9 Steps To Becoming A Creative Director w/ Adam Morgan
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Senior Creative Director @ Adobe, Author, Speaker
More about Adam in his own words-
For the past 23 years, I have worked in the advertising / marketing industry. For those not in this fast-paced industry, that's like 50 dog years. I’ve had the opportunity to work for many national brands-earning valuable experience on marketing problems. I’ve been the big idea guy for countless award-winning creative campaigns, but I’ve also worked as a strategic mind on many annual marketing plans and branding efforts. I’ve worked with just about every digital and traditional media imaginable, and a few times have helped create new channels. I'm a great pitch man and have a solid background in marketing strategy and digital trends. I've led big teams while still working on the little things that count for individuals.
I was named the "Advertising Professional of the Year" for Utah in 2014, by the American Advertising Federation. I was also awarded as one of the top "40 under 40" up-and-coming professionals in Utah, by Utah Business Magazine-a great honor to be named among progressive business leaders. I've also been on the AAF board of directors for the past decade.
adamwmorgan.com
06:04 - Things to become a Creative Director
09:25 - Read to lead
12:30 - How to manage people's work
15:00 - What direction are you going
17:30 - before the leap
21:19 - Can an introvert become a Creative Director
24:47 - Speak their language
28:13 - Tips on how to lead
31:00 - Expand your library
37:46 - What're the creative paths
40:20 - What're the classes to become a Creative Director
42:16 - How do I approach others
44:32 - How Adam became a Creative Director
49:11 - How to establish your value
53:46 - What're the hardest situations as a Creative Director
56:40 - What Adam still has to learn
59:48 - Recap
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His points at 5:44, 6:47, 8:15, 9:22, 10:17, 11:31, 12:31, 13:14, 14:00 are so dope.
This helped
thank you
My mind is blown. Never, never, never thought of it this way. Over the last 2 years, I was actively shying away from presentations and meetings, just so that I can focus more on perfecting my work. I thought I was doing myself a favour. Thanks Adam for opening my eyes to this! And thanks to The Futur for inviting him.
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
Please don't delete the live streams, not everyone can listen in real time as your audience is world wide. I love sitting down and listening to these when I know im going to be sitting down for a day in front of a computer.
yea don't delete them!
I so glad to know he's a creative director with a copywriter and strategy background , man this really gets me motivated.
I am blown away at this great insightful conversation. Even 2 years later is still relevant and high quality.
Thank you 🙏
Brené Brown - Dare to Lead (podcasts and books available) Brené has the ideal leadership material to learn from because she talks about connection, empathy, being vulnerable etc. She brings authentic and genuine energy to her stories so you won’t fall asleep. AND she’s introverted! Love this video and conversation. I did this backwards. I started in the business side, and now understanding the creative and art aspect. Much love ❤️
I just became a creative director of tesco like company in the Baltics and this def helps to warm up and understand how to move better. Thanks guys!
And how old are you, or how old do you look?
I found Adam Morgan's article he wrote and totally agree with him in regards to time sheets. Track the projects not the creatives. It just comes to show if you really are calculating your time correctly or if your client is taking advantage of you.
Touched on some really interesting and uncommon points. It often happens that you already do most of them and don't even realize, or you overlook the business and strategic side of it and keep pursuing a narrow path. This is a perfect guide to re-evaluate and check where you are at! Your pointers show what they really mean by 'experience'. Thank you so much for sharing!
You’re very welcome
Articulating jobs is such a crucial and forgotten part of education. Thank you!
Absolutely CD is not for people who think of just making great creatives. It's about understanding everything and guiding people. But truly speaking these are qualities of a good person & good people hardly make it to the top in this field. Yes building "relationships" plays a major role.
Love this! You hit every point on the head, I just wish more people understood this and would actually work towards being a good one. There are so many BAD Creative Directors out there, many that are not qualified for the position that just got it because they got lucky or labeled themselves one. I'm working towards this goals and I'm making my own opportunities to showcase my talents instead of waiting for those opportunities to come.
Disruption was the main topic in the book "Disruption: Overturning Conventions and Shaking Up the Marketplace"
by Jean-Marie Dru in 1996. This was 1 year before Clayton M. Christensen book( The Innovator's Dilemma) , where he mentions Disruption. I don't know where this term was first used. But Disruption in DRU´S book tells about this creative philosophy they developed in his Agency in France over 25 years ago on how to really get groundbreaking creative ideas. Since I read it in 96, this book been one of my most influential reads.
Thank you.
You are most welcome!@@thefutur
Chris, I can see low key how much of a perfectionist you are, you know how to check people in the nicest way, how do you do that? Were you ever mean? Or considered mean? I'm a tights and sometimes I can be harsh, there's got to be something you're doing mentally.
Absolutely correct. Speaking skills & Pushing the boundaries of creative to generate ROI in new ways perpetually is the key to making to that position. Ive been in pitches representing S&M creative businesses, pitching alongside big company CDs considering already losing that pitch. And then to my surprise have seen cultural blunders committed by them to a diaspora which would never tolerate those ideas. Somethings that work for someone, dont work for all. But yes one doesn't need to be a creative director. I prefer to play Robin to Batman, but yes being paid well.
