{ How to Become a Creative Director by 25 }

For many designer the ultimate job is to be a creative director, its all about achieving your dreams. Here are ten tips on how to become a creative director by the time you're 25.


{1} Observe all the details around you. Observation is the most important method of information acquisition. As human we do it instinctually, but we are rarely mindful enough to catalog what we observe, especially seemingly drab details of everyday life.

{2} Get Really Good at Math, it's not a joke. Have a mathematical background comes in handy on your journey to become a creative director. The corners of your brain that are used to solve complex equations and study structure, shapes and change, are forever re-wired. For the better you can never unlearn a method for solving a problem

{3} Study Science, don't just study it, understand it. For all the same reasons mentioned above. Physics is the most essentially science to study. It's essentially the application of mathematics to study of how everything around you works. As a Creative Director you will be creating beautiful things for the physical world. Understanding the world around you and how it works provides you with an unparalleled foundation for you to build upon.

{4} Study Art, learn from the greats and about the rules they broke and how they broke them. Learn how they viewed society and how they responded to society so you can better equip yourself to do the same for the present day. Familiarize yourself with contemporary conceptual artist who are pushing bounties, because art has no rules, it is always new, changing, mutating, evolving while acting as a mirror to individuals' minds and our society as a whole.

{5} Be Mindful and Kind, this one is obvious. You will not make it in this world if your not kind to yourself and others. Especially in this industry beginning kind is paramount. To help yourself get there, practice mindfulness, loving yourself will allow you to love others and to have that love flourish. Loving yourself will allow you to be honest with yourself and to be down to the very little details you hate.

{6} Be Confident, But Lean on Others, your option is important. That does not give you the right to be cocky. Young designers will teach you some of your most important lessons. You will need to lean on others almost every step of the way, ask for help when you need it. There is no such thing as truly creating something by yourself, no idea is yours alone. Your entire future will be collaborative, get use to it now. When your in this type of relationship it good to remember that you should trust yourself and trust your past, trust your intuitions, listen to your gut feeling, know that your entire life's experience is relevant and affects every aspect of the choices that you are making today

{7} Speaking of Young Designers, Manage Up, managing up doesn't necessarily imply that your bosses are bad. Your relationship with your boss is like any other relationship, it's symbiotic. Your boss is a human, you want to treat them the way you want to be treated. Make sure they are happy. Be responsible, be responsive, be adaptive, flexible, open-hearted, empathetic, and kind. Your relationship with your boss is like a marriage, just a informative marriage. That type of support is hard to come by, but once you have achieved it, you'll be more than happy.

{8} Work For Free the first benefit you'll see is a passion that will surround you. You can learn so much from other freelances who share your same passion. You can think of them a mentors. We'll also have created a space for experimentation and become self-educated. Working for free creates a space with very little expectation, allowing your creativity to run wild. You will be able to make mistakes with a fear of repercussion.

{9} Stop Reading This Blog Post, there is no right path to becoming a creative director. Dedicate your time to what you love and do it well. You may not be a Creative Director at 25 but that's okay you'll get there in time

{10} Quit , if your chasing the title, stop. You're going to be unhappy, do what makes you happy with the people who make you happy. Know that you can quit and take time for yourself. Find people who share your passions and share with them your views. Look for your people, the people who love you and your passion. That much more important than have a fancy title.