Bring your creative vision to life with the top rules of art direction

It's no secret that art direction plays an important role in bringing your brand's creative vision to life. With an increase in stay-at-home measures, brands are turning to innovative or even do-it-yourself methods for driving their businesses forward. Use our handy guide to take art direction in-house like a pro.

What's inside:

• Top Steps for Successful Art Direction
• List of Do's and Don'ts
• Resources for Finding Creative Work
• Media and Content Ideas

“Developing strategy is our job now [Art Directors] — we have to create business plans and strategies. It’s not just shooting a campaign. Now we have to consider the why, the how, the market, the business, what we spend. The list goes on and on.”

FABIEN BAREN, ART DIRECTOR

Thinking Like An Art Director

Thinking like a modern-day art director requires strategy. That means looking at where your audience spends their time, and where it makes the most sense to invest your time and money into developing content.

For many consumers today, digital media is king. This opens up new possibilities for developing creative, and strategic content. Here are a few ideas from our guide:

Digital media gives brands new platforms to tell their story. And while the number of social media platforms can be daunting, think of them as more opportunities to reach customers.

Executing Creative Work

Coming up with ideas is one thing, but knowing the ins and outs of working with a remote team is no easy task. Find our complete list of Do's and Don'ts on page 3 of the guide. Here's what you should know before diving in:

Do:

• Educate yourself on the basics of lighting, color, and design.
• Create a shared virtual mood board for visual direction.
• Be open to improvisation.

Don't:

• Forget to plan out a shot list.
• Skimp on hiring a quality photographer or videographer.
• Be afraid to ask for revisions.

List of Creative Resources

If you're looking for help with photography and videography, we've compiled a list of reputable contacts for outsourcing. Find a complete list of creative resources here.

Photography and Videography Resources:

• CONVYR
• SPACE + LIGHT
• RIPEN

DIY 360 Photography, Product Photography, & Videography Resources:

• NuORDER’s Guide to Shooting 360 Photography In-House
• Snap36’s Guide to Creating a Scalable Digital Product Content Strategy
• VisualSKU’s Guide to Setting Up Your DIY Studio

Conclusion

Successful art direction can be tough, but we hope our guide makes it a little easier to know where to begin your creative project. We'll help you identify critical steps in executing your vision creatively, professionally, and strategically. Find your complete guide of Do's and Don'ts, Top Rules, Idea Ideas, and Resources below.