At a time when “creative director” can mean everything from head designer to heavily remunerated brand ambassador, Joe Zee is the real deal. In this second installment of our three-part interview, he peers out from his perch near the tippy-top of the Elle masthead to describe his typical day (or lack thereof). “I work with all the visuals from cover to cover, so when you read the magazine, whether it’s the model, the celebrity, the styling, the fashion, the photography, all those things come into my play,” Zee explains. “It’s really sort of helping to define a visual signature for the magazine.”

Watch Part 1: Joe Zee puts it All on the Line