MidPen Housing Corporation’s Post

Great analysis. I’m both but preferably not at the same time.

Designer vs. Art Director.   What’s the difference between the two?   I get asked this question a lot. Some mistake them for being similar jobs.   In truth: they’re polar opposites.   1. Designer   You create order from chaos. Your work is about logic, simplicity and ease of use. The rules you devise govern how a piece of communication is deployed. You make this effective as possible.   Designers: condense and clarify.   2. Art Director   You make chaos from order. You create a sense of spontaneity, irreverence, and exhilaration. The ideas you devise are meant to change the conversation (and blow stuff up). You make the work as enthralling as possible.   Art Directors: maximise and heighten.   The best work happens when there’s a strong connection between the two disciplines.   One is Bauhaus – the other is Punk.   If you’re an aspiring creative, it helps to think where you’d be happiest.   a) An art school in 1920s Germany 👨💼 or,   b) A dive bar in 1970s New York 👨🎤 Which one are you?   #bauhaus #punk #design #artdirection #businessofcreativity

Resharing this post on "Designer vs. Art Director" made me think about my own role. As an Art Director, I believe in going beyond conventional styles and norms. My goal is to spark curiosity and inspire thought-provoking ideas. I aim to create spaces where creativity can thrive and minds can explore. I challenge my team to see everyday things differently and think beyond the obvious. It's not just about making things look good. Sometimes, it means embracing unusual or even "bad" ideas, because every idea helps us grow and learn. Through this process, we not only improve our skills but also gain new perspectives. Every thought matters. Every wild idea has potential. Let's keep pushing boundaries, staying curious, and creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to share their unique vision. #Creativity #ArtDirector #DesignThinking #Curiosity #Innovation #CreativeLeadership

The unexplainable needs no explanation.

I was speaking with a peer the other day about some client red flags. One of their experiences was with a client who couldn't resist imposing their artistic opinions despite hiring a designer because they had an art degree. Let's set the record straight: Art and Design are 𝐍🚫𝐓 interchangeable! And this is why... 𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐈𝐒... 🎨 Instinct-driven creation. 👤 Subjective appeal. 🌈 Personal interpretation. ❓ Provokes questions. 👩🎨 Art for the artist. 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐈𝐒... 📊 Data-driven design. 👥 Universal appeal & understanding. 🛠️ Diverse skill set. 🔍 Problem-solving focus. 🌍 For everyone, excluding the designer. 🚩 Share your 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬 in the comments 👇 Remember, hiring a designer means 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 their expertise! #artanddesign #ClientRedFlags #DesignMatters #design #designer #art #meaningfulwork

Iconography In Design Systems: Easy Troubleshooting And Maintenance. Excellent article focusing on all the questions you might have regarding the creation and maintenance of an icon set in a Design System. I recognised a lot of our questions 😁

Let's talk about hovering, my fellow Art Directors. Hovering over your designers might seem like a quick way to get things done, and sure, sometimes it is. But making a habit of it? Not cool. Keep your hovering brief. No designer enjoys real-time edits; it adds pressure, especially for those with anxiety or other social issues. It takes away their control and puts them in reactive mode, not creative mode. Part of being a good AD is knowing when to push and when to let your designers spread their wings. For those of us who started as graphic designers, the temptation to take over a project can be strong. But trust me, it usually causes more problems than it solves. But if you must, try suggesting a trade. Offer them a project they might enjoy more. Be open to their reaction and back off if they seem offended or resistant. And note that about that designer. Often, this approach works like a charm, and they're happy to switch tasks. Keeping your team productive and happy is key. So, stop the hovering. Spend more time on your briefs, less time meddling. Your team will thank you, and you'll get higher-quality work. Win-win! 🙂 #ArtDirectorTips #StopTheHovering"

The Balance of Instructions and Creativity There is a delicate balance between Instructions and creativity. Some tasks need to be performed a certain way. A bolt screwed with the right torque, an alarm to sound at a specific hour, or a gate to be closed when the train passes by. If we hire a qualified person for the job, we have no expectations of greatness, and we provide very detailed instructions. Detailed instructions drive predictability and choke creativity. It is more exciting to hire a graphic designer to create her most inspiring work, a composer to write his best song, or a carpenter to build a one-of-a-kind table. For this, we may opt for setting a high bar and only a general direction. Talent and creativity will do the rest.  There is a place for each expectation/instruction balance, and finding the right balance for each project is a delicate dance.

It’s Monday in the studio and that means it’s admin day. It’s important to have a designated day for batching tasks like responding to emails, and proposals, scanning in artwork, updating the website, and updating social channels from time to time to make sure they are on brand and relevant. Today’s big task is creating my monthly newsletter containing the Studio Four. 1. A short studio story (what’s happening behind the scenes.) 2. Sneek Peeks to new artwork 3. Upcoming exhibits and opening receptions 4. What’s on my nightstand (good art-and-nature-related books) I deviate from the top four at times by including a good resource, highlighting other artists you should know about, or something I am excited to share about the creative world around me. Intrigued? You can subscribe by visiting Terra Kind Studio. There’s a pop-up that will happen to make it easy. When you subscribe, you’ll get an original print to download. #newsletter #subscribe #artiststudio #adminday #artistnewsletter #terrakindstudio #batching #marketingtasks #creativemarketing