jobs.
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- vague
heres a hypothetical.
i often see job listings on craigslist, or other places, where random companies like a Pharmaceutical supply company, or a medical supply company, or some other corporate-y type office needs a flash designer, and they're willing to pay something like $80,000 just for the guy to produce boring, mundane training software or brochures/guides/manuals in Flash and shit. easy job, lots of money, right? only the work is super boring.
then you have a guy, say like: http://www.marconi.nu/
he gets to work on cool funky projects like Absolut Vodka collateral.
question is, do you those "cool" exciting gigs pay as much to the artist/designer directly responsible for creating them? and also, if not, would you rather spend every working day taking on more creative projects like this for lesser pay, or opt for something very stable like an 80,000 boring flash dev job at a pharma company (or something to that extent). im really curious as to how those kinds of fun creative gigs stack up against other ones.
- wordsinyourmouth0
creative jobs all the way, i think i would die of boredom with the other
- akrokdesign0
agree, rather take a more creative job for less pay. but, dont let the hype of big client names fool you. :-)
- NewElpaso0
i very much doubt that http://www.marconi.nu/ would even be the kind of candidate for that job. (being an illustrator).
different things appeal to different people at different stages in their life.
personally i would always go the hell out of my way to stay doing creative stuff, and being a bit silly.
but some one on a measely wage that finds himself in a tight situation (ie need to support a family etc) might get off the high horse because needs be. - or some people might not suit the artyFarty and are more logical and safe... and thus get more money
but then again if you're in this profession to make money - you are shit outta luck
its for the love - baby!
- vague0
understood.
but im also very curious if the sort of work that you see on Marconi's site would pay that individual (or whomever produced that sort of work) as well as a boring-dumb flash dev job that offered $80,000 a year (which is damned good money)... just trying to compare green apples to red apples.. or something.
- By and large, Illustrators do not make a lot of money. Incidentally, Marconi brews a mean cappuccino, so I believe he is afloat this week.gramme
- he is afloat this week.gramme
- does he also work at Starbucks to subsidize his creative endeavors?geralddean
- Jaline0
I want a balance between both :/
- i hear ya. make enough to live pretty good and still have fun without farking up your priorities.a_iver
- balance all the way.skwiotsmith
- wordsinyourmouth0
well, if you're the cream of the crop you can do pretty well money-wise ( just like any profession ), especially freelancing, but don't count on ever being a millionare or anything. It all comes down to lifestyle, if you want to live lavishly, be a heart or neurosurgeon not a designer
- vague0
yeah i know.. im just wondering.. say a good art director working at a reputable design company designs a bunch of shit for a "name" brand like Absolut Vodka, or some shit like that.. do you think that AD, on average, would get paid about 80k a year? less? even more? just wondering about this, cause sometimes it seems like the most creative opportunities are never the best paying, and im wondering if thats even the case in larger studios... whereas if youre the sole flash guy at a completely unrelated company that wants to pay you 80-85k a year, it's simply because theyve got lots of money and dont care.. what do you think, or see, in your experiences
- wordsinyourmouth0
a good AD will get paid 80K +
a lot of it depends on the region; good AD's in NYC can make 100K+
- you just have to find the agency/studio/firm that pays that.
most don't. :-)akrokdesign
- you just have to find the agency/studio/firm that pays that.
- vague0
@arok... see that stinks.
why the hell would 'average' design companies.. you know.. who DO flash shit for a living... typically offer pay that isnt so hot.. but dinosaur supply companies or other random corporate places will offer big bucks for an inhouse designer/flash-developer to do easy (but boring as hell) crap?
seems ass backwards.
- NewElpaso0
because everyone wants to do 'cool crazy work that tingles your titties'
no one wants to do boring ass work - so they have to lure designers in with big paychecks..
pretty simple...
+ i recently saw some adverts on (i think was the brand republic site cant remember) for 80K-100K in the Uk for an experienced executive creative director with 20 years experience in advertising
maybe when you get to 20 years experience wages will be better :)
- 20 yr. experience. hah. well, at least there email box didn't get full.akrokdesign
- monNom0
I think it's simple supply and demand. The creative agencies are far more attractive (in demand) to talented designers, so it depresses salaries as there's more supply.
Another way of looking at it is that corporate gigs pay a premium due to the lack of supply of interested candidates. The same premium exists for gambling/cigarettes/porno jobs, though for other reasons.
Career wise, I think it's a better move to stay in the competitive arena of creative design, as that competition will keep your work ahead of the curve, and will increase your worth in the long run.
If you eventually become totally jaded and burnt out, that cushy corporate job will be waiting =)
- Llyod0
do it for the money and freelance on the side to keep up to speed
- jfletcher0
Take the better job, not the money. Keep up your skills. In the long run that will matter more.
Like monNom said, if you're "burnt", go corporate. I've been in corporate for a while and certainly don't find it dull or uncreative, but not like an agency.
- monkeyshine0
Take the better job but don't allow yourself to be exploited. There are hot agencies here in Boston who are notorious for their sh!tty pay. They know they can get away with it because designers want their name in their portfolio, along with some of the bigger name clients. I have had friends go into these agencies only to find that they banner b!tches and chasing after every little creative crumb tossed their way...and poor. Be wise and selective; know your worth.
- DeviceUnseen0
This is basically the Sex and Cash Theory:
http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveab…
- menos0
hehehe that sex/cash theory is pretty good! nothing new but all true nonetheless
- EricStralow0
I try to do both...balance the cash projects with the ones that are fun-yet-low-paying. Kinda sad that we're left to choose money over creative fulfillment sometimes, but that's the life of a creative whore in a nutshell. Be happy that you have options...
- madirish0
why do you like Absolute Vodka so much? that is shit booze.. .
- gramme0
I was offered two jobs when I came to St. Louis. I took the one that offered more engaging work for 5K less and have not regretted the decision once in nearly two years.