What's it like to be....
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- DiscoKid
A project manager?
Thinking about a career move into this area and I wanted to know it's like - what's the day-to-day like? What are the challenges? Any advice would help....
Thanks
- rabattski0
what is a project manager? is that like an account manager or more like a traffic manager?
- DiscoKid0
Er... I'm not sure what a traffic manager is -sounds like something to do with cars? I think a project manager is more like an account manager - client liaison, briefing the studio, etc....
- rabattski0
a traffic manager makes sure everything is done in time. plans the whole shebang. knows how has time, who hasn't, when it has to go to the printer etc. etc. most of the time in control of the entire dtp dept. a good traffic manager is golden. seriously.
an account manager, with all due respect, is a prick. really redundant if you ask me, it's just extra noise on the line. and there are way too many accountmanagers who think they are creative and stew something up with the client and come back at you with utter crap which destroys the entire concept etc. don't have anything good to say about accountmanagers.
i like how kessels & kramers does it without accountmanagers, direct communication between the creative dept. and the client.
- rabattski0
argh. knows who has time. not how has time. duh.
- DiscoKid0
Cool - thanks... traffic manager is smae or different to studio manager? It's all so confusing when your client-side!
- rabattski0
not sure. could be a difference in terminology. studio manager could be the same thing.
- DiscoKid0
So what might the key skill for a traffic manager be? Sounds more the kind of thing I'm after, as not totally up for frontline client stuff.... Basically I'm client side and been managing printers, designers and copywriters and doing a little artworking myself.
Would you know anyone I could email and ask a few questions?
Sorry to harass you so much - but you've been really helpful so far!
- toe_knee0
project managers get shit from boss, client and creatives/developers so you'll need a tuff skin, and need to be diplomatic and fair. Not an easy job. But you get to take all the credit when a project goes well. fucken project managers
;)
- Bunkum0
I know a chick who was an excellent designer. One day she just decided she was sick of pushing pixels around a page and became an Account Manager. I think she's loads happier now but she was really good. Go figure.
- ********0
Account managers in my place simply protect the clients from hostile designers.
- Spanna0
Traffic manager is more in advertising - makes sure ads are all in correct format and that they are recieved by publications/website in time. manages time schedules etc. Project manager is more client facing.
- DiscoKid0
Clarity - cool! In what way(s) are Project Managers more client facing? Do they brief the progress of a project or are they primarily relationship-maintaining/buildin... Do they work in conjunction with Account Managers or is this dependent on the size of the agency? So many questions!
- pascii0
i am a project manager. at least i'm learning that these days.
it's interesting to see the other side. otherwise than as a designer because you can see a glance of the big picture. this helps me a lot to understand things an helps me to make better timings.
- numberoneson0
Can't work with em, can't work without them.
If you love using the phone, go for it, but I know that life ain't for me.
- blaw0
if you take a project and split the 'good' work (analysis, design, production) and separate it from the 'bullshit' work (creating and maintaining timelines, communicating with both the client the the design/development team, keeping up on the budget/hours), then the bullshit work is the sole responsibility of the PM.
- pascii0
not really.... see it more as a team work
- blaw0
teamwork. agreed.
i just meant that when we had a full-time project manager here i was left to just design away, and she handled all of the other stuff.
i felt like i was being spoiled, and of course, i was.
- pascii0
the problem is that there aren't many former designers in accounting. mostly acc. people don't know anything about the design process...
- DiscoKid0
Thanks - this is all really useful. I've had some design experience and have worked with designers, etc, before. So you think that experience and viewpoint would be quite useful for a potential Project Manager...?
- GeorgiePorgie0
worth every cent, you do most the pushing not the BS work 90% of the time, but there are headaches with it as well. I bounce back and forth from both.
understanding processes if a major step