Career Advice
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- beardplusone
I have been in the advertising industry as an Art Director and Designer for the past 12 years. Most recently, (the last 6 years) I have filled the roll as Art Director. My duties range from logo design, campaign concepts, interactive production, website connecting and design, flash animation, display banner ads. I also do a bit of mentoring with the designer and Senior designer in the shop as well as reviewing work by the production department and production manager. I basically do whatever needs to be done and step in and help other designers make their work better.
In the past year, I have decided that it is important for my career trajectory to make the jump to Senior Art Director. 4 months ago I had lunch with my CD and told my Creative Director that I wanted to be the Senior Art Director at the agency (the agency is growing very quickly and I wanted to be the one that grew into this position since we did not have one at the time). I was told that I would need to wait two years before I would be ready to be a Senior Art Director. I was also told that a Senior Art Director needs to be able to everything that an Art Director needs to do plus act as a mentor and developing concepts would become the most important part of that position as well.
Just after this lunch conversation with my CD the company hired on a Senior Art Director this, the company hired a new Senior Art Director. The new Senior Art Director cannot do flash, cannot draw, cannot do intensive photoshop production, he hasn’t ever even opened keynote or power point (by his own admission), he cannot draw, he does not sketch out his ideas first (he gets right on his computer and starts making his janky clip art designs).
Since this Senior Art Director started, I have developed three ad campaigns (each with three different concepts) approved by their clients, I have designed two big VIP invite packages approved by those clients, I have art directed and concerted a print campaign for one of his clients, I have designed 40 logos for a client that we both worked on and he produced 3 logos that incorporated clip art. I am basically bailing this guy out and designing circles around him and he is still my senior.
The problem is this. I am not learning anything from this Senior Art Director. He is not brining anything to the table for the department. He does not mentor the younger designers because he has nothing to offer. He does not know how to operate the software on his computer can hardly activate a typeface. He will work on maybe two jobs a week. Any advice on how I could talk to one of my four Creative Directors and or Chief Creative Officer about this would be much appreciated.
- robotron3k0
...after 6 years, consider going freelance. you'll be surprised at what you can learn to pay your bills.
- davey_g0
If you're "stuck" there for another two years and this is the current situation you're dealing with, I'd say time to start looking for other opportunities. Talk with your CD again and be honest about the tasks the new senior AD can/cannot do, then start hitting the bricks.
- GeorgesII0
so you told them you wanted to grow and they went and hired someone to fill the position you were aiming for,
fuck them, it's time to move on!
- brandelec0
air it out to your CD and be prepared to move on
- but in reverse order.CyBrainX
- only if you a pussy pussbrandelec
- 'Pussy puss' lolHombre_Lobo
- exador10
hang tight if the money is good, and you're still doing good work. If you feel you're undervalued, have a chat with some of the CD's. ask what it is specifically that the new Senior Art Director had to offer that got him the job over you.
If you can sit tight for a while until you get that 'senior' title, cool....if not, then (as mentioned by everyone else) dust off the resume and start looking to move on....
don't burn any bridges...
- beardplusone0
Yeah, I am going to talk to one of the two of the four Creative Directors about this. Are there any rules of decorum that should be considered when airing this out? Do I call this Senior Art Director out by name when talking to my CDs or is it more courteous to say that I am carrying the burdon and work load of the Senior Art Director without any of the respect/autonomy/compensatory monies.
- be sure to specific that it is out of respect for ferrari moniescannonball1978
- freedom0
A title is just a title and doesn't mean much. Were you looking for more money or responsibility in the position?, because it already reads like you manage the team and mentor.
Is this new person qualified for his job at all? What credentials did he have that you didn't?
If this new person is inadequate, maybe you can get your team together and petition on your behalf. If the new guy is not doing his job, someone else can say that for you.
- whatthefunk0
Similar thing happened to me though I did formally interview for the role prior to a new hire being made. The new person was clearly incompetent and eventually was let go after less than 12 months. I had already left at that point and heard about it from former coworkers.
I left a great company b/c of that and not only has my salary benefitted immeasurably b/c of the move but I've also grown leaps and bounds. Funny that they found out what we already knew but by the time they caught up most others had moved on...
- melq0
Your frustration is understandable, but in a wall of text about "your" career, you spend most of it talking about someone else. Your career is about what you know, what you can do and where you want to go in this industry. Keep your head down and keep working hard and it will work out. I am quite confident it will.
- It will but he is asking for some specific advice. It seems like he works for dishonest people who make bad choices. Eventually that's a reason to leave.CyBrainX
- Eventually that's a reason to leave.CyBrainX
- Understood. I just wanted to point out that he was perhaps giving a bit too much power over his life to other people.melq
- I agree.CyBrainX
- beardplusone0
Thanks for all the responses. I agree that yes most of my gripes about this new hire being completely under qualified (he lists past employers as Goodby, JWT, Saatchi and Saatchi, etc.) and I know how petty this whole question sounds, which is why I am reluctant to talk to my CDs about this. I was just using good ol QBN to see if I have some kind of ego thing or what. And this is not so much for a pay increase (though that would be cool), because I get by just fine and it is not really ego either, because I do the best work I can everyday regardless of the title I have. This would be specifically to help allow me to progress in my career(learning to better manage small groups of designers, mentor the younger designers, inclusion on higher level problem solving etc.) and not letting this next step in my progression and design professional pass me by because management at my current agency is hung up on hiring people with impressive sounding resumes that can't get the job done.
- animatedgif0
Is the SAD mates with one of the CDs by any chance?
I'd just leave, sometimes it's better to move diagonally than vertically. Not to mention they clearly don't respect you much if they treat you like that after 6 years.
- kingkong0
My tuppence for what it's worth... (as an ex CCO in an ad agency)
The way to move up in the ad game is to move around. Very few people move up the tree sat in the same company unless you're exceptional.
Ask yourself why he hired that person in the first place? I'm imagining he understands what you bring to the table...?
The other thing I'd say is that technical ability is not a pre-requisite for
an art director role. In the agencies you mention, it's highly unlikely you would be asked to do anything other that scribble and write scripts.Ultimately you pay a Snr. AD for concepts.
I've never worked anywhere longer than 2/3 years (although with my own company now that's stopped).
The other thing I'd say is that job titles exist to charge clients more money.
- formed0
What kk said. Make sure you fully understand what the guy/gal brings to the table. Concepts don't need to be full photoshop productions.
As always, the value for the bigger idea rarely needs to have the refinement of the production pieces. I stopped using much of the software a decade ago and only know enough about the changes to tell others how to improve, notice what's wrong, etc. Just not worth my time, that's what I expect younger, production designers to be fluent in.
His credentials might be bringing in bigger money as kk notes, too. Saying 'our new guy comes directly from blah blah blah" might carry weight in some circles (I don't know).
Ultimately, if you ain't happy, you gotta figure out how to either find new opportunities (new job, freelance, etc.) or become satisfied with where you are. I'd get prepared to move on and start looking, talk to your CD, surely they know how you are feeling just by your last convo.
- mekk0
Go to a casino with rabbit and celebrate your future position!