The anarchist director
Going against the formula to grow, play and find creative freedom
Hey Internet Friends,
Sorry I’ve been quiet for a while. I am not ghosting you intentionally, I am just drowning in that perfect storm where all my procrastinated projects crashed into each other at once.
I know you can understand. We're not here to optimize engagement metrics or monetize attention, right?
I've been consuming rather than creating lately. Reading endless articles promising the secret sauce to avoid burnout, find success, discover your "unique" style (which suspiciously resembles the writer's own aesthetic).
And honestly? I'm exhausted by it all.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the consistent creators, the genuine researchers, the non-clickbait crafters. But I'm increasingly convinced we've become too fixated on strict methodologies for success and insufficient on the messy, undefined journey of creative discovery.
My approach to creativity has been shaped by deliberate contamination.
I absorbed every movie, digested music, tackled briefs, endured failures. I've moved between corporate and experimental personal projects, crafted videos and campaigns for everything from luxury beauty to (forgive me) banking institutions.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I think my running playlist has a lot to tell about this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This cross-pollination, my formal graphic design education colliding with experimental projects and strategic thinking, has allowed me to develop something personal rather than adopting the standardized playbooks that get passed around creative departments like sacred texts.
In every concept developed, I wanted to foreground this craft of contamination.
I wanted to create awareness that behind images are thoughts, and behind thoughts are actual humans with beating hearts and contradictory impulses.
Did I make enemies with this anarchist approach? Absolutely yes.
But it's also given me something more valuable: independence.
The freedom to tailor my thinking rather than forcing it into pre-fabricated frameworks. It explains why I've never quite fit into traditional agency environments with their rigid processes and polished presentations that somehow all look identical.
Many creatives follow standardized patterns, composition rules, reference boards, filter packs, that provide discipline and a shared vocabulary. These serve as valuable starting points, but the real magic emerges when you adapt these languages into something personal, something capturing your individual vision.
While researching, a particular aesthetic sensibility and metaphorical thinking transform references in directions others might never consider.
This is why truly valuable directors develop methodologies beyond established rules.
I'm not advocating for pure experimentation, rather finding that sweet spot between rationality and artistic instinct, empathy and structure.
There's no universal formula for winning pitches or guaranteeing success.
Everything depends on your sensibility and how you communicate holistic vision rather than imposing dogma. The most compelling creators master rules, then reshape them to match their unique worldview.
The real edge comes from the individual behind the methodology, their way of seeing, ability to filter complexity, and depth of perspective.
Without that human element, concepts become mechanical exercises, moving pieces around without intuition guiding choices.
This is why I encourage people to speculate widely: explore astronomy, physics, mathematics, and most importantly, nature.
Nature likely contains all the answers art is still searching for.
A broad, eclectic knowledge base fuels better conceptual thinking. Exposure to diverse disciplines fosters multidimensional perspective, allowing you to anticipate shifts before they become obvious.
Experimentation matters just as much, pushing beyond comfort zones, testing ideas in unfamiliar territories.
Those who stay within prescribed paths end up playing within boundaries set by others.
The strongest creative decisions come from a refined sense of what resonates. This isn't just about aesthetics or instinct, that feeling doesn't materialize from nowhere. It's shaped by experience, cultural attention, recognizing freshness before it becomes mainstream.
Human values act as filters, shaping work worth pursuing.
Concepts without sharp viewpoints lead to surface-level ideas missing essential quality.
Clear values create sharper decision-making, cutting through noise to focus on what matters.
And finally, what I consider the essence of any creative: awareness.
Awareness shapes taste, values, frameworks, client relationships, and last but not least, connections.
Without awareness, everything remains aesthetically pleasant but devoid of meaningful connection.
Awareness is the most valuable tool a creative can develop, recognizing connections between seemingly unrelated fields, drawing from diverse disciplines, experimenting beyond industry norms.
Self-actualization plays a crucial role.
The more deeply you understand your instincts, tastes, and intellectual leanings, the better you can navigate complexity and uncover patterns.
So if you came looking for the perfect recipe for success, you've landed on the wrong page.
Keep searching, keep your eyes open, keep curating, destroying, and creating.
Never enough?
I’m starting a paid subscribers program with a few things that you might find helpful if you are struggling to boost your creative career
🎁 A weekly sandbox straight to your inbox where I collect my favorite takeaways in digital art, innovation, and CGI with my unnecessary comments.
🔮 Personal portfolio review sessions (I’ll send you an invitation where you can book your slot once I have enough requests)
Hungry for deep talks? I’m open for career advice sessions, just email me at lbertazzo95@gmail.com
Stay hydrated, see you soon 🦖