Design · Intermediate
Art direction beyond the moodboard
A visual identity developed across a campaign, a web page and a small screen. Learn to extract principles from references, write a testable visual direction and revise compositions without losing their identity.
Written by Akis Apostoliadis for Skillfolio · 4 written lessons · Self-paced
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Course price: $59 USD, plus applicable tax. One payment for this course. Compare all-course package prices: $29/month or $299 lifetime.
What you’ll make
A three-format campaign with an explicit visual thesis and a documented critique trail.
Before you begin
Comfort making layouts and working with images. Supply your own or licensed assets.
Who it’s for
Designers moving from attractive compositions to defensible visual direction.
- Art direction
- Reference analysis
- Creative critique
The complete curriculum
Preview the first lesson free. Purchase unlocks the remaining lessons, project and downloads.
Extract principles, not appearances
Translate visual references into reusable principles without copying their surface arrangement.
15 min read · 45 min practice · Free preview
Write a visual thesis you can test
Write a visual thesis that can guide and evaluate concrete design choices.
15 min read · 45 min practice · Included with purchase
Keep the identity; change the composition
Adapt a visual identity across formats by preserving rules rather than fixed coordinates.
15 min read · 45 min practice · Included with purchase
Critique a decision, then revise it
Run a critique that connects visual decisions to the brief and produces a purposeful revision.
18 min read · 60 min practice · Included with purchase
See the work
Afterlight: one warm interruption. Completed instructor specimen using fictional teaching material; not a learner result.This course works towards: A three-format campaign with an explicit visual thesis and a documented critique trail.
Explore completed teaching examples and the decisions behind them. These are instructor-authored examples, not learner testimonials.
What’s included
- Original written lessons, worked examples and guided practice.
- A course project, review criteria and reference responses.
- Downloadable course materials for purchased lessons.
Explore the course before committing. Start with the free lesson, or compare other courses.