Would it be seen as a downgrade to go from agencyAD to presentation designer?

I’m wondering if I’m in the wrong position. I thought I was used to throwing out a fuckton of ideas + animating them + getting shot down a ton, but I’m only getting more and more miserable as time passes.

I feel like my energy is getting wasted and would be happier focusing on slides and presentations only, but I’m afraid it’ll hurt my career trajectory. But I also heard presentation designers make a lot. Thoughts?

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I can’t help but laugh at these comments. I’ve been a presentation designer for 15 years in NYC, I make around $300k because all the people posting refuse to do the work so I get to step in and make the monies! I am always treated with respect and in fact I have a bit of a god complex since I am always the hero that comes in and makes everyone’s hard work look incredible!

Not sure why they are saying that there is no career trajectory, with presentations (good ones) you’ll have great design, animation, video editing, experience which you can drive forward. You will also be learning the latest and greatest in business from the content you’re working with. If you take the opportunities to listen and absorb from the people you’re in the room with it could accelerate your career in ways other designers are not trained. Lastly I have made the best network since I work with hundreds of clients mostly C-Suite who are so thankful they are happy to provide references and connections!

likesmart

No one is making 300k doing presentations in-house at an agency. You have to be freelance to make that kind of money and be in high demand. If you ever want to change career path from preso design, you really need to go to a different agency because you will always be the presentation designer there.

likehelpful

It’s not a downgrade, it’s a shift. Pursue a position where you feel valued, where you enjoy what you do, and where you get paid well to do it and are appreciated. A downgrade in the eyes of whom? Ad people? It’s an industry full of bias. Sure, it sounds and looks great on paper, but it doesn’t matter how it looks, it matters how it feels. Whatever decision you make, do it for yourself and not anyone else. I wish you success, joy, and balance.

likeupliftinghelpful

I am unsure as ever where to go next as a creative but this made me feel better as a whole person. Thank you

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Do not become a presentation designer. There is no upward trajectory. You are constantly asked to make impossible deadlines yet no one respects your time.

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There are pros. It is mindless busy work once you get the hang of it. Another positive is you get to work closely with upper leadership and higher ups that you normally wouldn’t get to work directly with as an AD. The cons are everyone has high expectations and are pressing the same deadlines. Sometimes I will get something sent to me at 11pm for an 8am meeting. It is a rewarding job at times because you do feel like a part of the bigger picture but just expect long/weird hours and high stress no time turn arounds

likehelpful

This would be a pretty severe downgrade in terms of career trajectory and salary. Presentation designers are treated like PowerPoint monkeys - you won’t be doing a ton of “design”, and you’ll have a hard time getting a regular gig afterwards if your portfolio is just slideshows of work you didn’t make.

My suggestion: find a new agency, or go in house somewhere.

likehelpful

“slideshows of work I didn’t make” Damn. Thank you for the advice.

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I think if possible you could explore the field of user experience design if it's something you would like to do

likehelpful

@OP - there are separate fields within UX! UX general, UI is specific.

I currently just have a PDF portfolio as I’m working on transitioning into UX full-time. As a UX designer, yes you do have to have experience in usability testing, A/B testing, research, interviews, visual design, strategy, etc., so my portfolio will have case studies that explore all those things for each project.

If you’d like to just do UI, that is more focused on visual design, typography, color schemes, design systems, layout, etc, that involves less people-talking/research/writing.

But yes, tailor your portfolio to the job you want to have. You could have a separate tab for UI projects or presentstion projects, but they should be separate from AD.

likesmart

Sometimes as a deck designer you have to travel for the pitch and work in your hotel room while execs change everything youve already done. Good times

likehelpful

👆🏼

Presentation design is very lucrative and has the most potential for you to freelance with multiple agencies. Thus increasing your network. That said, if you want to be CD or executive creative someday, it may add some twists and turns in your career path. I’ve done both, and the challenge for me has always been in the 11th hour changes and leadership that wants to shoulder-jockey me.

likehelpful

You can be a graphic designer that’s not an AD, I think that’s somewhere in the middle and maybe more what you’re looking for? Essentially a production designer

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Presentation Design can vary if you freelance > you can work with event companies that need a flexible team to build the visuals for seasonal events; go ‘corporate freelance’ to work with c-suites that have the $ to pay; jump B2B companies building master decks and supporting sales teams; work in communication design scenarios (like courtroom cases) or go through agencies that do creative pitches. You can make really decent money if you have a healthy amount of clients — you could get successful enough to hire people to do your decks while you make extra on top of your base fee.

Is that success to you? If yes, go for it. If you don’t know - hop agencies and seek out different culture fits that can encourage your creative curiosity before you commit to deck-land at a young age.

With that said - if you think there is a divide between client vs brand side in the creative world (and even within fishbowl) —- there is a HUGE divide between ‘real creatives’ (at agencies) and people that show up to do the decks. There is an ‘art’ to it, but it is not one often celebrated in design circles.

likehelpful

This is really helpful for me to figure out the next move. I might try hopping more agencies before completely switching paths completely. Thank you!

If you cherish your nights and weekends don’t do it. Also for hiring later I’d likely over look someone who was a “presentation designer” for a AD or senior designer.

likesmart

If you enjoy it, do it. Design is design. Find the niche that fits you. There is a shitton of money in presentation design if you connect with the right company. Presentation design pays the bills and allows you to have fun in other areas. At my last agency we did roughly 60 to 70% of presentation design and the rest was campaigns. But once again, if you enjoy doing it and have fun doing it you'll always be able to find an upward trajectory.

likehelpful

My experience as a presentation designer isn’t one I would wish on anyone else. I would be shocked if my 55k/year with years of experience competes with an agency AD salary

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Oh no. What city?

I would say don’t do it - I considered it as I got kind of burnt out as an AD but I don’t think the pay is an upgrade, and there is literally no trajectory that I can think of that would help you progress your skills/career. There are other options out there! Moving agencies would def get you a pay bump if you feel you aren’t well compensated right now.

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A lot of startups are looking for nimble and willing designers/creatives who can handle a lot, including decks. Focus there. Growth/expansion opportunities.

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i mean...if u dont want make the actual thing and just make the box around it...

Yes

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