Any advice working in an Advertising Agency?

Question

I just recently landed a job working as a designer at an advertising agency. I'm excited and nervous all at once. I keep hearing from a lot of people that it's really demanding designing for such companys. Do you have any advice for someone who's entering in this field of work as a mid-level designer?

Answer 1

Your experience at an agency depends completely on the people you work with, and the clients you have (kind of like almost every other design job!). It can be fun and rewarding, or it can be hellish. Your job will probably be a little of both. The trick to survival is to know which designs you can push creatively, and which ones you just need to put your head down and do what the client wants. You will need to develop a thick skin. Don't worry so much - just be yourself and do what you do best - fight for your designs, but be flexible. Sometimes even clients have good ideas! Even if you only stay at an agency for a short time, the skills you learn there will serve you well for the rest of your career.

Answer 2

Where to start?

The one thing I can say that I've seen designers do that has hurt them in agency life is not taking direction well and taking changes to their artwork personally.

Realize that when a client asks you to change something, that if you are too headstrong and do not work with them, that they will end up changing it with or without you, and meaning that your work is no longer your own. Stay flexible and creative and you'll always have ownership of your own work and pride for it later.

Second, you will have account people that are there to serve the client and will always demand from you things and treat you like "why can't you just hurry up and design something". Try not to take this to heart and again go with the flow. I don't like it when account people act this way and I try not to do it as an account person, but the less you take it personally the more sane you'll stay and better overall job you'll do (after all, your creative bosses know the deal). So don't let account people rattle you and if you have a real issue, rely on your bosses to provide you some advice.