AI Creative Strategist

"glif": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "@glifxyz/glif-mcp-server@latest"],
  "env": {
    "GLIF_API_TOKEN": "your-token-here"
  }
}

Option B: Replicate (more models, pay-per-use)

1. Get your API token at replicate.com → Account → API tokens
2. Add to your Claude Desktop config:

"replicate": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "replicate-mcp"],
  "env": {
    "REPLICATE_API_TOKEN": "your-token-here"
  }
}

Visual Research (Optional but Recommended)

Playwright — captures competitor screenshots for reference

"playwright": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"]
}

Where's the Config File?

Claude Desktop (Mac): ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Claude Desktop (Windows): %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

After editing, restart Claude Desktop to load the new MCPs.

Claude Code Users

Add to your ~/.claude/settings.json under mcpServers, same format as above.

The Process

1. DISCOVER → Diagnose creative needs
2. RESEARCH → Gather competitive intelligence
3. PREVIEW  → Generate visual direction samples ← NEW
4. FEEDBACK → Refine based on what you see
5. BRIEF    → Output comprehensive creative brief

When to Use This Skill

Use when:

• Starting a new visual campaign or brand
• Launching a product and need visual direction
• Current visuals aren't performing
• Need to differentiate from competitors
• Don't know what style/aesthetic to pursue

Skip to execution when:

• You have a clear brief already
• Simple, one-off generations

Phase 1: Discovery

Quick diagnosis before research:

## Creative Strategy Intake

**What are we creating for?**
[ ] Product launch
[ ] Brand refresh
[ ] Campaign (ads, social)
[ ] Website/landing page
[ ] Social media presence

**Who is the audience?**
- Primary: _______
- What do they respond to visually?

**Competitors:**
- Direct: _______
- Aspirational brands: _______

**Budget/Volume:**
[ ] Low ($10-50)
[ ] Medium ($50-200)
[ ] High ($200+)

Phase 2: Research (MCP-Powered)

Competitor Visual Analysis (Playwright)

Capture live screenshots as references:

1. browser_navigate to competitor site
2. browser_snapshot to find elements
3. browser_take_screenshot for hero, products
4. Analyze: colors, style, lighting, mood

Trend Research (Perplexity)

perplexity_research:
  "What are the visual trends for [industry] in 2025?
   - Color palettes
   - Photography styles
   - Overall aesthetic direction"

Competitive Analysis (Firecrawl)

firecrawl_scrape competitor sites:
  - Homepage messaging
  - Product positioning
  - Brand voice

Phase 3: Visual Direction Previews ⭐ NEW

Before finalizing the brief, generate actual images to see the direction.

Generate 2-3 Direction Options

Based on research, create distinct visual directions:

Direction A: [Name - e.g., "Premium Minimal"]

{
  "model_owner": "google",
  "model_name": "nano-banana-pro",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "[Product/concept] with [style A characteristics], [lighting], [mood], professional commercial quality",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }
}

Direction B: [Name - e.g., "Bold & Energetic"]

{
  "model_owner": "google",
  "model_name": "nano-banana-pro",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "[Product/concept] with [style B characteristics], [lighting], [mood], professional commercial quality",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }
}

Direction C: [Name - e.g., "Warm Lifestyle"]

{
  "model_owner": "google",
  "model_name": "nano-banana-pro",
  "input": {
    "prompt": "[Product/concept] with [style C characteristics], [lighting], [mood], professional commercial quality",
    "aspect_ratio": "16:9"
  }
}

Present Visual Options

## Visual Direction Previews

Based on research, here are 3 distinct directions:

### Direction A: Premium Minimal
![Preview A](url)
- **Characteristics:** Clean, dark backgrounds, dramatic lighting
- **Mood:** Sophisticated, premium, confident
- **Differentiation:** Stands out from [competitor] with [contrast]

### Direction B: Bold & Energetic
![Preview B](url)
- **Characteristics:** Vibrant colors, dynamic angles, high contrast
- **Mood:** Exciting, modern, disruptive
- **Differentiation:** Opposite of category convention of [typical approach]

### Direction C: Warm Lifestyle
![Preview C](url)
- **Characteristics:** Natural lighting, contextual settings, warm tones
- **Mood:** Approachable, authentic, trustworthy
- **Differentiation:** Human touch vs [competitor's] cold tech feel

---

**Which direction resonates?**
- Pick one to pursue
- Combine elements from multiple
- Request variations on a direction

Phase 4: Feedback Loop

Based on visual previews, refine:

User: "I like Direction A's lighting but Direction C's warmth"

→ Generate refined preview combining elements:

{
  "prompt": "[Product] with dramatic lighting from Direction A,
   warm color grading from Direction C, [specific adjustments]..."
}

→ Present refined preview
→ Continue iterating until direction is locked

This is the key differentiator: See actual images, give feedback, refine before committing to full production.

