Sometimes my creative director gives me ideas that I don’t agree with. Is it okay for me to say I don’t agree at my level or do I just need to do what they say?

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Yeah, you can’t outright refuse. I would offer this: do the idea they have asked. Then do another that takes a kernel of what they’re suggesting and pushes it into something awesome. The point is to bring actual solutions; that is what you are getting paid to do.

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I would agree. Talking or Arguing about it reaps nothing. However, presenythrir idea, then yours is a much more palatable way to argue your point.
Never refuse work, go above and beyond to show and justify your idea! 👍🏼

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Just do what they say. It’s not that serious.

likefunny

Hahah I do, I just hating spending all of this time bringing the idea to life only for it to get killed.

likesmart

It’s okay but be ready to rationalize why and give them a better solution. Rooting your thoughts in strategy always helps too. Makes your work bulletproof

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Do one version the exact way they want it, then do a 2nd version the way you think is better. .

likesmart

As the creative director, it’s all about working together! I really value hearing everyone’s input because we all bring something unique to the table. Letting go of egos can lead to the best outcomes.

likefunny

Convince an agency to make you a creative director by making great work for example. Until then, do what the CD says. :)

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Be careful that your lack of belief in the idea doesn't poison the actual execution. That doesn't just reflect poorly on your CD, it does on you too

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Whether consciously or subconsciously if you are phoning it in, people can typically tell. And part of the job is making your boss look good/making their job easier, albeit indirectly. Sometimes you have to deliver on work that you don't believe in, and your coworkers want to be able to trust that they can still rely on you in those instances.

What I typically try to do as an art director is if I find a campaign idea I'm asked to work on boring/uninspired, I'll try to insert some type of visual technique I've long wanted to learn that might fit the idea. That way I still have some degree of interest tied to the work, so when I'm presenting, I don't come off as fully checked out.

smart

This is a problem-solving industry. Don't refuse. ask "Why?" "How?" And offer solutions.

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It depends on the relationship between you two… in some cases you can just go “that’s horsesh*t, but your idea is based on X and y which sounds great, you cool if I play around” but for some CDs… just do it. In a former life when I was at FCB London, the CCO would spit out the corniest ideas in the meeting and I didn’t realize… it wasn’t just something in that area, we had to do exactly that. 1/10 ideas.

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CD ideas getting killed before going to client? Weird. Anyway. Use their ideas as a jumping off point and make it better or beat it.

I’m a creative director, and I definitely want to know if someone I’m working with doesn’t think my idea is going to work, especially if I have a history of pushing ideas that ultimately get killed. Is the CD untalented? Or is this mostly subjective? I’d also be curious if the ideas are killed internally or by the client. You have some good suggestions here on how to handle by working in your idea as another option, or finding a way to execute a kernel of their idea. If the idea is truly bad, what I would do is say, “I ran this by {account lead or strategy} and they were worried about {specific reason the idea is bad/the client has seen this idea before/the client reacted poorly to a similar idea in the past/they were really hoping to see X}. But it’s important to not outright lie. If the creative director‘s ideas are as bad as you say, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a head nod from someone else on the team leaning toward not moving forward with it.
It’s a delicate balance, but can be done.
But this still leaves the larger problem— the CD who isn’t giving solid ideas you can dig into and grow from. That situation needs to be remedied one way or another.

Upon further reflection, I don’t think manipulation is the way to go. And now I’m reflecting that I might rely on manipulation a little too much to preserve feelings.

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