Dissed Designer
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- pyeaton
I am venting....so bear with me. I have been working on a restructuring of an existing design, as well as a general redsign of all collateral for a subsidiary of the company I work for. It has taken a month. Having an agency background, and a decent set of design skills, The pitch was today. So, last night, I was here late buildng the presentation boards and comps. Come in this morning, and i am not even invited to the meeting!
Should I be dissed?
- fits0
no... you don't want to be there when they take credit for your hard work anyway.
- digilee0
look at it 2 ways ...
1 - You're just a stupid designer that knows nothing.
OR
2 - Your designs are so clean that they need no explaining.
- blastofv0
for whatever reason, they don't want you in the pitch – dissed or not depends on why they don't want you:
sloppy appearance/hygene?
mumbler?
can't articulate your rationale?
too young?
too old?or, maybe they just like to keep their creatives stashed away, and they think they'll have a better chance selling it if the Account Execs/Project Managers do the pitch...
have they X'd you out before?
- jamble0
i would feel "dissed", I assume that by not having you there you had been asked to perhaps brief a more sales minded person on how to talk through your comps?
- pyeaton0
Well, my designs were accepted with joy. But, I am still po'd bad. The real specifics are that this is an internal design dept. Most of the designers here have been here for a long time as well as the so called marketing people (the VP of marketing was unaware of what exactly a tag line is...hope this gives some insight). Not to float my own boat, but I have done an award winning competetive audit for Chase, and managed that on my own (in my previous life in agencies), and at least know what a tag line is. I guess it might just be me, but i am quite insulted. This isn't my ego. Mu colleagues were dumbfounded that I was noit invoilved.
- bradpitt0
go fuck'em up.
- pyeaton0
No. they had a product manager in there, the AD, the print buyer, and the 2 peole here from the subsidiary.
- blastofv0
sounds like they don't understand or value good design, the designer's expertise, and the presentation aspect of the creative process.
that sucks – but you should speak up for next time, if you think they'll listen
- blastofv0
wait, they had an art director in there? is he/she your superior?
my stuff gets pitched by the creative director all the time depending on the client...there's always the political aspect to the team they send it for a presentation
- j_red0
sounds like you want the AD's job.
- harlequino0
This is not unusual, try not to get too bent up. Giving them the beneift of the doubt, they may have a clear idea of how to "sell" your work, and have a pipeline in place.
Perhaps this is a positive thing. Do you really want to have to sell your work as well as have to do it?
- pyeaton0
Not at all. At least not here. Her and I get along great. We are the only people here that understand design for marketing purposes. Its just that I have never not been in a meeting like this. Considering i dropped about a month and a half of 60+ hrs a week on this, i would expect to be there.
- pyeaton0
I definetly want to be a part of pitching my own work. At least on something of this scale.
- todelete__20
If they don't acknowledge you for your work, then yes, but I've worked at places before where I wasn't in on the pitch meetings.
That's what the sales guys are there for, to bullshit their way into the work.
Odd though that they didn't talk to you first to get all the information possible about what you did before they pitched the idea.
I wouldn't sweat it though.
- pyeaton0
Agreed kona. Thanks. Just never not been in a meeting this siZe for a project this size that I did all the work for. Bizarre. Blessing in disguise though. Think its time to get something a little more challenging, and marketing oriented.
- spendogg0
I would just move on and let the other monkeys deal with the political crap - you will get your kudos one way or another. But if things go bad you may get thrown in front of the bus. JK
- fullerc0
it happens to me all the time...the CDs and ADs have nothing to do with the project until they have to pitch it to the execs. They use words like "we" and "us" or "team" when I was the only one that worked on it.
- epill_0
this is yourr timeto go on the roof of your building and smoke a large joint while they pound idea to figure out your comp...
as a designer you have to step away from your work...you must be able to let it go...keep moving foward...if you hesitate and emotions are hiting you the way it is it seems you need a break.
did you ask why you werent involved? dont make any speculations, find out the facts first!!!
good luck!
- pyeaton0
Thanks everyone for chiming in. Very appreciated, and your advice is taken.
- NylonMade0
you need to figure our where you are at with in the food chain.
face it, most of the times the ppl in the trenches dont go to the pitches.
higher you, most talk to do, less do the do