How to combat "Spec" mentality in the workplace.

[cgmpowers]

I have a bit of an (for me) unusual situation. I work for a medium to getting larger company with an 'in house' design team of myself and my Creative Director. We work with the 'onsite freelance Marketing team and a couple of our own Marketing people'.

The marketing people generally arrange printing for our direct mail, promotions, print ads, etc. And from time to time, they've "freelanced" out to freelancers because they assume we're too busy--something that the Creative Director and I are trying to obviously combat.

However my Creative Director, as incredibly talented as he is, doesn't have the drive to fight them anymore on control of the creative department. He's fought many battles and lost.

The new problem is in addition to now competing for work with outside freelancers, we now have someone from another department whose NOT in the marketing department and obviously NOT in the creative department whose been doing Illustrations for the Marketing Team behind our backs.

We're beign totally left out of the loop. She's a self-claimed "Graphic Designer" and while she has the education of an illustrator she's NOT working or was hired as one. She's in Operations.

How do you combat this? The Creative Director wont stand up to them anymore because of the too many lost battles and I am feeling frustrated that some of our ideas are getting blatently ripped off by this 'Illustrator' and she's stealing work from us.

How do I get this Illustrator woman to realize that she's not only damaging MY job but the field by working for spec--she's not geting any pay as an illustrator and is doing this as a "free side job" for the 'glory of being the new hero'.

Chris

[obesebee]

That sounds ridiculous! Could you not have a meeting with senior management and have it out? It's completely disrespectful of your profession.

[cgmpowers]

I totally agree.

What's worse is that this Creative Director isn't taken seriously as the Creative Director. He's called himself jokingly the Photoshop Editor.

I frankly don't understand how it got this bad. I've only been here two months and have seem him treated like he's disposable. They treat me little better but not much.

He's gone to the CEO and the Marketing Director in the past with little results to show for the wear. He has a baby on the way early next year and doesn't want to make waves but I see him jumping ship if things don't improve.

I love the work, I like the job, but the affection I have for the Marketing Department has evaporated in the short 2 months of being here.

Chris

[Logo-Mechanix]

Seems to me the illustrator wants to be an illustrator and is trying to make that happen. I don't know if I would see that as spec work really, this person is trying to move up the corporated ladder maybe. I have seen it happen but could never understand why a company would go to someone else within the company for art when they have an art department. Kind of defeats the purpose.

[Broacher]

At least you have a Creative Director. I report directly to the Marketing Director, in the Marketing Department, where lurks my cubicle, directly across from his-- or her's, since we're just lost another one. This will be my fifth Marketing Director since starting here) office. I've campaigned for years to introduce a Creative Director position, but it simply cannot happen here.

What has happened here, and this isn't all that unusual, is that whenever they wear out a staffer by stripping away their authority and respect until they leave in frustration-- inevitably, the position gets re-evaluated, and usually to a much higher payband.

This demonstrate two things: once you're inside for a few years, you start to loose your value and credibility to management. Secondly, it doesn't pay to stay too long. (Especially if you're a big exec with a golden handshake clause, right?)

Chris,

Be sure to check out in-source.org

This a site designed for in-house creative pros. It costs nothing to register and they have some great stuff in their archives dealing with in-house specific issues.

The suggested solutions very often take a very strong 'here's how to play the game' tack, in very practical, "try to see it from their standpoint" view. It's all about internal communicating.

As for the 'outsourcing' issue-- you have to look at it as an opportunity. This was first introduced here many years back and I was intially nervous. Not in losing my job, but in losing my professional credibility (such as it is!). But it's been a mixed blessing. Sure, some of the 'cream' jobs were taken off my list and the space filled with much less demanding creative, or just downright pure production work. BUT, the plus side was that over time, I actually became well-known to the outside creatives who quite often (at least the good ones!) would back my expressed opinions in front of the execs, giving me a shot of credibility and some input to the process. And soon, I was being asked for my opinion on the work that the freelancers had created, including their selection. This is all good experience. Why?

I think we all have to recognize that design has rapidly become a much more collaborative process than it ever was. Things have and are changing when it comes to the team size of the typical design project. This also has it's good and bads, but the point is that it is real, and we have to adjust to this reality.

When you sign up with in-source, be sure to check out the piece by Marilyn Kochman called 'Innies vs. Outies'. And scoop the rest of the PDFs too. They're good readin'!

[cgmpowers]

What really irked me was I did a very good ad that was my concept and my artwork and without my knowledge, she an almost idential image in watercolors which I ended up having to use and lay in the type.

I am not upset they didn't choose my artwork as much as I am at her STEALING my idea, concept and running with it.

Who is she?? She's not paid as an Illustrator and she shouldn't be acting as one in this building.. Its insulting to me, and my boss.

[cgmpowers]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm checking out that website after this message!!

Thanks
Chris




Be sure to check out in-source.org

This a site designed for in-house creative pros. It costs nothing to register and they have some great stuff in their archives dealing with in-house specific issues.

The suggested solutions very often take a very strong 'here's how to play the game' tack, in very practical, "try to see it from their standpoint" view. It's all about internal communicating.

