You’re lost at sea. The turbulent waves are crashing against the hull of the ship. The shrouded storm clouds are a powder keg of trenchant rain, the drops stinging your face as you try to find your bearings. You spot the seasoned leader, the captain, and ask, “What should we do? Where should we go?” They reply, “I dunno, what do you think? Can you steer instead?”
We’re not in quite the same life-or-death situation in the creative world, but it is one that can be unfamiliar, challenging territory to non-creatives. And during that experience, whether it’s undergoing a rebrand or building a new website, many people are lost at sea, looking for a captain to take the wheel and steer the project with clarity and conviction. In the messy world of creative work, those who build successful partnerships and strengthen their expertise ultimately provide not only great work, but decisiveness and a strong point of view.
Clients want to feel that their project is in capable hands, even if the journey involves navigating through inevitable uncertainties. By taking ownership, you not only set the tone but also ensure that your clients feel secure and supported.
- Always make a recommendation of what you think is best.
- Don’t let a lack of title prevent you from taking the reins.
- Come prepared to meetings. Do your homework.
- Focus less on saying the perfect thing, and focus more on facilitating and guiding conversation so the best outcome can be achieved.
- Lead with courage. The world needs more courage.
Embrace this approach and you’ll unlock a new level in your client relationships.
Stay inspired,
Natalie Kent, Creative Director
L I N K R O U N D U P
1. Rüdiger Schlömer Designs Typefaces for Knitting
Zurich-based designer Rüdiger Schlömer marries typography with knitting, "a project that interlocks two distinctive creative forms into a methodically constructed, tactile hybrid."
2. Mascot Magic
We're a sucker for a lil guy. The Brand Identity rounded up eight great mascots that range from a cursor to a smiley face to a drunk pizza.
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
A magical realism classic that, in the words of our Brand and Interactive Writer Sebastian Fryer, "plays with both the reality of its universe and the reality of language itself."
