@jason_swet: I’m developing a taxonomy of visuals that connects images through the techniques and ideas behind them. I think we all want to understand the thinking behind the references we collect, and how we can apply those ideas to our own work. How can we give an image more meaning? How can we translate an idea into a visual? None of this is entirely new. The principles and techniques themselves have been taught for decades. There are creatives, designers, and art directors who are masters at it. But so much of that knowledge is instinctual. Visually mapping the mechanisms behind an image’s style and aesthetic, and connecting those techniques to what it communicates, is the part I’m developing. That’s the part that I haven’t seen anyone do in this specific way. And it feels especially valuable now, when we’re inundated with imagery. Understanding why visuals work helps us make deliberate choices, explain our thinking, and direct the work as the tools and possibilities keep changing. This is small piece of the next big chapter of Modern Art Direction, and I’ll be sharing more as it develops. The tool is still in beta with my current bootcamp students. Honestly I’m not sure if it’ll ever be entirely public outside of my programs. That might depend on demand. But I’ll be sharing more and more of the taxonomy and frameworks behind it here and in the newsletter. Visit visuals.modernartdirection.com to join the waitlist for updates and glimpses into what I’m building.

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Wednesday 14 October 2026 17:37:39 GMT