I may have been hired to do social media, but that does not mean my responsibilities end there. The hectic nature of agency life, with fast-approaching deadlines, client edits, and ever-evolving technology, means you never know what project could come next. I can go from editing a podcast, to altering the code in the backend of a website, to gathering Google Analytics reports – all in the span of an hour. The pace keeps me on my toes and excited for whatever project comes my way.
My last internship was working in commercial insurance. I loved the people and time I spent there, but working with a group of creatives is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It is a privilege to watch artistic talent on display every day, and it is even cooler to see that hard work get launched. I feel a sense of pride knowing that the people I work with are beautifully crafting pieces of the world we live in. It is refreshing to look at a newly created logo, website, or design that can differentiate itself from the characteristics that plague modern design (I am looking at you, Jaguar). The artistic creativity of my coworkers does not end at their career either. I never expected myself to be singing along to an ever-growing Spotify queue with my coworkers as we work. We often share pieces of media/design we like, and encourage each other to discover something new. Not only am I witnessing creative work being put together, I am constantly consuming novel creative work in all forms.
As much as I would love my work to be met with “This is perfect” the first time I show it, that will never happen. I had to learn to take feedback and implement that feedback into my work. It is not personal when I am asked to change something, because it is coaching that will make both me and my piece better. It would be unrealistic to expect myself to know better than the professionals who have worked in branding for as long as I have been breathing. Thankfully, I have a background in athletics, and the “feedback” I would get from a coach was a bit (a lot) harsher than the feedback I receive today. As I learn and grow from feedback I notice my designs have become more aligned with the expectations and established feel of the brands that I work on.
My marketing degree gave me a wonderful breadth of knowledge, but reading case studies and having the ability to create egression analysis charts mean nothing when I am sitting in front of a client. What matters in that moment is the ability to listen to their needs, respond to their questions, and deliver on promises. None of this is possible without true industry experience to call back on. I can attend all the lectures I want, but none of them tell me how to create a realistic timeline to deliver a client website. That requires a working knowledge of the length that these projects take historically, and that only comes with experience. Additionally, each industry, client, and even geographical region have differences in what they value and need from a creative agency. This difference in needs requires a flexible and adaptable skillset, which can only be honed by experiencing these differences first-hand. At the end of the day, what matters most is a proven track record of success. Without a wide portfolio of successful work, clients have no reason to believe in what they are told. No one would trust a pilot who has only used a simulator; they trust a pilot who has hundreds of successful flights.
The dynamism of working in an agency has been everything I hoped it would be. It gives me a creative outlet of expression while assisting in the tangible success and growth of DayCloud and other brands. It is deeply rewarding to know that my work is being viewed by thousands of people. Even with something as minor as a negligible edit to a website’s copy, I feel lucky to know that I am trusted to do work that will be consumed by others. I struggle to think of another field of work where I get to help businesses and brands get in front of customers' eyes while helping make that work look both great and effective.It is fascinating to watch the ideation process behind a rebrand, logo design, or marketing strategy. I discovered something as simple as font choice has real thought and intention behind it. I love learning about why things in this world look the way they do, even if it is a blessing and a curse. I now find myself questioning why companies today make the choices they do and even think to myself “This major company just made this advertisement, but I know the team I work with could do better.”