CREATIVE DIRECTION

Jonathan Griswold

CREATIVE DIRECTION

CREATIVE DIRECTION PROJECTS

ROOTED SERIES

I gave the overall creative direction for a series as old as time. Rooted. We brainstormed how to make it different and for it to be ours and speak to our demographic and community. We went with pure artistic. Me and a volunteer got busy with water colors and created paintings and textures of elements for the series. Then we had a photoshoot for these materials. I designed the main branding. Then handed off the assets to our junior designer to create the marketing materials and production assets. We came together as a team to create a unique marketing experience and ways to get the community bought in to truly getting rooted in their faith.

This Project included:

  • Email, Text, website & social Media Marketing
  • Branding & Design

PROJECT CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES

Our initial idea was very grandeur. We wanted to create a mini series that told a story of christians spreading the word in a post apocalyptic world. I will share those ideas below. We ended up having to pivot and simplify because of budget restraints. So as a team we went back to the drawing board and I led brainstorming sessions to come up with the final concept. The community loved it and I still think about many aspects of the series and how it challenged me to grow deeper in my own faith. I actually personally wrote and designed a printed journal for the series, complete with coloring pages for listening parties and to meditate on key scriptures from the series while the community who is full of creatives was able to engage directly with the content.

INITIAL CONCEPT AND IDEAS BEFORE BUDGET CUTS

FINAL BRANDING AFTER PIVOT

DIGITAL VERSION OF THE BIBLE STUDY JOURNAL

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"LIVE AGAIN" EASTER 2023

I was tasked with leading the overall creative for Easter 2023 and we called it "LIVE AGAIN". My team included a cinematographer & video editor, director, marketing manager, and volunteers. I designed the main branding along with two designers that produced other production assets. We created a series of short film's to accompany the service. My approach to this campaign was to direct the team and trust them in their creative spaces.

This Project included:

  • Email, Text, website & social Media Marketing
  • Branding & Design
  • Copywriting & Storytelling
  • Video Production

PROJECT CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES


Initially some struggles were a decent amount of the staff worked remotely and we had to figure out ways to bring everything together when for most of it we were apart. Live again took us through different aspect of life's struggles and gave us hope in Jesus when there feels like none. Our team worked seamlessly to put all of the materials and videos together and it had a powerful impact on the community.

INITIAL MOODBOARD

MAIN IMAGERY and Branding

OUR WORSHIP TEAM "ONE HOUSE WORSHIP"
RELEASED A SONG TO GO WITH THE SERIES

EASTER SUNDAY 2023

"LIVE AGAIN" VIDEO SERIES

THE UPRISING

I was tasked with leading the overall creative for Easter 2024 and we called it "THE UPRISING". My team included a cinematographer & video editor, script writer and director, marketing manager, volunteers. I actually did all of the main branding design along with two designers that produced other production assets. We created a short film to accompany the service as well as a separate film premiere event for the community. My approach to this campaign was to lean on the team and trust them in their creative spaces. I would give overall direction but they are all so talented I knew I could trust them.

This Project included:

  • Digital and Marketing Strategy
  • Branding & Design
  • Copywriting & Storytelling
  • Video Production

PROJECT CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES



We took a risk with the short film subject matter. We decided to tell the story of Jesus on the days before his crucifixion through the lens of the black experience. It was risky because we ran into some theological hurtles as well as some scenes being cut because they were too heavy and dark. So we had a full film premiere on the evening of Good Friday instead of showing on Easter Sunday. I believe our team handled each hurdle beautifully and with discernment.

MAIN BRANDING AND IMAGERY

OUTDOOR POSTERS FOR FOYER

Easter Sunday was a true celebration of the resurrection of Jesus in the center of Hollywood.
We had the dance team do their thing as well as a full choir.

"THE UPRISING" SHORT FILM

SEED MENTALITY

I was tasked with leading the overall creative for our end of the year giving campaign. We called it "SEED MENTALITY." The purpose was to engage the community with story and ways to grow in their faith while trusting God in giving with a cheerful heart. My team included a cinematographer & video editor, script writer and director, marketing manager, volunteers. I  did all of the main branding design along with a junior designer that produced other production assets. We created a short film series to accompany the campaign season. Being in LA we were able to reach the demographic of our church with creativity. My approach to this campaign was how I always try to approach it. Receive vision and goals from senior leadership and then lean on the team and trust them in their creative spaces.

This Project included:

  • Digital and Marketing Strategy
  • Branding & Design
  • Copywriting & Storytelling
  • Video Production

PROJECT CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES

We decided to create a campaign based on the mentality of planting seeds. Whether it was in our personal walk, sharing our faith, our finances or even our career. It was a very successful campaign financially and community involvement. Although we did run into some challenges creatively. I allowed a young new creative take the lead on the episodic series and also direct the films. We ran into creative differences but I handled it with grace. Her idea of having the episodic videos be about different struggles to me was highlighting struggles instead of planting seeds in our life. But I ultimately decided to trust her idea for the videos. I ended up being right about the dark subject matter and even on set I gave notes to try and lighten it up as much as possible. We got mixed feedback from leadership and I made sure to take the blame. I was ultimately the one who chose to let her go in that direction. Again the campaign was successful but the videos, although beautiful, were a bit dark. But all in all, it is a project I am proud of to have led because we learned a lot as a team.


INITIAL MOODBOARD AND CONCEPT

Our initial concept was to create imagery using AI and then I created a logo. But something was off. We wanted it to be more cinematic and striking. I suggested we do a photoshoot and use imagery from the video shoot as well to tie it all together.

Branding and overall look and feel

We did a photoshoot and decided to break each video up with a personal testimony. Although the videos were still a bit dark we were still proud of the message
and the way everything came out.

SEED MENTALITY GUIDED JOURNAL

SEED MENTALITY VIDEOS

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