Art Director Discussions
Layoffs

I started a full time in-house design job that pays extremely well. I barely have to work at all. This makes me very confused since I kept hearing stories of people working 60+ hr weeks as designers at ad agencies. I am not complaining, but I have this creeping irrational feeling that I’ll get fired for not working even though there’s nothing for me to do. Should i be making up projects or asking for more work? Or just chill out? I just feel very confused. Are a lot of full time jobs like this?

Got laid off and I am struggling to find a job + when I melt down thinking I won’t find anything any time soon even though I love the ad industry, my partner suggest to switch fields. Anyone going through the same?

Recently joined a digital / social first shop after getting laid off from a traditional ad agency... it’s amazing how much more impactful the work can be when every single person that you work with isn’t just trying to make a TV spot.

Just needed to shout this into the abyss. Thank you.

Hi y’all, I am a Design Strategist at a Minneapolis AD agency. I have 3 years of Ad experience, switched from corporate environment. If this year taught me anything it’s not to be surprised. After George Floyd I can’t help but judge my environment and how senseless and apathetic non-BIPOC people can be to our realities. A whole pandemic going on, a few days away from the election and I got laid off. I’m a Black woman with a strong work ethic, if anyone has career advice please share. Thank you!

I hired this digital marketing guy and he's doing alright but he doesn't respond to my emails. I almost fired him yesterday after he tested with 50% of our ad budget. I paid a month in advance and I honestly don't see this moving forward past the first month. Anyone have experiences that might help me make this decision?

For the ad veterans on here: is it worth staying agency-side in your mid-career?

All of these posts from people working insane hours, weekends, layoffs, ageism, etc. are making me wonder if I should just go client-side next.

I want to learn more, do work for national brands, and work with smart, talented people... But I also don't want the insane hours or constant threat of downsizing.

Do agencies that offer the above with some form of work-life balance exist?

Been FT at an agency for so long I haven’t had to buy my own Mac. But, now after layoffs, I need my own.
Can anyone tell me what an AD really needs to freelance. A Mac, yes, but all the details too please. The price range on Apple is insane. Thank you!

OK, biggest fuck up of your career? Mine: I didn’t check the final proof for a supermarket print ad so there was a fridge on sale for 50 bucks. Almost got fired. Yours?

My old agency is soon going to be releasing work that was originally my art director and my idea - got laid off during COVID. It probably has changed since we left, but can we still ask to have our names on the project?

I'm kicking myself--I've got a number of side gigs, one in particular that I've been running since 2016. I'm not a marketing guy, so I hired a small box ad firm to run my marketing for about 1.5 years and had a -3x marketing ROI during that timeframe, just dumping money down the drain.

Fired them in the spring and started marketing it myself and have been seeing a so far scalable ~2-2.5x marketing ROI since I started experimenting with my marketing budget in June.

(Cont)

I’ve applied to over 40 jobs since I was laid off in March. Not one click to my portfolio, per analytics. With a family of four, we are being spread thin. Not only is the income desperately needed, but my creative soul needs a release. I would be happy to do typical Art Director work but I’m “over qualified” for that and am never taken seriously when applying for work below CD/ACD. If anyone needs or know of any company needing freelance work, large or small—I’d really appreciate the lead. 🙏

Should an ad agency be able to thoroughly check my references and ask for my entire employment history (including why I left each job) before agreeing on a salary?

I’ve had 7 interviews, met every stakeholder, was initially approached by one of them, who will be my boss. Plus I’ve had great feedback after every interview.

I was laid off from my previous job because of COVID so don’t have a ton of leverage. But that shouldn’t make me powerless. The process just seems like overkill.

Thoughts?

Should an ad agency be able to thoroughly check my references and ask for my entire employment history (including why I left each job) before agreeing on a salary?

I’ve had 7 interviews, met every stakeholder, was initially approached by one of them, who will be my boss. Plus I’ve had great feedback after every interview.

I was laid off from my previous job because of COVID so don’t have a ton of leverage. But that shouldn’t make me powerless. The process just seems like overkill.

