Creative Director

How can I pivot from working as an ad agency art director to a commercial director/DP? I’m trying to get on as much commercial production experience as possible in my current role to build up experience. I’m also doing a lot of side projects - I have a couple shorts in some no name festivals and am getting better on each project. My original thought was to work my way up to Creative Director and pivot from there but I’m not sure if that’s the correct route. Any advice is appreciated!!

Why take ft role when pay is so much lower than freelancing? Seeing CD salaries of around 200k, but as a freelancer im doing 300k with my daily rate. Am i missing something? are ppl sacrificing ton of $$ for job security?

Hey, amazing recruiters, I would love to have your input. I’m someone that has always been paid above my position level. I make the equivalent of a CD. Mostly because I have a good reputation of overdelivering and few awards. And I like being an ACD. But with covid, I wonder if it’s better to be a cheap CD than a expensive ACD. What do you think? In your experience, do you have more CD positions or more ACD positions?

If I was freelancing as a senior designer and the company asked me to move into a CD role, managing the entire 15 person creative studio, why percent pay increase should I be asking for?

Stepped into my first CD role and looking to keep my leadership skills sharp as time goes along, as well as hoping to learn as much as possible to be a good leader for my team. What are some great books or podcasts that you'd recommend?

Been an art director for 12 months but grown in my role significantly & my boss told me my next promo was “political”. I’m managing well over 1.5M a year, 9 brands. Functioning with little to no oversight on a day-to-day basis, w/ only strategy checkins with my CD. 100% client facing. I’m managing 1 direct report and from 2-8 copy and art freelancers at any time. I feel like all my stretch goals are ACD focused. Yet still need SAD before ACD. Does this sound like an art director? Pharma agency.

Hello ladies! I was referred by a CD for a great role and I’m actually really interested in switching agencies. The thing is I’m due in 2 weeks! Should I let the recruiter know, and disclose that I’m about to leave for 15 weeks or would you just take the call and let them know afterwards? I’m torn because I’m so close to my due date. It’s not like I can start then leave.

Anyone make the jump from agencies to tech? Any advice on what salary you’d request for an ACD (or CD) role at a Bay Area tech firm? They tracked me down and have been pretty aggressive about moving things along, so I may have some leverage.

Anyone experience this during the interview process.. I’ve met with the ACD and CD, so far so good, got the impression that they thought I’d fit right into the role (which would be a title bump). Now I’ve been asked to have a follow up call with the ACD. Any thoughts on what they would want to discuss? Not sure what I should be prepped for.

At the start of the month, spoke w a CD I knew about a spot at his agency. He said my salary request was a bit high & told me his cap. Fine, still interested. After a couple of weeks of nothing, their recruiter calls me on Thursday to tell me more about the agency and the role, then says the salary parameters & it’s $5k less than what the CD said. I told her the number he said & she said she’d talk w him. Did I just ruin my shot? And when should I follow up?

At the start of the month, I spoke to a CD about a spot at his agency, an agency I really want to be a part of. He said my salary request was a bit high & told me his limit. Fine, still interested. After a couple of weeks of nothing, their recruiter calls me on Thursday to tell me more about the role and the agency. Then says the salary parameters and it’s $5k less than what he said. I told her the number he gave & she said she’d talk to him. Did I just tryin my shot? And when should i follow up

Any tips for asking about a job as I reach the end of my internship? It’s coming towards the end of my contract and I wanted to have a chat with my CD to ask if there is the potential of a position at the end of it. Obviously with COVID I am not expecting anything and, if there isn’t, no hard feelings at all. Does anyone have any tips for how to broach the subject?

Are art directors in charge of the creative strategy or is that the CD’s role?

I’m curious about salaries for brand side CD roles? I’m talking about roles where you lead all creative for a brand, maybe you are building an internal agency, and the role is global or has that potential. I think salaries from NYC, LA, SF and Chicago would be most relevant. I appreciate anyone who’s willing to share!

Tips for working with a difficult female CD with chip on shoulder? I want so bad to learn from her, be on her side and champion her as a female in a male dominated role in our company but she is consistently rude, disrespectful and almost prides herself on being this way... and seems to enjoy putting others down. Several others have had similar issues. Regina George is a good comparison. Anyone else ever overcome the obstacles of working with this type of personality?

