what to do?
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- lara
my creative director sells my design as his own...Should i express my discontent or let it slip.
(he is a horrific designer, but likes to play the "boss" role in front of our other employees..)
- brandelec0
'Should i express my discontent...'
yes
- DutchBoy0
"6) The difference between a senior and a junior is that the senior is better paid and works less. The more you're paid, the more people listen to you, and the less you speak. In this line of business, the more important you are, the more effort you should make to keep your mouth shut - because the less you say, the more people respect you. The corollary of that is: in order to sell an idea to the CD (Creative Director), a creative should SYSTEMATICALLY lead the CD to believe that it was the CD who had the idea in the first place. To achieve this he should start his presentations along these lines: "I've thought a great deal about what you told me yesterday..." or "in response to your idea the other day..." or even "I've gone back to your original line of thinking, and..." when, of course, it goes without saying that the CD didn't say anything yesterday, didn't have any ideas the other day, and didn't have any specific line of thinking in the first place."
http://www.planningaboveandbeyon…
read the book. you are not alone.
- lara0
dutchboy..i suppose this is a joke...because i would never become a brown nose even if that might lead to some sort of benefits.
essentially i just hate the guy i am working for bc he is so untalented that it hurts.
- rasp0
is there anyone above the creative director? or is it his company? mention it to them. tell them its getting to you a bit. if they figure out youre the one with all the ideas they will question why they are paying him so much and you so much less
- chossy0
Looks like you are from New York so shoot him!
- DutchBoy0
lara, not really a joke, it sort of tells about how these things happen in major ad-agencies.. in an ironic way.
didn't mean to offend you.
:)
- letters0
definitely espress your discontent. Once you start settling for being treated in this manner, it will perpetuate. Stand up for yourself, and your work.
Just be honest.
- brozilla0
i agree with rasp...I recently left a job for this exact reason, and regretfully i never said anything.
I think had i been more vocal my work would've been recognized and i would have not been so frustrated with my environment and might have stayed a while longer.
bottom line...be vocal and dont let weasels get away with your work.
- k0na_an0k0
call him out next time. ask him 'why he did this' or 'created that' or 'treated a certain part that way' and he'll have no idea why because it's not his. or, give him a pile of crap work next time and let him pass it off as his own as you bring the real work out and say something like 'well that's a fine attempt joe joe the idiot boy, but i think this concept will work much better because...'
or something.
- rasp0
in the end a creative director is supposed to direct and bring the best out of his/her team for each project they are working on - once this is done he/she shouldn't try and pass the work off as 'his/hers'
--
if he is just taking your work and saying its his, just tell everyone, if they dont believe you, dont do anywork - say you got a creative block right at the last second - and see what the creative director comes up with.
- jox0
Inhospitable environment. Have him fired, or quit yourself. Working like that would be taking one step forward and two steps back every day.
- JazX0
I would say F*CK you. But that's just me.
- lara0
thanks, nice advise..:) at least i can almost laugh about it now..well the thing is i already told him that i did most of the creative. he then told me in front of everyone else that he was responsible for this work....
unbef8888lievable..but yes i know it happens to quite a few people..and yes i am already looking for a new job..:)
- brozilla0
"Working like that would be taking one step forward and two steps back every day."
yup...thats what it was like exactly...i finally said F*CK you and left.
still not sure that was the best thing to do though.
- _salisae_0
i def do this one:
7) Cultivate absenteeism, come to work at noon, never say anything whenpeople say hello, take three hours for lunch, and make sure no one can get hold of you on your extension. If anyone has a go at you about this, say: "Copywriters don't work to a timetable just to a deadline."
- robotron3k0
sorry guys, that's some BAD adivice...
lara,
what you'll have to do is think smarter and not with anger or resentment. i'm not sure of your position, but YOUR boss knows your talented AND he needs you. the second thing is, all agencies take "credit" for a creatives work, esp. CDs. because, that is their job.what you are going to have to do is not HATE your boss, but work in ways around him, like, for example, showing your work to others before he sees it, so people know YOU did the work, to solidify your ownership...
and finally, you don't realize how many designers, ADs, CDs, account people, production people, writers, etc... who have been on "award winning" creative projects and claimed the work as their own, it will mind boggle you... no matter how you slice it, the creative industry needs fresh new ideas constantly and their are lots of burnout creatives looking to take advantage of new talent. the problem is, you need to get better at recognizing your talent and leveraging it for yourself and not have your CD do it for himself.
hang tough and strategize...
- lara0
robotron3k,
you are right and your advice is sophisticated and professional. the problem is that there are only 2 creatives in this company, me (AD) and the CD. the rest are account people and freelancers who kiss his butt because they don't have any creative input or knowlegde..anyway, i can't stand where i am working the projects are deadly boring and the people dry as hell.
- Soler0
DutchBoy: Sounds like a great way to become a highly paid professional little bitch.
I say tell him how you feel, but know your place and show your appreciation for him selling it to the client and working w/ you.
- kezza_20
How long have you been a designer?
- nick0
robotron, great advice
lara, good luck with the job search, looks as though there are a ton of opportunities out there these days.