Learn modern art direction in 30 days // a 4-week live bootcamp where you’ll learn how to think conceptually and craft a creative campaign as an art director.
Why now?
Execution alone isn’t enough anymore.
Anyone can design. Anyone can edit. Anyone can push pixels or cut a timeline.
What’s rare now is someone who can think.
If you want to lead creative campaigns and projects in this next chapter of the industry, you need to think conceptually. You need to understand the idea behind the work, not just the work itself.
You need to think bigger about your role and your career.
I will teach you the skills of modern art direction and how to think like an art director so you can stop executing someone else's ideas vs shaping the ideas yourself.
What you’ll walk away with:
✚ 4x 90 minute live classes over zoom
✚ 4x 30 minute group office hour drop-in sessions
✚ A comprehensive understanding of the art director role
✚ Private Slack community
✚ Personal feedback on your own art direction concepts (as part of the course assignments)
✚ A repeatable process for future projects to succeed at a high brand & advertising industry standard
✚ A campaign-level project you can use as a portfolio piece, a personal brand project, or something you bring straight into your job.
Who this is for:
✅ Designers, creators, editors, or general creatives who want to pivot to art direction or level up their conceptual skills for brand, content, or advertising campaigns
✅ Students who have started developing craft skills, but need to dive deeper on the conceptual side
✅ All aspiring art directors ready to create their next standout portfolio project
❌ This isn’t for people who want a shortcut. This will require WORK.
❌ This probably won't be easy if you have zero making skills. You need some level of software knowledge (see FAQ).
⚠️ We will not cover design 101 or specific software. We’ll touch on design skills, but the overall focus is learning the conceptual side of art direction and applying that to a portfolio project, spec project, or project of your choosing.
The Curriculum
WEEK 1
Art Direction Foundations
- The art direction role across industries
- How art direction fits inside creative teams and brands
- The creative pipeline
- How to identify and leverage insights & human truths
- Mining for insights
Homework
- Brainstorm spec brand or personal project
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Start mining for insights & creative opportunities
WEEK 2
Concepts & Big Ideas
- The concept & ideation phase
- How to think conceptually & leverage insights
- BIG ideas: scaling your ideas to a campaign-level
- How to stretch your ideas to build tension
- How to articulate and present your early concepts
Homework
- Begin ideating insight-driven concepts
- Build your concept slides
WEEK 3
Craft & Execution
- How art directors think across channels and formats
- How to structure a 360 campaign or brand platform
- How to make clean, convincing comps using the tools you already know
- How to turn ideas into scroll-stopping executions
Homework
- Create & art direct your campaign executions
WEEK 4
Polish & Pitch
- How to refine and present your campaign
- How to format it for your portfolio
- How to turn your project into content (Reels, carousels, walkthroughs)
- How to pitch yourself in the creator-led era
Homework
- Refine & polish your project
- Define your next steps and action plan
Who am I?
Jason is a Canadian creative director, art director and creator based in Southern California. Blending traditional agency experience with a first-hand creator perspective, he’s worked at companies like Amazon’s Brand Innovation Lab, OK COOL, BBDO, and Huge, leading creative teams and campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Lululemon, Brooks Running, Kraft Heinz, Mars-Wrigley, and Adobe.
Past Students
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I knew I needed a portfolio to unblock a new path, I had absolutely no idea what to do, and i decided to trust my intuition and enrol on the first cohort of a bootcamp in my second language at 10pm. I have NO regrets, the BEST bootcamp for unleashing creativity. No matter what you do at the end, you will end up being a better creative.
~ Rocío ~
NEXT Art Director helped guide me, step-by-step, on how to create a 360 campaign from the basic how to come up with an insight all the way to creating my final project in 4 weeks! This course and the way Jason shows up for you with guidance throughout the class have helped me pivot to a different career altogether and take brave actions towards my future! I'm so grateful that this program exists and all that it has done for me as a creative!
~ Ankitha Donepudi ~
Before NEXT Art Director, I really didn't know what art direction was, let alone that it would be something I'd want to pivot my career toward. Jason presents art direction in a way that's easy to grasp, and most importantly, fun to engage with. I have a clear vision for my creative career now because of this course!
~ JonCarlo Curiale ~
NEXT Art Director had me diving into a completely new territory after being a creative professional for over 10 years. Jason was very generous in sharing knowledge, experience, and real work processes and tools. During the course duration, I learnt how to think deeper before even approaching the work, and how to translate thoughts, data, and observations into a campaign via his detailed process.
~ Maria Deligiorgi ~
The program gave me the vocabulary and clarity I needed to confidently pitch myself as an Art Director in the rooms that matter. Jason brought immense insight into both the role and the craft—and because the program is so specialized, you walk away feeling truly inspired and understood by people who speak the same creative language!
~ Abhinav ~
I really enjoyed my time in NEXT Art Director. Being surrounded by other aspiring art directors helped me level up creatively, and the exercises strengthened how I approach ideas in general. Even though I’m a UI/UX designer, the principles transferred directly into how I market and position my own app in the App Store.
~ Hamza ~
Next AD was a such a well thought out and rewarding class. I learned how to see advertising differently, how to find the real insight behind an ad. The toolbox is an incredible resource and I loved that the course ends with a finished piece that can go right in your portfolio. Jason was amazing, very generous with his time and knowledge, gave very thoughtful feedback and truly invested in helping everyone grow.
~ Cynthia Membreno ~
The Next Art Director course was perfect for me, helping me reshape my art direction identity and refine the skills I already have. It delivered knowledge in a clear, structured way, with practical steps for growth and real-world application. The experience reinforced my ability as an art director and showed me that there is a space for me in this field. Most importantly, it confirmed that my way of thinking is on the right track and taught me how to communicate my ideas clearly to others.
~ Fiyin Olayide ~
I took NEXT Art Director coming from medicine and health tech, and it completely changed the way I think about creative direction. The course connected so many dots for me between storytelling, branding, and insights. Jason is a world class expert in art direction and SUCH a skilled teacher to boot. It’s truly been one of the most valuable courses and creative trainings I've taken. Recommend one thousand percent.
~David Hindin ~
NEXT Art Director was a fantastic experience that helped me both sharpen existing skills and develop new ones. The 4-week course offers a deep dive into every stage of art direction — from uncovering insights to developing ideas to executing a finished project. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, it’s a valuable, hands-on introduction (or reintroduction) to the art direction field. I walked away with not just a stronger creative process, but also a clearer sense of direction for my work.
~ Ryan Causey ~
FAQ
- What if I can’t join live because of my timezone?
- Classes will be recorded. Office hours are also provided for timezone flexibility.
- Do I need to know Photoshop?
- No. But I recommend it. You’ll need some sort of design software. You can use free software like Affinity, Photopia, AI Image generating tools, or even Adobe Express/Canva.
- Is this for beginners?
- Yes, but I expect you to already have some level of “making skills” or the ambition to figure it out as you go. I won’t be teaching you specific software. Art direction is about thinking conceptually and figuring out the execution whether or not you know how.
- What if I’m already an art director but I want to get better?
- Then LFG! A lot of art directors struggle with insights & big ideas. Let’s get you to the next level! I think this will still be worthwhile.
- Are there refunds?
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No. But if you show up to everything and put in the work, but still didn’t get any value from the experience, I’ll give you your money back.