Was offered an ACD position at a good company but wanted the CD role. Have been a CD for 3 years historically. Need a job so I don’t feel super comfy holding out for something else. Should I negotiate a review in 6 months to re-evaluate? Any advice for navigating this?

Potentially looking for a CW partner for a first time CD role in NYC at a good award winning agency that is getting better and better. NYC or willing to relocate (eventually). If interested, send me a message with your book and I’ll share mine!

hi, I‘m a Marketing & Advertising graduate looking for a creative position. my absolute goal is being a CD in the distant future. i was thinking how to approach this and decided to look for copywriting positions. however, i‘m self taught in Photoshop and Illustrator and I mostly enjoy doing the visual concept creation but i am nowhere near a graphic designer skill wise. so yeah, this is the dilemma and i‘m looking for any constructive advice and what you would do if you were in my shoes.

I’m 38 and an ACD. Maybe its because of the lack of representation (i dont know any other women at my age/position) but feeling insecure about my title at this age and waffling on what my next move should be. I’ve never push for higher titles along the way. Definitely have the experience to be a CD but have yet to go for those roles. Any advice or assurance?🙏

CD here with DTC and HCP experience looking for a new gig. Anyone hiring?

What is the average salary range for in-house CD role in NY

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm interviewing for a CD position in-house and I have absolutely no idea what salary range to ask for. I have 6 years of experience, and am based in Australia. The company is known to pay quite well also, knowing to pay above market rate. The range out there is so broad between agency and in-house, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, not to mention worried that I could either undersell myself or ask too much and not get the job.

When applying for a Creative job, is it acceptable to contact the CD directly in addition to completing the standard submission form? Or is this annoying for CDs to deal with? Seeing 100+ applications for each role makes me think I need to explore other ways to get myself noticed. Thanks :)

If I just got a job for a senior creative position at an okay indie agency, but then got an offer from an in house creative department for a CD role a month into my new role, would it be bad to take it? Is it a bit of a shit bloke thing to do?

So when a recruiter tells you CD level candidates will not be considered for a Copy Sup role, that’s ageism, right? Of course a CD knows the rate is lower, however some creatives don’t mind.

Besides hiring a new actually talented creative director, how have earned PR peeps explained “mediability” to creatives? I feel like mine keeps giving us the most mediocre ideas then gets super defensive when we try to explain why they won’t work.

Is it normal to have to interview with 3 different CD’s and an ECD for a Jr position?

When your mother wants to have a condescending argument when I tell her that I’m not qualified for the “creative director” position she sent from craigslist. Then continues to say, ‘well you don’t know until you try’. When I tell her I’m not qualified, she responds, ‘okay well you’re not qualified lets move on to a other topic’. Considering I’m a recently laid off junior, and she doesn’t seem to understand the ladder of career development. 🙄🙄🙄 Save me!

Setting up a new team, everything from process with PMs to management of creatives and production partner relationships and process. Couple years into the CD role but this much freedom is new - intimidating but motivating - any learnings or advice?

Does anyone really think the role of CCO, GCD, CD and even ACD is necessary anymore? How about just people that do actual work collaborating and doing great work? Take those inflated positions and hire more creatives that do work or pay the ones who do it more money. In my experience, eliminating those positions never made the work suffer. In fact it’s a more streamlined process.

LOS ANGELES: Award-winning agency hiring full-time CD to lead a piece of higher-education business. Must be comfortable leading both copy and art. Working remotely until further notice. DM me books!

LOS ANGELES: Award-winning agency hiring full-time CD to lead a piece of higher-education business. Must be comfortable leading both copy and art. Working remotely until further notice. DM me books!

LOS ANGELES: Award-winning agency hiring full-time CD to lead a piece of higher-education business. Must be comfortable leading both copy and art. Working remotely until further notice. DM me books!

LOS ANGELES: Award-winning agency hiring full-time CD to lead a piece of higher-education business. Must be comfortable leading both copy and art. Working remotely until further notice. DM me books!

Know that many members of the adv community are looking for work, I have a great role in Chicago. Ideal candidate is a CD/ACD/senior writer who loves gaming & has experience w/branded content.

Looking for your thoughts on portfolio websites and passwords. I’ve noticed a lot of willems, especially when in a CD role or higher password protect their site before entry.