Creative Direction & AI Strategy


I partner with brands, publishers, and agencies as a Creative Director, design strategist, and — increasingly — an AI design consultant. Whether you need someone to lead an editorial redesign, build a brand identity system from the ground up, or help your team understand what generative AI means for visual communication, I bring 20+ years of experience and a systematic approach to making complex ideas visually compelling.


WHAT I DO:

Creative Direction — Full-project creative leadership for editorial, brand, and digital campaigns. I set the visual strategy, oversee execution, and ensure every element serves the story.

Editorial Design Magazine and digital publication design, including cover design, feature layouts, photography direction, and typographic systems. Past work includes GQ, Bon Appétit, National Geographic, Golf Digest, and Consumer Reports.

Brand Identity & Design Systems — Visual identity development and design system architecture. I build frameworks that eliminate ambiguity, reduce friction, and scale across every touchpoint.

AI Design Strategy & Consulting — I help brands and creative teams understand, adopt, and integrate generative AI tools — Midjourney, Claude, and others — into their design workflows. This isn't about replacing designers. It's about expanding what's possible. I offer workshops, consulting engagements, and hands-on creative direction for AI-assisted projects.

Fractional Creative Director — Embedded senior creative leadership on a part-time or project basis. Ideal for growing companies or publications that need a seasoned CD without a full-time hire.

CLIENTS & COLLABORATORS

National Geographic, Apple, Sotheby's, Golf Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, Vanity Fair, Consumer Reports, Maxim

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Based in Brooklyn, NY and available for projects worldwide.

hello@matthewlenning.com