When Wieden + Kennedy says “the work comes first”, how much more seriously do they mean that than the average elite creative agency? Like, I’m at a top-10 agency, but being a human comes first for me. Yes, I have high standards for my work, but not at the expense of my health or happiness. Is everyone at WK genuinely obsessed with their work and do they all live unhealthy, unbalanced lives? Or could someone with a pragmatic view of WLB actually do well there?
Used to work there. You’re misinterpreting the message. It means more along the lines of the idea comes first before all the other bells and whistles. Not a demand on your work life balance
I just wrapped a gig there and honestly, every good thing you’ve heard is true. We work in a business that sometimes requires off hours work, but ultimately I’ve never worked some place where they push so hard to live the values their espouse. If you can work there, you should.
WK is awesome bc they genuinely give a giant fk about the work, their people and work life balance. I’ve never worked at a place that cares so much for their employees. AND I’M A FING FREELANCER!!! Go figure.
Good to know!
It means that every decision should be about what will improve the creative work. Don’t skimp on production, the media plan should follow the creative idea, if we need to push a meeting a few days we push the meeting, if the clients internal politics is pushing us to say something that doesn’t make sense we try to navigate the politics rather than say something that doesn’t make sense. And above all else, we trust the creative teams vision.
Advertising heaven ☁️
No agency is perfect and they’re all trying to do the same thing: make ads and money. But honestly the DNA of goodby is just totally different than W+K. There’s something deep in the W+K bones about caring about people and art in a real way.
Really?
Really what?
I’ve never had better work life balance and I’ve never made better work in my life than my time here. It’s the reason tons of people stick around here for so long. Putting the work first and making it as good as it can be can coexist alongside caring for the people who are making it. Both can be true, and I think it drives people sort of crazy.
^^^ cannot agree with the work life balance but can agree with the agency representing its employees and not selling out
Work comes first. Simply, make the best creative that you can. Personal egos don’t matter-or shouldn’t matter. It’s the only mission. It’s rare to have a place not always bow down to what the client wants. It happens everywhere to some degree. WK does it, but a whole of a lot less than others do in my decade of experience there and 10 years freelancing elsewhere. Overly controlling clients fired WK (WK has also left clients) over creative differences. That said, it’s a halo effect of producing good work. It can be a cult-like saying for those outside the WK offices. But it’s surprising to have account services actually try to sell every piece of creative for the most part.
It might have changed or everyone there now might be geniuses or time wizards but I feel like you had to put in the hours to get stuff in a good place for client to understand or internal team to feel good to present well.
Best work life balance I’ve ever had. Really good culture, despite way too many all agency emails - but maybe that’s bc ppl feel really comfortable haha. I just mute the convos I don’t want to flood my inbox
Do you feel like a human now or nah?
Yes