# Art Direction

> Define art direction and moodboard logic for brand campaigns, product photography, CGI/renders, brochures, key visuals, exhibitions, and visual identity applications. Use when the team needs a coherent visual thesis, reference taxonomy, lighting/material language, styling, camera behavior, texture, color, or production direction before execution.

- Skill: `devotionn/art-direction` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add devotionn/art-direction`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/devotionn/art-direction/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: devotionn (https://skillmd.com/u/devotionn)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/devotionn/art-direction

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# Art Direction

## Procedure

1. Translate the brief into an emotional and commercial target: what should the audience feel, understand, and remember?
2. Write a one-sentence visual thesis that can guide selection decisions.
3. Build references by category rather than dumping similar images: composition, camera, lighting, material, palette, typography, styling, environment, motion, and finishing as relevant.
4. For every reference, state what principle is being borrowed and what should not be copied.
5. Define camera/lens or viewpoint, subject treatment, lighting ratio/direction, texture, surface/material behavior, prop styling, color temperature, depth, grain/sharpness, and post-production character when relevant.
6. Include anti-reference notes: visual cliches, category conventions, or aesthetics that would undermine the brief.
7. Convert the selected direction into a production-ready shot/render checklist.

## Deliverables

Visual thesis, keywords, reference taxonomy, art-direction rules, anti-reference list, and production checklist.

## Failure conditions

A moodboard is not complete because the images look similar. It must explain a transferable visual system and production behavior.