Thoughts?

When is it time to ask about or even start thinking about a promotion?

I have been at my current agency for 15mo and it’s my first real job. Since Covid, I feel like I have a lot more responsibilities and have been doing what I think is AD and even senior AD stuff (especially the last two months since my agency laid off a bunch of people. Our team lost an ACD and AD).

The AD role is open on our team. I’m wondering if I should ask about it or not. What can I do to show them I’m ready?

With the W&K layoffs ...
1. Recruiters are getting psyched.
2. Freelancers are even more unnerved.
3. Axe will fall on people phoning it in at other shops.

What are your other predictions ? People leave ad game altogether?

I’m finding that a weird side effect of losing my job in this climate is ad agencies taking advantage of my weakened position. They get in touch, proactively or in response to my reaching out, and they want to hire me as they are in good shape. When I reveal I was laid off, the offer changes to freelance or maybe nothing. My work, awards, the fact that they know me and approached me in the first place should be enough. I don’t want to lie about my situation. Any ideas how to avoid this?

Are there any more new layoffs in Toronto?
Or
Any agencies that didn’t experience layoffs?

It’d be nice to get a sense of the Toronto Ad scene at this point.

Another one of my friends was laid off today :/ On the plus side, their company is giving them full pay & health benefits for four months & letting them keep any equipment they had. (100% not an ad agency.) I’m so bummed for them, but honestly I’m secretly low key jealous and wish I could just take a sabbatical from my agency job with that sort of severance package. I’m grateful for my job during this time, but this industry is burning me out. I can’t remember the last time I was happy.

So basically everyone I know is getting laid off in the ad world. It’s pretty terrifying. Also infuriating that all of these people were working insane hours up until getting dumped. Seems crazy they major holding-company owned places couldn’t handle 2 months of uncertainty. Are they actually still trying to make $$ for shareholders? The top dogs getting millions?

Was a Junior AD at an experiential agency before layoffs w/ the goal of working at a “traditional” agency. Looking for advice and feedback on how to improve/add to my book with that in mind.

Got laid off my full time AD job & trying to pick up freelance but I’m very new to this...

Any advice for calculating hourly rates?? What’s an average range? (For reference: was making ~$75k in NYC)

After layoffs and people quitting I’m just realizing that I’m going to be the most senior art person left...I’m a jr art director a year out of school now working with an ECD and a bunch of interns...

Anyone have experience with half of a CW/AD team getting laid off?

Were you salaried and then laid off or experienced a pay decrease? I’m feeling alone because all my Ad friends are still working full time and my salary has been reduced.

I feel maybe this is the last thing people wanna hear rn but I just landed an ACD role at an amazing tech company after getting laid off from an awful AD agency role last fall and i’m just...😭🙏🏻

Aaaaand I got laid off. I think the smaller boutique agencies are hit the hardest.

If any one is looking for an AD/ACD for help, holler!

So I am a Junior AD that is currently employed and looking for my first job. I see that agencies at times have layoffs. Do juniors usually get let go first?

Any Junior AD or AD spots out there I’m willing to relocate! I’ve been laid off for a month and haven’t quite landed yet. Looking for leads.

I need help framing my story. I freelanced for several years before taking an in-house role 6 months ago as an AD (but effectively ACD) managing a team of 10. I just got laid off and...

Laid off after Thanksgiving. 54. Not done yet. Plenty to offer. In Detroit but ready and able to move anywhere. AD/CD. Hangin in there. How bout you?

Got laid off this week—any freelance opportunities floating around for an Art Director? I’ll literally take anything at this point.

Art Director: *gets laid off*
Art Director on LinkedIn: *updates title to Freelance Creative Director*

....no.

LA, what's good? I know basically every agency out here had layoffs last year, so is anyone looking to hire a mid-level AD?

Is the ad agency biz model dying a slow death? Layoffs, consolidations, no longer valued by clients, seen as a middle man/cost center, no hard proof of ROI anymore, etc, etc. Discuss.