Hiring for specialized creative roles has always relied heavily on the portfolio. Designers, editors, and artists are judged almost entirely by their past work — but a stunning portfolio doesn't guarantee a great employee.
A designer might produce beautiful work but struggle to explain the strategy behind it in a client meeting. An editor might cut stunning reels but handle feedback poorly, stalling an entire production pipeline.
Asking candidates to walk through their thought process on a recent project, on video, reveals far more than a static file ever could. It shows how they explain decisions and handle creative disagreement.
Because these conversations can happen asynchronously, creative directors don't need to spend time on introductory calls just to gauge communication style — they can review it directly alongside the work itself.
Great creative teams need people who can both make excellent work and talk about it clearly. Evaluating both together leads to far better long-term hires.