I have managed individuals, small teams, and a myriad of simultaneous creative teams across different disciplines. Good work can't be made without a plan, and that means a good Creative Lead is only as effective as their project management. On multiple occasions I've established production flows that allow clients and creative teams to create and track creative tickets, organize feedback, automate communications, store and deliver final files, and on-board or off-board the right talent for the job.

The results have been fast turnaround times, high quality work, happy clients, and happy talent.

My software of choice for complex creative pipelines is a mixture of Figma, Airtable, and Slack. Figma is where all static design happens, and clients can collaborate and comment directly on the work as it's designed. Airtable is perfect for program management and keeps track of project tickets in easy to understand databases. Airtable also allows clients to open their own tickets through client dashboards or forms, and the client can then see where that ticket is in the process. When the status of a creative project changes, like when it's ready for launch or client review, Airtable has automations that hook up with Slack and can notify the client immediately.

There are a lot of different ways to compose creative teams based on project needs. I have found success in a lightweight structure of a Project Manager and Creative Director across multiple clients for consistency, then experienced copywriters and designers are added to the team who know the ins and outs of the audience at hand. I then supplement these lightweight teams with specialists based on specific needs like animators, influencers, 3D artists, photographers, etc.

My role in all of this is to ensure quality levels, manage client expectations, onboard new clients, creative direct, maintain all processes, and translate the needs of stakeholders to the creative team. I've worn all sorts of management hats such as Creative Director, Creative Lead, On-set Art Director, Product Manager, and more hands-on roles such as Designer, Illustrator, Product Designer, Editor, and Animator.

Across my time at ad agencies and my own design studios, I've garnered a lot of experience interviewing and evaluating creative talent. Creatives often work as freelance contractors, and knowing what you're going to get out of working with them requires a knowledge of questions to ask which only comes from being a creative, myself. I always check for abilities beyond creativity or quality of output such as their creative stamina, self-motivation, self-inspiration, and category experience. I've accumulated a small library of poignant questions that help decipher what sort of team environment will allow the creative being evaluated to do their best work.

I'm always more than happy to guide nascent brands and enterprise companies through the steps of establishing visual identities, setting up creative processes, building internal creative teams, or whatever creative conundrums might be weighing them down. I love working with clients of all sizes, and especially love simplifying complex operations. Schedule a free 15min call with me here to get started.