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People throw around the title “Creative Director” like it’s just a promotion after a few years of experience. But it’s not a role you’re handed, it’s something you grow into.
And at the center of it all is one thing: taste.
What Is Taste, Really?
Taste is your ability to recognize what works and what doesn’t. Instantly.
It’s knowing when to stop.
When to strip it back. When to say, “This doesn’t need more.”
Good taste isn’t about being trendy or loud. It’s about clarity. About making decisions that feel right, even when no one can explain why.
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.” - Paul Rand
Rand’s work didn’t shout. It didn’t try too hard. It just worked. That’s what sharp taste looks like in practice.
Why It Takes Time
Early in your career, your taste is loud, experimental, messy. You’re drawn to whatever looks cool. You over-design. You add too much.
But with time, your taste matures. You start seeing patterns. You start valuing restraint. You stop designing for other designers and start designing for clarity, emotion, and meaning.
This evolution is why it takes years to become a real creative director.
Take Rick Rubin, the legendary music producer who rarely touches an instrument. What makes him great isn’t technical skill. It’s how he listens. He knows what to remove. When a song is done. And when silence says more than sound.
Or Virgil Abloh, who famously said:
“The world doesn’t need more design, it needs more meaning.”
Virgil didn’t obsess over making perfect things. He cared about how things connected to culture — and his taste shaped everything from fashion to furniture.
Kanye West operates the same way. He doesn’t just make music or clothes. He builds worlds. His creative instincts are raw, bold, and grounded in deep trust in his own taste.
But Taste Alone Isn’t Enough
Let’s be clear, taste without skill and communication doesn’t go far.
You still need the ability to execute.
To ship.
To clearly explain your vision to a team.
Being a creative director means making decisions, yes - but also helping others understand why those decisions matter.
Without taste, you’re lost.
Without skill, you’re stuck.
Without communication, you’re ignored.
You need all three.
The Takeaway
Nobody hires a creative director based on a resume. They notice the person who:
- Makes sharp, clear decisions
- Knows when something’s done
- Guides others without micromanaging
- Brings meaning, not just style
When your taste is sharp, your skills are solid, and your communication lands, you don’t have to chase the title.
People will already be treating you like one.