As for the 'outsourcing' issue-- you have to look at it as an opportunity. This was first introduced here many years back and I was intially nervous. Not in losing my job, but in losing my professional credibility (such as it is!). But it's been a mixed blessing. Sure, some of the 'cream' jobs were taken off my list and the space filled with much less demanding creative, or just downright pure production work. BUT, the plus side was that over time, I actually became well-known to the outside creatives who quite often (at least the good ones!) would back my expressed opinions in front of the execs, giving me a shot of credibility and some input to the process. And soon, I was being asked for my opinion on the work that the freelancers had created, including their selection. This is all good experience. Why?

I think we all have to recognize that design has rapidly become a much more collaborative process than it ever was. Things have and are changing when it comes to the team size of the typical design project. This also has it's good and bads, but the point is that it is real, and we have to adjust to this reality.

When you sign up with in-source, be sure to check out the piece by Marilyn Kochman called 'Innies vs. Outies'. And scoop the rest of the PDFs too. They're good readin'!

[greyghost]

I think you should introduce yourself to her. Try to embrace her into the fold, even though she isn't part of the Art Department. Try to see her situation, which is, she couldn;t get a job doing illustrations like she wanted to, but maybe she really is a good artist and can collaborate WITH you and maybe join more on YOUR side than the Marketing Department side.

If she feels more welcome, then maybe she can even be another voice to help your creative battles. At least open a line of communication with her and see where she stands.

There isnt much you can do to give your boss a new backbone, I doubt he'll stick around if he is treated so... you might find yourself in his shoes and, if this girl is any good, they can hire her into your position. Companies like to hire inside rather than pay for interviewing and crapola like that.

[cgmpowers]

There's a portion of the story left out.. My creative director, my boss, is the owner's son and the owner is handing over the reigns to others due to declining heath/medical issues. The company is expanding like gangbusters and somehow the "relaxed" atmosphere of how he had power early on dewindled as people treated him like he didn't deserve the job.

This guy is ten years younger than I am, granted, and no "formal design" training but he's a genius. He has an incredible design eye and unbeatable work ethic. He cares more about this company and the cohesive message of the company than anyone I've ever seen here--including the CEO and Marketing Chief (our bosses).

The owner has no contact in the company anymore as he's stepped away. Since then, its been a downhill ride for my Creative Director and I just happened to be in the mix the past 2 months of the 6 month decline of his role here.

Seriously though even though he's 26, he's got more knowledge of what works than anyone I ever saw in college as a classmate. I am very impressed with his skill, knowledge and professionalism.

I just wish the lackies of the marketing department didn't follow the Marketing Director's lead and treat him (and now me) like second class designers.

Chris

p.s. Just to give you an idea how good he is, we do only FULL PAGE advertisements in magazines. We have magazines routinely tell us that our ads make their magazines look "sexy" or "cutting edge" and they eagerly wait for new stuff being sent by he and I.

I think you should introduce yourself to her. Try to embrace her into the fold, even though she isn't part of the Art Department. Try to see her situation, which is, she couldn;t get a job doing illustrations like she wanted to, but maybe she really is a good artist and can collaborate WITH you and maybe join more on YOUR side than the Marketing Department side.

If she feels more welcome, then maybe she can even be another voice to help your creative battles. At least open a line of communication with her and see where she stands.

There isnt much you can do to give your boss a new backbone, I doubt he'll stick around if he is treated so... you might find yourself in his shoes and, if this girl is any good, they can hire her into your position. Companies like to hire inside rather than pay for interviewing and crapola like that.

[Broacher]

Any chance you two jumping ship together? If he's as a natural at marketing as you say, maybe you two could open a consulting firm. Have you ever given something like this any thought or the possibility of discussion?

[cgmpowers]

Well its definately something I've entertained but as I've only been employed two months in this field..I'm afraid I haven't the experience yet to branch out on my own. However, he does and then-some. He just hates 'corporate life' and this company has seemed to zap his desire to even be in this field at times.

[Broacher]

Sometimes, it can be a real advantage to be 'under-experienced'. Especially in start-ups. It's kind of like, if you knew what could really go wrong, you'd fall into a coma.

On the other hand, it sounds like from a motivational standpoint, you guys might already be there.

I bet it would be worth talking about. Seriously. Why couldn't you two even just start some planning? Maybe find an area or idea that wouldn't compete with the family business and just start playing around with it a bit.

[stevesda]

To me this sounds like a classic piece of inter-department rivalry which is always started by the marketing department. I am responsible for my firms PR and marketing activities and work next to our graphic designers who i have a very good relationship with.

The thing is marketing graduates are generally the lowest of the low - you have to understand their soul purpose is to boost sales in anyway in the short term and they rarely consider the application of good design as anything but a quick fix that is not as important as their own input.

My suggestion would be to get out of this organisation with your creative director (by the way if he's a creative director working under a marketing director this is bad bad bad - sounds like he's effectively a Marketing assistant) start a new consultancy firm, maybe even still work for your old company - you'll be able to control everything much easier.

Go and work for people who come to you for your expertise - its harder, and riskier but ultimately more fulfilling and enjoyable.