This month, we’re taking a closer look at the creative department here at Two Rivers Marketing. This week, Emily Neel is sharing what an average day in her life looks like as an art director.
Working remotely today! Extra half an hour in bed due to no commute and not having to pick out pants and shoes to wear to the office.
Drop a double-espresso pod in the Nespresso and turn up the jams for a high-energy morning. Try a playlist with Lizzo and Mac Miller called Mood Booster on Spotify!
Crack open my laptop to discuss priorities via email with my project manager. Share “good mornings.” On Wednesdays, we exchange camel GIFs.
Join my creative team to discuss projects and ways to help each other, share cute pet photos, briefly debate the perfect font pairings, etc.
Hit the hottest stuff first and then do lower-brain-function stuff like resizing images, packaging artwork, and kicking out pdf version #29.
Checking easy stuff off my to-do lists gives me a sense of accomplishment and builds momentum for an afternoon of design heavy-lifting.
Hit an East Village lunch spot. Lucca, Nosh, Dirt Burger, Scenic Route are some of my go-tos.
After lunch it’s time for the magic — conceptual work. Today I’m starting with a mood board …
… then it’s on to the sketchbook! I sketch until I have a clear mental vision of what I want to build using the Adobe Suite.
Before I get too far, I check with my copy partner. Listen to his ideas. Run stuff through his wizard word brain. Talk about format, copy area sizes, etc., etc.
Finally! Time to sit down to make it real and — nothing. UH. BRAIN FOG. The more you try to be creative, the less likely you are to be creative.
Take a walk, clean the house, do some laundry — anything to relax my brain.
Come back, get into the groove — and a fire breaks out. Switch gears and take care of some urgent requests.
Back to it. Mix in some meetings. Try to hold the creative thread.
Focus fades again. Check financial TikTok (never too early to plan for retirement). MORE CAFFEINE.
Pop in a podcast. Brain follows podcast; creative idea pops to the surface. Magic! We’re back in the zone and making progress.
Late afternoon. Attend a meeting, take notes (and doodles) in my sketchbook … An idea might strike at any given moment!
Progress looks good on the concept. Everything’s on schedule. Team is all set for the day, too. Time to call it a day. Close the laptop — but keep the sketchbook handy.
Head out for a happy hour (or quick drink) with work friends to cheer a successful day at work.
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