20 Lessons From 20 Creative Directors
Back in March 2025, after working at an ad agency for about five months, I was laid off. While it may have been a blessing in disguise, it still stung to lose my first professional graphic design job. I went through all the stages of grief, from feeling relieved I wouldn’t have to face daily anxiety attacks, to worrying about the job market I’d been thrown back into.
But I’ve been through worse, and this bump in my creative journey wasn’t going to stop me.
That’s when I came across a LinkedIn post about a site where you can talk to top creatives from around the world. For a networking enthusiast like me, it felt like striking gold. I’d missed the collaborative energy of design school, and now here was a way to bring that feeling back into my life.
Before I get ahead of myself, the site is called Talk to a Creative Director, and the best part? It’s completely free. (This post is not sponsored.) Their roster includes creative directors, copywriters, recruiters, and strategists.
If you want to have the kinds of conversations I’m about to share, here’s how to get started:
Go to talktoacreativedirector.com
Choose someone to connect with and click their name
Select a time and schedule your call
Show up ready to talk
Tip: Follow up after scheduling. A few creatives I reached out to had busy schedules or outdated availability, but that was only a small percentage.
Over the next few months, I connected with more than 20 creative directors and industry leaders. Here’s what I learned.
20 Lessons I learned from 20 creative directors
1. Use the network you already have
Friends, family, coworkers—talk to them about what you do and the services you offer. In design, word of mouth is powerful.
2. Don’t just show—explain the “why”
Portfolios aren’t just about visuals. Share the thinking behind your choices and how you solved your client’s problem.
3. Motion matters
Video is increasingly important for design, branding, and social media. It grabs attention and keeps it.
4. Put your work on your homepage
Don’t make people hunt for it. Show your best work front and center.
5. Show up as yourself
Professionalism matters, but your personality is what makes you memorable—how you speak about your work, present it, and choose your projects.
6. Start a blog
Writing about your process builds confidence in explaining your work. It’s one reason I started this blog.
7. Make your “what,” “why,” and “who” clear
Define your target audience, what you do, and how it benefits them. A personal brand strategy guide can help.
8. You have about 7 seconds
Make your value clear immediately, and then show your work.
9. Photography and design are different skill sets
They’re evaluated differently. Consider presenting them separately, even on different sites.
10. Show the projects you want to do
Focus on the type of work you want more of. If you don’t have it yet, create a high-quality case study for a fictional or real brand.
11. All projects are real projects
School work counts—treat it like professional work. Only mention it’s from school if asked.
12. Compliments open doors
When cold emailing, start with something you genuinely admire about their work.
13. Show your process
From rough sketches to polished drafts, let people see your creative journey.
14. Build portfolios with three layers
Grab attention (photo, GIF)
Provide quick context (project type or summary)
Share the deep dive (your why and process)
15. Ad agency vs. design agency life
Both move fast, but the pace, structure, and expectations differ. Agencies can be intense learning experiences.
16. Make your brand a portfolio piece
If you’ve built your brand, show it as a case study.
17. Use ChatGPT to refine copy
Once you’ve drafted something, use AI for grammar, tone, and clarity checks.
18. Design is in the details
Think about every touchpoint: navigation, cursor style, SEO, image optimization.
19. Talk about what inspires you
Sharing personal influences builds connection and helps you find your community.
20. Just start!
It will never be the perfect time. Launch the blog, take the workshop, attend the networking event—do the thing.
These 20 lessons may feel familiar to seasoned designers, but for those just starting, they can be game changers. Some were reminders I’d heard before but never fully understood. Others were brand new to me.
I hope this list gives new designers and brands reassurance that they’re not alone.
If you’d like to see how I’ve implemented these ideas into my work, check out my portfolio or explore more posts here. You can also join the Tabor Cote Studios monthly newsletter, where I share design insights, branding tips, and resources. Sign up below.