Appreciate the honesty!! And the sexy was a lil left out 😅 How about being a CD for your own agency, being an entrepreneur and doing this by your own design? For example if you're a Wealth Dynamics Creator, Star, Mechanic with at least 10% tempo, the mix of innovative entrepreneurship + showcasing your big vision + disrupting status quo + ideating cool systems solutions to avoid hustle + burnouts + bottlenecks and create more space/ease/boost for the art..... CD is a dream!! AND consider you can be a CD of your own agency and not work for enterprise or be so "khaki" corporate - build it YOUR way like only a fabulous CD can! 🙌🎉
When Chris asked Adam about the university he would create to help churn out a CD, I was unsatisfied with the answer.
I'm no CD, but by listening to the 9 skillsets he listed - in a university setting, I would like to see:
1. A public speaking class where students do nothing but "role playing" - pitching projects to various types of (made up) clients and dealing with the ping ponging of the conversation, owning the room, talking that business talk, etc.
2. A leadership class OUTSIDE the classroom (e.g., the leader, and crew, that are tasked with sheep herding. Getting ALL the sheep from A to Z that's miles away)
Those are just two off the top of my head.
I want to think of one for the empathy/anger management skillset - but nothing has fully matured in my mind yet.
Either way, it's all about the repetition.
Everyone is nervous and sucks at one of these (if not multiple) in the beginning.
Through the repetition and constructive critiques, when they graduate, being an effective leader in this field will be as natural to them as tying their shoes.
Cool interview.
Helped clear up some decisions for me.
Cheers!
Cheers
The first time i heard, that you guys are gonna delete the livestreams after a period of time I was really upset about it, cz I always watched them like a podcast...
I saved some for later aswell, hope theyre still there and I didnt missed anything...
Now I need to write everything you tell us down, so Im gonna have your knowledge for sure :D
Anyway keep on creating your content! You are a huge inspiration and motivation to me :)
Thanks Felix.
Lots of valuable info here! Thank you! Also an idea for a creative director class could be having the students lead and work on a team project as a creative director with other students from different design/art classes.
Wow. That was lots of meat in that video. Congrats and thank you!
Same deck he shared at his session in MAX. Love his POV.
This is sooooo helpful Thank you for this. Thank you for clarifying, what a CD looks like.
This gave awesome validation to me:) I’ve been a creative and working photographer and working in production 10 years but went back to school two years ago for another love of psychology. I still have the dream to be a CD and been saying I want to combine my love of art and creating with my love of psychology . I’ve also been very interested with organizational psychology and want sure if I am wasting time exploring this but it’s great listening to this and validating that it is a good move for me because i am learning how to manage people and helping them direct their abilities in their work. And I’ll have the back up plan of consulting ;)
I wish psychology was talked about more for director roles. What is suggested for a CD is always communications and journalism . Also humbling . My ego for a year has been like oh I’m ready for a Cd position and that I can do it but reality i still have more to learn in my new degree and managing people. Got into a cool company in utah to work up in production and producing and I am excited to see this side of working with clients and meetings and is different than what I wanted for a opportunity here but this also is validation with that! This new direction is great for my Portillo and resume and to LEARN more.
Great info and talk!!
Great discussion. Happy to see some of the myths of being a creative director debunked and inverted, its different than what most people imagine.
Bring Adam back to talk about time tracking! Surprising to hear a data-driven creative advocating for less data.
Thank you so much. :)
This episode make my night soo mindfull!! You' all so nice and excelent, guys!! GREAT WORK!!
Even 4 years later is SO SUPERB🔥
Thank youu🤩
Thank you, you've just unlocked a new talent.
Hoots to all the engineers becoming Designers!
heyoo! all the best yall
Operationally led vs creatively led
Such a great point
Thank you Chris & Adam Morgan, really helpful! Definitely want to work on these tips to become a CD one day.
Once again another great show I'm only at the halfway mark but already pleased with the information. Also energized.
I’ve studied management and worked in finance sales my entire life while practicing fine art and experimenten with Adobe and general digital marketing. Making the transition to artist and studying for the project management professional certification. Very informative.
Highly Recommended.
I love this. Gobbling all this up. So good!
Very interesting and helpful.🔥
Subscribing to your channel, made me wondered, Why are there only 24 hours in a day?
So much to learn, so little time. Learning from the video is always an adventure! Only, i feel like Ellie from Up.
Haha. Pace yourself. We are just getting started.
For some people, the pressure of it all motivates them.
As a freelancer, I had all those skills. In an office environment, because I had someone above me, I could never demonstrate 1,2
If you don’t want to be a CD, develop your own voice as a creative and hire an agent.
i need that book! def some gyms there
Keep coming back to this episode
Thank you!
Amazing, insightful trade secrets! Who would have known? Thank you so much for sharing :)
This is valuable advice, many thanks!
I studied Communication and Media Studies but never honed in on one “creative” skill - I’ve dipped into many areas. Would I have to choose one and go deep to build up to creative direction?
