Comfort Zones Make Creatives...ahem...Uncomfortable.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vrogy/

“Well done!” says the Account Executive, proud to have delivered on time. “Right…” answers the graphic designer thinking he did it well, but had he been given enough time, it would have made the difference between “good” and “awesomeness.”

I heard or read somewhere that every creative needs something to rebel against, and in this case, the rebellion usually happens between the creatives and the accounts people.  Accounts wants to keep things on track: "We don’t change a formula that works!" The Creative reiterates: "I want to re-inivent the wheel."

And there it goes…the eternal incompatibility of character, lol.

To our beloved Account Managers and Executives here at PG, and all around...know that it is in the creatives’ nature to want to change things. DNA oblige, they can't play by the rules for the obvious reasons that rules are made to broken…but not “broken”in the delinquent sense of the word… but more like, breaking new grounds or breaking the top speed, or simply break dancing to Bach 9th Symphony because it feels good! Comfort zones make creatives uncomfortable.  

PG over, and out.

The Tank

Designing is like life. No? You brainstorm, you plan then make things happen. Pretty much the same. But designing, like life, has its way of leaving you in a dike, bound with USB cables, gagged with JOs, your arse lit on fire and with deadlines circling overhead like crazy vultures.

Like other designers, I’ve had my fair share of ball-breaking situations, and it feels like your PC just gave you "the blue screen of death, dumping physical memory now... 10.. 9.. 8... 7..." Feels hopeless. But if you ever find yourself in this kind of situation, I discovered that the only way to get out of it is to become a tank. This applies to everything else in designing (and in life). So, here are 4 ways on how to become a tank:

1. Never surrender. Never give up! To some this is translated to: "so long as there is coffee, we can work!" If you’re alive and can still wield a mouse, all awesomeness is on your side. You’ll be able to pull through things, just breathe.

2. You have friends, co-workers and people around you that are willing to help. Never underestimate, or neglect people. Whenever you feel the urge of surrendering, ask for help to accomplish your task.

3. Keep in mind that even a damaged tank is still armored and fully loaded. Always, use your strengths to your advantage. It is easier to build on strengths than on weaknesses. Weak skills when worked on will just become, at its best, mediocre skills.* For things you can’t do refer to Item#2.

4. If really pushed to the limits and all system shuts down. The only choice is to retreat. Refuel, recharge and live to do it all over again tomorrow. Have a nice meal, get some sleep and you’ll find that tomorrow will be a better day.

So when you’re stuck, do these and you’ll find that there’s always some fight left in you! Otherwise get yourself a nice glass, remove the tank top, distill rain from Venus and quietly weep.

If you like these tips, please leave comment below.

*Timothy Ferris – The 4 Hour Work Week

Ad Agency vs. Creative Boutique - Navigating the World of the Creatives

This is a biased entry. You’ve been warned ;)

Okay, so what is a creative boutique anyway? Simply put, it’s a type of agency that only specializes in the creative aspects of advertising, but not in the strategic aspect of marketing.

Creative boutiques are in essence agencies that, at their best, provide specific services to clients: visuals, sounds or maybe both. Although their services may come out aesthetically perfect, without the proper guidance and influence they tend to miss the bull’s eye.

The lack of research done at these agencies hinders campaigns, as they don’t understand the market they are targeting. This lack of appreciating trends keeps them from providing the extra mile to position a brand, or the knowledge to avoid that unanticipated bump - which brings in little to any ROI.

Whereas…

The core feature of an ad agency is its ability to be as creative as the creative boutique, but with more tricks up its sleeves. At PubliGestion we see it as being creative, but with a purpose. We align our creativity with strategic end goals in mind. The pivotal ball in an ad agency relies in terms such as “research, specificity and end results.”

With the knowledge of clients’ markets and the culture, an ad agency has the capability to take the ideas of the creative boutique to a whole other level - as cliché as this may be: The sky is the limit. In today's world you need that key differentiator. You cannot have the same persona as your competitors. That's what a full-service agency helps to provide: that core sustainable brandship - that works.

We figure out what makes a brand stand out. What makes it unique and attractive. Best of all, agencies know how to sell your brand to any prospect - or even create the need - creating value at every step of the consumers' cognitive buying process.

Mathematically, a creative boutique is not equal to, but included in, an Ad agency.

Love.psd

Ever wondered how creatives maintain their hakuna matata in a calling that was ranked as one of the most stressful jobs in the world? Simple answer, love—it’s the thing that makes the difference between a job and a calling. Though we’re not Cannes divas or love doctors, here are four simple tips on how you could fall in love with your work all over again.

1. Never like, always love. Like is a diluted form of love. Romeo and Juliet didn’t die for like and artists never did art for like’s sake; they all did it for love! Whatever you do put your energy into it. Always think that whatever you design, you design for someone special. Just remember those kindergarten days when you tried to draw something nice with a crayon for your cute teacher.

2. Workplace less ideal? The simple fix is to find something or someone that makes you smile and distracts you from the stress crawling all over your desk. If you could find that, cling on to it, make it surround you. So every time you go to work, you could open your day with a big smile and the warmest “BONJOUR !” in the world.

3. Eat dark chocolate. This may not be for everyone, but eating chocolate increases your endorphin levels—these are the chemicals you get after a romantic date. The more endorphins you have, the less headache you’re going to have, the more in love you’re going to feel and the more creative you’re going to be.

4. Finally, if all else fails… go home and spend some time with your special someone. At the end of the day, what makes us perform well as creatives is our life outside work, the people and things that are close to our heart. People who see more, know more and if you know more, you’re probably more likely to nail that design before that 8 AM deadline.

So there you have it, simple techniques that everyone could apply. If you have your own technique, leave us a comment below and share the love!

Remember, love makes the world go 'round.