it mean to be a creative producer
Design Week: What does it mean to be a creative producer?
Hannah Scally: This is a mixed role. It includes account management, production management, studio management, and project management. I oversee all aspects of a project throughout its journey through the studio. I ensure that everything runs smoothly for the client and that the design vision we shared at the beginning is realized in the final product.
This role is especially useful for smaller studios where everything is more integrated. Without that, we don't have separate or siloed roles. Everyone is responsible for the project. It works well for us to have a central role as creative producer, to oversee everything and ensure it all connects. It's a great role because it allows you to be at the intersection of all the different parts of the project.
DW: What are your educational backgrounds?
HS: My undergraduate degree was in English at Trinity College, Dublin. It was four years of analysis and argumentation, and learning about how images and text work in culture. After completing my masters, I went on to Cambridge University for a PhD in Cultural History. This gave me a lot of experience in research and solving problems.
Although I eventually left academia, I gained many transferable skills. I love the idea of working with others, so I decided to put my skills to another use. Although it isn't a traditional route to the design industry, my education has influenced my work in ways that I didn't expect. It's really helpful to be able quickly find a source.
DW: How has your career progressed so far?
HS: My research and writing on the First World War began for a history website. This was immediately relevant to my PhD. I moved from the history website to a content- and publishing agency. This gave me the chance to write different types of writing, and then to manage projects and do some editorial work.
After working in that field for three years, it was clear to me that I wanted to work on project management. It is a key part of success. We have all seen projects go wrong, and we have all seen them succeed. To me, what makes a difference is having someone to organize things. After I had completed my work at the content agency, it was time to move into creative projects full-time.
DW: How did you get interested in becoming a creative producer?
HS: My family is a collection of artists and graphic designers so I am very familiar with this world. It has always been something that I have enjoyed and respected. This was what pushed me towards the industry. It also helped that I knew it well before I started. Understanding the business of design and its complexities is a huge help.
It was the possibility of collaboration that attracted me to this job. I began my career writing history, and then expanded. It has been a process of finding what interests me and what I am good at, and then turning that into something else.
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DW: What is a typical job for you?
HS: One typical job would be a brand relaunch. It would begin with the strategy and then I would help to set up the project. My role would be to coordinate with the client and ensure that everything runs smoothly. My role would shift to communication and ensuring that the feedback is received. This stage is quite account-managerial.
There are many elements to a project, including websites, marketing materials, brochures and signage. Each of these elements requires me to be present at each stage so that designers are properly briefed.
DW: What are your primary day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
HS: My job is constantly changing. I usually start by emailing clients and chatting with them. There are many clients we work with, from large corporations to start-ups. They all have their own styles and needs. My day usually consists of making sure that everything is in order and that everyone is doing what they are supposed to.
Client meetings, phone calls or phone calls to suppliers and developers are common in order to check how things are going. There are always issues that need to be addressed immediately, and there are often client meetings or phone calls with suppliers. I usually start my day with three things that I want to accomplish and get them done between the rest.
DW: Is the job creatively challenging?
HS: While I believe most people would agree that this job is creative, not all of it is design-led. There is no segregation in a studio like Without, so there's a lot of conversation about the creative process. I love helping to come up with solutions.
If you don't know how to express your creativity, I don't believe you can do this job. Designers and you need to understand each other. Planning a creative project can mean that there is no supplier in your country. Or you may have to work around time constraints to find the right product. Creative thinking is all about problem solving.
DW: How closely do other designers work with you?
HS: I am very close to everyone. We are a small studio with between 10 to 15 people, depending on the project. I talk with directors, designers and copywriters on a daily basis and hourly basis to learn their work. It's a tight-knit team that all works together. We have a culture where everyone is able to be involved in the projects. It is all about everyone contributing, that's how it works.
DW: Which strengths are necessary to become a creative producer?
HS: This is a very people-facing role. You must have a passion for interacting with people, both inside and outside the studio. Your designers, directors, and copywriters work closely together. You need to get along with them and build that relationship. You must also be able and willing to communicate with clients. It's part of the fun to have long-standing clients that we love and get along well with.
It's easy to react quickly, but I try my best to plan things ahead of time. It is important to maintain calm and be able to handle problems from both sides. It comes from having had things go wrong before.
Sometimes people think that their job is about making everyone happy. But in reality, your job requires you to be successful. You need to be able to tell people the truth and show them how to handle it.
DW: What are your favorite parts about your job?
HS: It's obvious that when you see something on screen after months of hard work, or when you have it in your hands, it's a great feeling. It's even more rewarding when you finally see it on screen. This means that your strategy was sound, and the product is doing what you expected.
Our clients are so close to us and we care deeply about their work. When you see the results and realize that it's working well, and people are engaged, that's great. We all put our blood, sweat, and tears into getting it done.
DW: What is the worst part of your job?
HS: It's hard to have fun when things don’t go according to plan. That's part of the job. It's about identifying the problem and finding solutions. Sometimes, you need to tell people why something isn't happening or how things don't work properly. This part of the job is important.
There are also bits that are less important than others that you have to do. You know, when you have your calculator and are trying to add up everything. This to me is interesting because I love to see how the numbers work.
DW: What would you look for in a junior producer?
HS: This is actually a very exciting time for us, so we have been thinking about it a lot! Personal qualities are very important to me. Personal qualities are important to me. I look for resilience, self-starter, and a person-person. There are also other helpful skills like being organized, having a good grasp of numbers and understanding both the business and project sides.
Because of my background and the studio I work at, I would rather focus on skills than the degree or training they have. It is important for me that you are able to work together and think intelligently, and get things done.
DW: What advice would you give people who are considering a career as a creative producer job?
HS: While there are many skills that you will need, it is really helpful to have a variety of skills. For example, being able to understand HTML and copywriting.
You'll learn a lot from your job. It's an ongoing learning process. While some people do not want to be able to plan their week, others want to know the basics. But if you are curious and eager to learn, this job is for you. It's important to be able keep multiple plates spinning. Waitressing is the only job that comes close.
This is the job that requires you to be able to do many different things. So make sure to include everything on your resume.
DW: How is the job market?
HS: It seems that the majority of job seekers are still split between project managers and account managers. Or, you can be an account manager who does just a few more things. This role is best for smaller teams that are really integrated.
It's also a role that you can approach smaller organizations to ask them if they have thought about it. It was a new position for the agency when I first joined. We spent three years shaping it, figuring out how it would work and what it should look like.
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