Oh wow! This is gold!
Always love the experts wisdom!!
Must have missed this when it came out. Really useful info for those transitioning into CD roles
Adam is a friend. Glad you found it.
Just changed my titles on LinkedIn and Behance from Creative Director to Designer :) I'm no Creative Director yet!
Haha. I guess you got the message.
Great episode, so much to take away.
Thank you Adam for this kind of information about creatives.
So right i can do everything you mention down, but the only one which refused is to present and sell
in my. clients. How can i do it
I’m loving this episode!
Thanks Ally.
This was so fun and educative -- thanks for sharing, guys :)
I know you said that you guys are gonna remove the live stream because you guys want to put up other things on the channel.(?) I just want to say that the livestream is a real valuable asset to viewers. To be able to deep dive and educate yourself with this, is something that can't really be measured. To remove it and have them erased from TH-cam seems like an mistake. Would love to hear the thought process regarding removing the livestreams?
We are removing some long streams and replacing them with shorter cutdowns.
@@thefutur thank God for that at least. You had me worried there.😅 Is the older ones also getting removed? Need to know so I can transcribe or download them... Haha
Thanks for revealing to me that I could be a CD via the copy-writer route.
This was very helpful, Thanks for doing this.
Glad it was helpful!
This is great, very informative
Also, consider the path of a business analyst as a way to creative directorship.
Awesome cant wait for the next one
very helpful
TY FUTUR FAM ❤️
Thx for doing this, I really appreciate it and its a knowledgeable insight.
Good stuff! Read to lead, learn to earn!
Why I got the notification so late, Its already 890 views. Don't wanna miss the content
Yeah me too! Just got the notification just now :(
Hit the bell?
@@thefutur I have already hit the bell icon when I subscribed 3 months ago.
Yeah, but for some strange reason didn't work this time. All good, Catching up now! @@thefutur
It's an annoying YT bug. The notifications either show up way too late or never makes it, even with the bell. Really annoying. It's made me more proactive with this channel haha.
Not sure how I missed this, it's great.
4 years later the BYU brush past makes a loooot of sense. iykyk.
This was fantastic. Thank you
Please also have a "how to become a ui or ux director" 🙏
1st step made me realize that the creative director role is NOT for me lol, great video! :)
Not yet. Add the yet.
Nice video, i hope i can catch a live video someday... hopefully
check our FB page for schedule
It wasn't his beard it was the collar. Great talk !
Can you become a Creative Director by majoring in Visual Arts?
Greg - "I wish I knew some tennis lingo"
Chris - "You can volley it back to me"
...
I'm furious
Awesome!
Check out the book Quiet: The Secret Powers of Introverts by Susan Cain.
Pro Tipp for CDs: Use AirPods :O)
Other than that excellent content, really appreciate your channel.
yeah... So i ah stumbled into part owning one of the fastest growing streetwear brands in my country.... so I just put creative director on my business card and am making it up as i go lolol
The Futur is my life blood
Nice thumbnail👌
Thanks for noticing
What a privilege, thank you.
Do you stream on Twitch still? For some reason I don’t get TH-cam live notifications when you go live. Twitch’s notification system is more consistent.
We stopped streaming to twitch. Didn’t feel like our audience hangs there.
It turns out: _I AM A CREATIVE DIRECTOR!_
Still honing the craft though ;).
#7... mm.
What job did you start with ?
@@Lacour17 Designer.
I know my strengths and you should too, Creative yes, but management no thanks!!
Play to your strengths.
this is great
when are you guys usually go live?
Thursday and Friday.
Check their Facebook page they usually list all of their events and live streams on there.
Can't lie, I'm sad to know that these videos get removed.
The Futur has become a resource for learning for me and to know they're deliberately removing information, knowledge & wisdom has left me with an empty feeling
No need to feel sad. We chop up the episode so it’s more digestible.
@@thefutur YAAAAYYY! Thanks. As a new subscriber I realised that I was projecting fear rather than optimisim as to what you would be doing. Please forgive!
What typeface did you use on your thumbnail? Awesome thumbnail.
We tell you at the end.
If we could get a link on where to download the image of "the whelm, schelm", that would really help.
Hi all from @itsBEAU.Design
adam's teeth are really strong and white
There are many successful Freelance CD individuals, how that works ?
i wanna be whelmed
Want to know the tools a creative director uses
so many clicks in my brain
Step 1: Actually direct the creative
could a Graphic Designer become a Creative Director?
Of course.
You are quiet 🤫 quiet persons are better decision makers knowledge tactful confident strategic and can have knack for people fishing business and creative innovation regardless I be a question I failed to sell my graphic arts but I disagreed with the criticism in heart but what is leadership
You know you're becoming a creative director when fewer and fewer of the projects on your portfolio are yours.
That’s one way to look at it. You like the idea of ownership?
@@thefutur I like the idea of contributing to a project vs benefitting from someone else's work and getting the medals.
beard scratching asmr
Haha.
What degree is needed to become a creative director