EP37 - MAGAZINE CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Ben Watkins

Are You Creative?

What does an art director do? They make things look nice! Having visual ideas, organising photoshoots, video, social media, layouts, typography, Ben even designed the HEAT Magazine logo…. Ooooo! Telling the story visually is essential. The features editor will assign a celebrity and a small time frame to shoot images for the magazine. The art director has to have ideas, and arrange the photography shoot. A creative director will lead people on their team to come up with great ideas. How do you ask celebrities to do crazy things for photos on set? Working with Alan Carr and making silly photos. Finding a way to visually achieve things on a small budget - the DIY attitude - learned from skateboarding. Constraints make the best work. What do you do when a celebrity turns up and says NO to the ideas? How do you get 30 celebrities in the same picture at the National Television Awards? Ben thrives from pressure and short deadlines. Fixing photoshoots that didn’t go so well. Ben loves AI, any tool that allows him to create and experiment. Working with Katie Price is always fun. Navigating selects and approvals for photos on set. Ben wanted to be a musician and his band Elemental Child supported Oasis at Chelmsford Army & Navy! WOW! His school didn’t really encourage art, but he heard about Art College and did a Foundation Course. A great creative time in his life - the art foundation opens up opportunities to learn about all creative and arts disciplines - its a sandbox. A great place to meet other artists and creatives. Putting a giant Monster Munch in formaldehyde for art. Dealing with impostor syndrome as you progress in your career. Back-filling your artistic reasons for making something that looks good. Creatively hacking a final dissertation to do less work. Stick a horse on it! Being told ‘go create’ is the most amazing thing. Having self-belief but staying humble. Challenging yourself and thinking your best work is still ahead of you. Embracing AI in creativity. Nick and Ben LOVE AI! Using AI to make pottery. Being lied to by AI.
Ben on Instagram
Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA for their support
Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK