When iMedia asked me to write this article, the first thing that came to mind was all of the creative directors I've worked with in my 20 years in advertising. From my staff jobs at DDB, Chiat\Day, and BBDO, to the years of freelancing extensively for Los Angeles agencies as well as shops in San Francisco, New York City, London, Australia, and Hong Kong, I've had the opportunity to work with many of the top creative directors in the business. My career has given me a front-row view of a broad spectrum of creative and management styles. Those experiences are something I've always valued greatly.
This article is about the traits and practices I've observed in other creative directors that I have tried to integrate into my own career. Something I find interesting is that after taking inventory of what they've taught me over the years, I realized that despite an immense amount of change in the business, the central themes remain the same. It's about working with the people around you to create the best pieces of communication possible. And that transcends any era or medium.
So here's what I've learned -- in no particular order.
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