Stumbled across this article in the HBR the other day. I think it’s both pertinent and poignant.
Having worked within all sorts of agencies, I’ve been exposed to all sorts of approaches to both creative, account management, strategy and (gulp) process.
While I fundamentally understand the need for process and accept that there’s always going to be a spreadsheet or workflow that needs updating, overly complicated or convoluted process can totally strangle creative thinking. Whether its coming from an art director or the finance assistant, creative thought needs the right kind of environment to flourish and the thing it needs most is freedom.
On the flip side, no one wants to delay a website launch because the lead designer partakes of a little too much ‘creative juice’, first thing in the morning. I think a measure of restraint is required from all sides.
