managing a creative team
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- hiatus
I've gotten a promotion and managing a creative team
- oversee ongoing project
- give team feedback and give creative direction
- schedule team meetingsAny suggestion on my new role. :-)
- scarabin0
don't be a dick
- albums0
take a hiatus & let them work.
- vaxorcist0
trust people until they give you a reason not to trust them
- MarleyMarl0
Take a management course.
- dbloc0
don't do this...
http://hoveringartdirectors.tumb…
- vaxorcist0
be aware that must of "20th century management theory" is NOT applicable to creative management.... it's more about trust, general direction, and some friendly time management... note that many designers and creatives are easily irritated by meetings and timesheets and such....
My best managers would give us mental boosts and a strong sense of the general direction, then stay out of the way and check in every end of day, not every 15 minutes...
NOTE that it takes about 22 minutes to focus, most workplaces inturrupt people very 15-20 minutes...
- This is great advice. I second it wholeheartedly.CyBrainX
- Maaku0
Don't do all the cool project yourself, leave some for them. They won't feel like they are doing the same boring work all the time.
- vaxorcist0
my best manager would use google chat to ask questions or for updates, and he'd not expect an immediate response, most questions were started with "respond anytime: ....." so we were not inturrupted by somebody walking over to our desk and ambushing us...
why? focus is your primary resource, losing focus is death to creative production
- Knuckleberry0
Make a list (xcl) of all existing projects (open and future) write down who in your team is working on it and what the status is. Meet weekly to discuss all projects and update your list.
This is the way I would do it... my directors do not, and they have no clue what is going on... ever.
- hiatus0
you homies are right. I have a good comradery, bust chops with the 2 guys. It should go well, but you guys make valid points. My boss is an ambushing hover craft of a guy. I hate the open concept office cause I can feel the eyes floating around even when he isn't there.
I use and will continue to use chat. The excel sheet comment is good - I use Ind file. I hate MSOffice
i'm a worker bee and turning into the the manager/creative director role will take time. Although I will of course still be doing a decent amount of graphic work. So much for coding(peace). Any things I can look forward to in my new role and I'm not talking about more meetings, emails, sale confrence call & direct client BS(make logo bigger). I will try to differ all of these tasks to the project manager, continue to read qbn(on the DL), eat bagels, drink tons of free coffee and enjoy Company happy hours. ;-)
Life is kinda sweat. Pretty much continue to avoid more responsibility (jk-kinda)and pick random colors and stock imgs for creatives and let them work it out. Trust right! :-)
- step away from the 'doing' of the work if you can... trust me in that!
trooperbill - if you want to be effective in your role, you'll need to get more involved in meetings/emails/sale... calls.monNom
- as the department lead, you're now the person that has to be an ambassador for your department\s workmonNom
- step away from the 'doing' of the work if you can... trust me in that!
- trooperbill0
be REALLY clear about deadlines and allow ample time for changes
manage expectation
Its your job to balance the needs of the client with the opinions of the designer
contact people early if theres a porblem
phone people if you need to speak to them except where you need a paper trail (and send notes of your calls via email)
managing time is your biggest challenge! if you find a workable project management gantt chart then let me know (ive yet to find one that suits my needs)
- drgs0
whenever there is a conflict in the group, take responsibility on yourself
- vaxorcist0
My biggest piece of client expectations management advice is....
Are you on the right road? Is the client feeling listened-to?
If you're on the wrong path, or the client feels neglected, a flurry of random "little changes" result, each one basically trying to steer the titanic of a project in the opposite direction without seeming to at the time...
- honest0
make sure you feed them well if they're working late and always get them drunk when going out.
- formed0
Manage expectations (as TB points out) is crucial, both when meeting with a client and discussing the details with a team member.
Be clear to everyone what your expectations - no surprises.
This will keep all parties happy and you'll keep your sanity.
- renderedred0
legalize.
- hiatus0
When am I suppose to get to the design part. This kinda sucks. Al ready doing less design & can't focus with all the (take a look at my work chats/emails)..... leave me alone - i want to trace and copy/paste images too. :-P
- Wow, based on that comment, I think I have your job, but I am just a "designer".RustyStew
- hiatus0
My title - Sr. Graphic Design Manager - any alternatives title name(s)
- OSFA0
KEEP LEARNING so that you always know the same or more than the people you manage. They will respect you and your team will do great work!
- GeorgesII0
don't fuck the cute intern,
it's not worth it