Founder & Creative Director

Lisa has almost 20 years of experience in the world’s top creative agencies including TBWA (Apple), Deutsch (Target), Mother (Honest), and DDB, where she was Head of Art for VW International and worked for Sony and T-Mobile. Along the way, she won numerous industry awards including Cannes Lions, Clio, and D&AD, and taught Art Direction at Miami Ad School.

Originally from Berlin, she discovered a love of travel and adventure at an early age. Having studied and worked all over the planet, her European design language has been influenced by an abundance of cultural experiences.

Lisa started her own creative studio in Los Angeles to bring her Fortune 500 experience to more purposeful companies, helping them build meaningful brands that truly connect with today’s discerning customers.

Fernweh is Lisa’s favorite German word. It is a longing for distant places and a curiosity to explore that constantly pushes her to go a little further. 

She says “I believe that this sentiment translates into my work. Because good work comes from a place of wanting more. I believe that when you ask the right questions, apply empathy and truly listen, you no longer have to invent stories, you get to tell truths. This way advertising becomes obsolete and you can create strong connections between a brand and its audience and build emotional equity.”

Three years later, this exact longing and a deeper urgency to live in a more harmonious way with nature pushed her and Fernweh to relocate to Kauai. Such a stunning, lush setting, inspires the team daily to build brands that share their mission to preserve the beauty of this planet.

Timothy Hennessy – Partner, Cinematographer & Photographer

Tim went to film school in Baltimore, MD, and focused on cinematography before working on big-budget movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, TV shows such as “The Wire”, and countless large-scale commercials. 

Tim brings a wealth of knowledge, love, and a commitment to all things visual and shoots predominantly with an eye toward “heightened naturalism”, unexpected compositions, and a gentle nod toward cinematic flair.

Since joining Fernweh, he’s shot countless beautifully lit product and lifestyle shoots in studio and on location, as well as interviews, brand videos, and an indie feature that has been accepted into many festivals.

He is wearing Birkenstocks now after he swore up and down that he never would. All things are possible.

Lori is a brand strategist - or as she likes to call it - chief connections officer. It's her job to make sure the brands of tomorrow align their values with where our culture is heading.

Lori spent over a decade working in marketing and analytics with brands like MasterCard, Sony, Nielsen, Facebook, HBO, and Snapchat, focused on deeply understanding consumer insights and behavior. When she eventually ventured out to bring new culture shifting ideas to life, she merged that data driven approach with the perspective that what we're buying is always about more than just what we're buying.

That empathetic, story-driven perspective has led her to launch brands across consumer categories - from tech, to wellness, to food and beverage - with national footprints and deep purpose.

A transplant from the East Coast, she lives in LA where she spends her time thinking about the future of work, daily wellbeing, and her next great meal.