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Additional Posts in Creative Directors
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Generals Don't Fight The Battles.
As a CD you'll be judged not only by the work your team produces but the culture you set.
i build a lot of decks. i’ve found my creative work is how to clearly present and sell my team’s ideas. it’s an art in itself. you’ll need new skills as a CD.
remember, their work is your work. help make it great, put it in your book, give them credit.
Hopefully one thing you have noticed at this level is that you are able to see more clearly how to be strategic, visionary and proactive in all of your work. At that 50,000-foot view, you “get” so much more and are able to guide your teams more effectively.
You may not be creating individual work, but you are steering the entire body of work for each client. It’s a new way to be creative. And the ones who do it well are exceptional.
An oldie but goodie.
An ECD is not the same job as a CD. A CD is not the same job as a creative. For some reason these lines have all blurred because everyone is chasing titles before they’ve milked making the work. If you want to be a creative and make stuff be a creative. If you’re ready to put that aside and oversee projects and push creatives in the right direction to make THEIR OWN work (not your ideas you’ve asked them to make) be a CD. If you’re ready to manage the whole department, guide the vision of the agency and project manage teams like a mo fo, be an ECD.
Yes from an in the weeds creative to a CD, ECD even a CCO, there are defined things each roles should be doing. But lines are blurred and the size and type of agency and if you go in-house, can also dictate what you do day-to-day. And what's going on today, you'll be more hands on in the CD-ECD role. No time to be too sensitive to "oh that's not mine role". Even at my current shop our CCO has been writing presentations and scripts.
So getting back to you; as stated if you want to be a creative but maybe have some managerial level stay an ACD. If you're looking for more $$$, CD and up is where you most likely need to go. If you really dig being on the client front lines, shaping the work. Managing and coaching creatives go full tilt CD.
Personally, I love not having to be in the weeds anymore. Being a mentor, a consultant, shaping the work and team management is awesome. I love when I can help my creative tackle something or solve an issue. Or just talk someone off the ledge after a rough client call. Being someone people can go to to just figure something out.
You get your creative needs fulfilled. And building something bigger than you.
If you still want to be hands on, look for other opportunities to help your client. Maybe your agency needs help in another areas. Do they have any pro-bono/charities they support? Or do some pro-bono work yourself on the side. Paint, build a model. Play with legos.
Your next job won’t hire you just because of your work (like they would if you were an IC AD or CW). They’re hiring you because of what you build outside of your hard skills—your team, mentoring/coaching, strategizing and road mapping. How did you get your team through the tough times of the pandemic and layoffs? How did you sell clients on campaigns when the world was shut down? Your skills grow in other ways, focus on that and sell that. You got this!
Welcome to the realities of CD life! That’s why we earn more...it’s not as fun and carefree.
With the years of lost interest in design and art direction specifics.
I’ve moved on to the business side of creative and love empowering/inspiring other creatives who do a better job.