Studio/Office Manager of a design agency?

[zenie]

Anyone done this job before?

Think I know roughly whats involved but dont have a job spec and doubt I will get one!!

 

[Maggot]

The job involves not wearing short skirts, so don't bother.

 

[zenie]

The job involves not wearing short skirts, so don't bother.

Are you sure??

 

[Groucho]

Designing what?

 

[shakespearegirl]

Are you sure??

In my experience wearing a short skirt in a design studio certainly helps.

As does wearing a low cut top.

And being flattering towards designers...

As far as the job goes, it would involve resourcing designers time, managing work flow, overseeing technical issues, possibly some financial planning and reporting - depending on the company. Being in charge of all things non creative.

 

[Groucho]

Graphic design = short skirt, low top?
Web design = not quite so short skirt, not quite so low top?
Media Design = very short skirt, very low top?
Fashion design = peacock tail feather dress?

 

[zenie]

Designing what?

they are a design agency you'd be very surprised to see what they design Groucho - lets just say you see it a lot

Sounds like it has to be better than mortgages - I started my degree in Design Management - so kinds know the basics but wondered if anyone had done anything like it who could give me tips or hints

 

[shakespearegirl]

they are a design agency you'd be very surprised to see what they design Groucho - lets just say you see it a lot

Sounds like it has to be better than mortgages - I started my degree in Design Management - so kinds know the basics but wondered if anyone had done anything like it who could give me tips or hints

I have been an account manager in a 'brand/graphic' design agency and my best friend is the uber of design management, so pm me if you want some tips

 

[zenie]

I have been an account manager in a 'brand/graphic' design agency and my best friend is the uber of design management, so pm me if you want some tips

Thanks pm sent

 

[shakespearegirl]

now your pms are full

 

[zenie]

now your pms are full

Sorry

 

[secretsquirrel]

I spent a good 10 years working across design/branding/advertising agencies in different admin/account management roles. It'd probably depend on which agency it's with as they all have very different personalities.

I guess an ability to be extremely firm with people is a good start. And don't take any shit from the creatives - especially creative directors - show no fear cos they're generally used to being the big I am!

PM me if you wanna spill the beans on the agency and I'll see if I know them - or even if I worked for them!!!

 

[secretsquirrel]

I have been an account manager in a 'brand/graphic' design agency and my best friend is the uber of design management, so pm me if you want some tips

Wonders if we know each other?!?!

 

[Kanda]

Read 'E' by Matt Beumont

 

[secretsquirrel]

actually, yeah - that'll probably tell you everything you need to know!

 

[marshall]

how do you get on with creative types? might be like managing a roomful of firkys.

 

[zenie]

I spent a good 10 years working across design/branding/advertising agencies in different admin/account management roles. It'd probably depend on which agency it's with as they all have very different personalities.

I guess an ability to be extremely firm with people is a good start. And don't take any shit from the creatives - especially creative directors - show no fear cos they're generally used to being the big I am!

PM me if you wanna spill the beans on the agency and I'll see if I know them - or even if I worked for them!!!

They're very corporate - not a bad thing but just so you know I didnt spot any fu$ball tables or mentions of duvet days

I think it is more or less a stand in for the director when he goes to meetings/pitches/presentations as well as day to day assisitng with the running.

Think I'll be doing all the HR related stuff too.

He did ask me about my creative side and explained that I could be responsible for signing off work and generally having input into stuff.

how do you get on with creative types? might be like managing a roomful of firkys.

I did go to art college and my best mate is a photgrapher and her boyfriend a graphic designer as are most of their mates I meet. sop that would be ok.

Just wondered what people's experiences of it are but I suppose every agency is different?

 

[zenie]

Read 'E' by Matt Beumont

Looks funny!!

Can anyone recommend anything a bit more 'educational'?

 

[secretsquirrel]

Trust me. It's all the education you'll need!

Also, what kinds of brands do they work on? I've worked on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods - washing powder, fruit juice etc etc) and corporate which are very different fish - FMCG design is much faster paced, pure 'commercial' stuff. Corporate design and branding tends to have much longer timelines and be a lot more strategic.

From a strategy perspective 'The Business of Brands' by Jon Miller and David Muir is a good, concise read and takes you from the simplistic (what is a brand?) through the stages of strategic brand planning.