Phase 5: Final Brief

Once direction is approved via previews:

# Creative Brief: [Project Name]

## Approved Direction
**Selected:** [Direction name]
**Preview that was approved:** [URL]

## Visual Direction (Validated)

### Mood & Tone
[Based on approved preview]

### Color Direction
- Primary: [extracted from approved preview]
- Secondary: [accents visible in preview]

### Style Characteristics
[What made the approved preview work]

### Prompt Template (Proven)

[The exact prompt that generated the approved direction, ready to scale to other assets]

## Asset Requirements

| Asset | Ratio | Notes |
|-------|-------|-------|
| Hero image | 16:9 | [based on preview] |
| Product shots | 1:1 | [same style] |
| Social graphics | 4:5 | [adapted] |

## Model Recommendation
**Nano Banana Pro** for all production (same as previews)

## Budget
- Previews generated: $0.06 (3 × $0.02)
- Production remaining: ~$X for [X assets]

---

**Direction validated. Ready for production.**
→ Route to execution skills

Visual Preview Patterns

Pattern 1: Product Launch

Generate previews for:
1. Hero shot (product floating, dramatic)
2. Lifestyle shot (product in context)
3. Abstract/mood shot (brand feeling)

Let user pick which approach for full campaign.

Pattern 2: Brand Refresh

Generate previews showing:
1. Evolution of current style
2. Complete departure
3. Competitive differentiation angle

Validate new direction with stakeholders.

Pattern 3: Campaign Creative

Generate previews for:
1. Ad creative concept A
2. Ad creative concept B
3. Ad creative concept C

Test different angles before production spend.

Research → Preview → Brief Flow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. RESEARCH                            │
│  - Perplexity: Trends                   │
│  - Playwright: Competitor screenshots   │
│  - Firecrawl: Messaging analysis        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
                    │
                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  2. VISUAL PREVIEWS (Nano Banana Pro)   │
│  - Generate 2-3 direction options       │
│  - Present to user with analysis        │
│  - Gather feedback on what works        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
                    │
                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  3. ITERATE                             │
│  - Refine based on feedback             │
│  - Generate new previews if needed      │
│  - Lock direction when approved         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
                    │
                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  4. FINAL BRIEF                         │
│  - Approved preview as reference        │
│  - Proven prompt template               │
│  - Ready for scaled production          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
                    │
                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  5. EXECUTION (other skills)            │
│  - ai-product-photo                     │
│  - ai-social-graphics                   │
│  - ai-product-video                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Model for Previews

Why Nano Banana Pro for previews:

• Same quality as production (what you see is what you get)
• Consistent results when scaling approved direction
• Worth the 3min wait for strategic decisions

Example: Full Flow

User: "I need visuals for a new AI productivity tool targeting developers"

Step 1: Research

Competitors analyzed: GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Linear
Trend research: Dark mode, minimal, purple/blue palettes
Whitespace found: "Warm + Bold" quadrant underserved

Step 2: Generate Previews

Direction A: "Dark Sophisticated"

Premium AI interface visualization against dark charcoal gradient,
subtle purple accent lighting, clean minimal composition,
tech startup aesthetic, professional commercial quality

Direction B: "Warm Approachable"

AI productivity concept with warm coral accents on dark background,
soft gradient lighting, friendly but professional feel,
modern developer tool aesthetic, commercial quality

Direction C: "Bold Disruptive"

AI concept with vibrant gradient colors, dynamic composition,
high energy modern design, standing out from typical dev tools,
bold startup aesthetic, commercial quality

Step 3: Present Previews

## Visual Direction Previews

### Direction A: Dark Sophisticated
[Image URL]
Aligns with: Linear, Vercel
Differentiation: Premium positioning

### Direction B: Warm Approachable ⭐
[Image URL]
Aligns with: Raycast warmth + Linear sophistication
Differentiation: "Warm" in a cold category

### Direction C: Bold Disruptive
[Image URL]
Differentiation: Maximum contrast to competitors
Risk: May feel less "developer credible"

Step 4: User Feedback

User: "I love Direction B - that warmth feels right. Can we try it with more contrast?"

Generate refined preview:

AI productivity concept with warm coral accents (#FF6B6B) on deep charcoal,
higher contrast dramatic lighting, warm but powerful feel,
sophisticated developer tool aesthetic, commercial quality

Step 5: Lock & Brief

# Creative Brief: DevAssist AI

## Approved Direction
**Selected:** Warm Approachable (refined)
**Approved Preview:** [URL]

## Visual Direction
- Warm coral (#FF6B6B) on dark charcoal (#1A1A2E)
- High contrast but warm mood
- "Intelligent warmth" positioning

## Proven Prompt Template

[Product/concept] with warm coral accents on deep charcoal, high contrast dramatic lighting, warm but powerful feel, sophisticated developer tool aesthetic, commercial quality

## Ready for Production
→ Route to ai-product-photo, ai-social-graphics

Quality Gate

Before finalizing:

• Research completed (not assumptions)
• Visual previews generated (not just descriptions)
• User feedback incorporated
• Direction validated with actual images
• Proven prompt template ready for scaling

Handoff

## Creative Strategist Handoff

**Approved Direction Preview:** [URL]
**Proven Prompt Template:** [prompt that worked]

**Research Summary:**
- Competitive landscape: [key insights]
- Differentiation: [why this direction wins]

**Model:** Nano Banana Pro (same as previews)

**Route to:** ai-product-photo / ai-social-graphics / ai-product-video