The recent double book launch event celebrating the career of Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett was spectacular.

The books cover Bartlett’s life’s journey detailing his contributions to nation-building as well as exploring his thought leadership on tourism resilience and sustainability during a period of heightened global risk.

The launch was produced by Delano McFarlane, one of the two creative forces behind event production creative studio, Mack and Mack Innovations.

McFarlane’s talent was recognised from an early age as he was drafted while still a student at Meadowbrook High School to assist in teaching O & A Level art to his contemporaries there.

He later became the youngest book illustrator for Longman’s Caribbean Ltd., the British-based publishing house, generating artwork for several children’s books.

McFarlane has collaborated on some of the most imaginative advertising campaigns in Jamaica, including the first Jamaican HIV/AIDS campaign, where he also bravely elected to become the face of the campaign to do his part to correct the many inaccuracies about the disease.

“Some people thought that merely by being in the HIV/AIDS ads I could contract the disease,” shared Delano.

Delano’s versatility extends to voicing and directing iconic radio serials and ads, including Ma B’s Family on JIS Radio,

Delano has also worked with some of Jamaica’s leading advertising agencies including Sign Tech Jamaica Ltd., Advertising & Marketing Ja. Ltd., Grimax Advertising, and Dawn Ritch and Associates.

Throughout his career in advertising, he has worked on campaigns for clients such as Appliance Traders Ltd., Century National Bank, and Paul Chen Young’s Eagle Group, among many others, as a creative director and production manager in some instances.   

He has also done stage designing for events such as Sting, the reception honouring Shabba Ranks’ first Grammy Award put on by the Government, and Clifton “Specialist” Dillon.

His illustrative and designing talents can also be seen in various murals like managing the tribute to Jamaica’s cricketing greats at Sabina Park, at the former Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) buildings.

Delano’s advice is highly sought-after, serving as a designer and adjudicator for the Jamaica 60 Festival Float Parade and numerous artistic competitions. He was also the creative mind behind the Jamaica 60 Independence Festival Parade and currently serves as a creative consultant to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, and Sports, Culture and Gender Minister Olivia Grange. 

Late Prime Minister Edward Seaga also relied on Delano’s assistance as a creative consultant with compiling his books and papers. During Seaga’s tenure as chancellor of the University of Technology (UTECH), Delano served also provided creative support.