 

[chieftain]

He did ask me about my creative side and explained that I could be responsible for signing off work and generally having input into stuff.

Thats every designers nightmare..... honestly it is

I've not meet a studio Manager that the creative teams didnt end up hating (sorry but its the honest truth in my case)

 

[chieftain]

I guess an ability to be extremely firm with people is a good start. And don't take any shit from the creatives - especially creative directors - show no fear cos they're generally used to being the big I am!

or it might be that they're trying hard to produce top quality work which after all is the life blood of any agency without managers interfering and fucking it up... and then blaming them

anyway isnt the studio manger there to support the creatives and the company and not battle internally

 

[Hollis]

To be honest I wouldn't get too excited about it being a 'Design Agency' - give it 3 months -as exciting as working for a frozen pea factory.

 

[secretsquirrel]

or it might be that they're trying hard to produce top quality work which after all is the life blood of any agency without managers interfering and fucking it up... and then blaming them

anyway isnt the studio manger there to support the creatives and the company and not battle internally

And there, laydees and gennelmen, is an encapsulation of the eternal argument between creatives and da management!!!

Can I just introduce the subjects of BUDGETS BRIEFS and TIMELINES!!! 3 things creatives can be very... creative about *stirs a little harder*

PS I do have a strong strategic and creative input in many of the projects I run and get to see both sides. Plus, I will defend a creative idea pretty ferociously to a client if I believe it's the right solution. I've also worked with some people who's heads are way to far up their own arses...

 

[chieftain]

And there, laydees and gennelmen, is an encapsulation of the eternal argument between creatives and da management!!!

Can I just introduce the subjects of BUDGETS BRIEFS and TIMELINES!!! 3 things creatives can be very... creative about *stirs a little harder*

couldnt agree more.......

PS I do have a strong strategic and creative input in many of the projects I run and get to see both sides. Plus, I will defend a creative idea pretty ferociously to a client if I believe it's the right solution. I've also worked with some people who's heads are way to far up their own arses...

again couldnt agree more....... if the ideas right its worth defending to the death..... Theres nothing worse than having as great idea, seeing it die through meddling and then getting blamed for it!

my only rule now is to try and work directly with the decision maker on the client side rather than through assistants etc or on our side account "couldn't" managers

studio managers can be allies, just need to communicate

 

[secretsquirrel]

*offers olive branch*

I love working with great designers and I love developing a strategy that great design can hang off of. To me, it means that both parties end up feeling they've contributed to the 'creative'.

It's just the fucking clients that are the problem. EVERYONE hates them...

 

[chieftain]

Clients...... how often are they there own worst enemy:

http://www.clientcopia.com/

brilliant

 

[zenie]

Cheers for the replies/

Trust me. It's all the education you'll need!

Also, what kinds of brands do they work on? I've worked on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods - washing powder, fruit juice etc etc) and corporate which are very different fish - FMCG design is much faster paced, pure 'commercial' stuff. Corporate design and branding tends to have much longer timelines and be a lot more strategic.

From a strategy perspective 'The Business of Brands' by Jon Miller and David Muir is a good, concise read and takes you from the simplistic (what is a brand?) through the stages of strategic brand planning.

It's mainly corporate stuff they do.

Cheers for the tip about the book

*heads to library*

Thats every designers nightmare..... honestly it is

Even if you come from a design background?

To be honest I wouldn't get too excited about it being a 'Design Agency' - give it 3 months -as exciting as working for a frozen pea factory.

Well, I'd really like to work in an accounts department but I'm waiting for someone to give me a break

 

[Hollis]

Given the right level of dedication and commitment, taking the knocks again, and again and again, then just maybe, and I say again, maybe, you could fulfil your dream!!

Sales ledger, purchase ledger, credit control, Head of Fixed Asset Accounting! The World is your oyster!!!

Keep on dreaming The Dream!!

 

[zenie]

I can but dream Hollis

Until then any more tips?

 

[Hollis]

The summary blueprint -

1. Go to the agency, tell them you want to get into accounts - get some temp office work, enrol in an AAT evening class, improve your Excel spreadsheet skills.

Bob is your uncle! (Never mind about the 'Design' agency stuff)