how to art direct great ideas
TRANSCRIPT
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
youtube.com/watch?v=BHvGEJtcvrM
“Decide what you want to do, and do it”
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
Find you own creative process
This is awesome This is tricky This is shit I’m shit This might be okay This is awesome
Be a creative sponge
Never stop
feeding your mind
Look beyond your screens
for inspiration and ideas
Look up for
inspiration
This old sign is still live
today on Sydney’s busiest
shopping mall.
Look
inside for
inspiration
www. creativity-online.com
www.adsoftheworld.com/
www.directnewideas.com
Inspiration is all around you
Write your ideas
down. Sketch,
snap & scan
them.
Always have the product on your desk
Taste Touch See Smell Hear
Ever wondered why
artists have so many different brushes?
Free your thinking.
If you get stuck,,
swap pens and the
ideas will soon flow.
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
S i m p l e i s a l w a y s b e s t
S i m p l e i s a l w a y s b e s t
Never fear white space
oagworld.com/design/why-whitespace-m
atters/
If the idea has
an unreal twist,
use illustration
to help bring it
to life
Reflect your ideas
Is there an idea in the logo?
Or on the
bottle?
Visualise the benefit
A quick and easy way to grab attention
Flip the image
Maintain eye contact
Sharbat Gula was the subject of Steve McCurry's "Afghan Girl."
Select your shots carefully
Alberto KordaHavana 5 March 1960
And crop
with care
Alberto Korda - Havana
Avoid visual cliches or your ideas will fail
Complete kit
The exception
Versatility
The exception
Family
The exception
20 more visual cliches to avoid
Opposites always attract attention
Helvetica
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
Designing by the rule of thirds
designmodo.com/rule-thir
ds-grid-outline/e
Grids are good
The Golden Section and the theory of composition
1505
2015
Know when to stop.
Mr. Robert Waters High School Art Teacher
“If it looks right. It is right.”
Try another view
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
Love and
understand
type
Love and
understand
type
Love and
understand
type
www.dafont.com
Ideas in visual type
Don’t annoy your Copywriter (or t
he reader)
If your poor design reduces readability, then expect the worst to happen.
If your poor design reduces readability, then expect the worst to happen.
www.stcsig.org/mgt/docs/readabilit
y-kiss.pdf
When to let the headline do the talking
h#ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnZr0wiG1Hg
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
The Art
Director’s
secret weapon
desire
motion
emotion
Art Directing ideas in living colour
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
Take
the time
to learn
origami
www.adsoftheworld.com/media/
dm/cocacola_fm_magazine_ampl
ifier
How art direction
can be the idea
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
ART DIRECTING IDEAS
The 10 things Art Directors should show Don
1. Be on time Be prepared, be enthusiastic,
be positive and be yourself. AND visit Don’s site and have
three questions to ask him about the job and his agency.
2. First impressions Begin with a great idea
and end with an even better one.
3. Turn good ideas, into great campaigns
4. Be brutal Edit your work. Three great ideas, always beats thirty three average ones.
5. Variety Show a variety of work across multiple channels, products and brands
- Charity vs FMCGs (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
- Social vs OOH (Out Of Home)
6. PresentationRemember you’re an Art Director, so presentation is extremely important
Portfolio vs Laptop vs iPad? (Don was a copywriter, so always consider your audience carefully)
7. Flexible Adapt your book for your audience and rehearse each presentation.
8. Craft Show at least one fully Art Directed campaign.
9. Creativity Talk about your creative interests outside of advertising.
10. Advice Listen carefully to all the feedback and act on the advice that feels right for you.
David Bell - Executive Creative Director MercerBell
QUESTIONS