'One man designer band' needs some friendly career advice

[MiniWorks]

Hey there,

I have been the in-house designer for a building consultancy for the past 2 years. I am the only on the the 'graphics department' so i guess you can call it a 'one man band'.

The problem that I am having is that although I am fully trained in graphic design, have years of experience and a general love for it, it seems that my professional design advice within the company is not valid at all.

Heres the scenario, I was told that I was to design an advert for a prestigious glossy magazine 4 hours before the deadline, and with a concept that is way-way out of the corporate brand which was thought up by a building engineer who is part of the board of directors.

Long story short, with no regard of my opinion and numerous outcries not to go with the ridiculous concept, I was told that we are going ahead with the design and that it is what 'they' (being the board of directors) want.

I understand that in itself I am working for the company, although internally, they are my client. My job is to meet the design needs of the company efficiently, effectly and to convey the strict corporate brand.

In the end, the advert was sent off to go into the next issue of this 'glossy' magazine and I feel like my advice has been underminded. This isn't a power trip thing. But an issue of being able to get my opinion as a designer heard.
This situation seems to happen quite alot and I wonder if anyone feels this is the norm for the work place? Is this kind of situation what I have to look forward to as a in-house designer?

Now all I have to look forward to is seeing the next magazine issue with the terrible ad and cringing!...really, really cringing!

Any advice/comments are welcome.

Many Thanks

 

[rjoubert]

Does this happen a lot at your company, where your opinion/expertise is ignored? If so, I would be a bit nervous about my future at that company. If they continously ignore your opinion and trump your ideas, then they may realize that they don't need you around.

In my opinion, it's important to feel like you contribute to the success of your company. I would imagine in your position, it would make you feel proud to see your work in print. If you're not getting that at your current job, it may be time to start looking elsewhere.

Either way, good luck to you.

 

[Welshbird]

Would it be worth you (if time allows) creating the kind of ad you would have chosen for the magazine and offering it to the board of directors with your reasons? I guess I mean almost 'pitching' your ideas at them. Then you might at least get the opportunity to show them why your idea would have worked, and it may also give you the opportunity to sell yourself to them at the same time.

If they can come to realise that you do know what you are talking about then they may realise that this is what they pay you for, and using your skills is beneficial to them.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[LadySlinger]

Is this a common occurance at the company? Or a once-in a blue moon deal?

Do they often ignore your ideas? Do your ideas differ from where they want to go with the company and the image they create with that direction? That may be the issue right there.

Who is your boss? The marketing/sales manager? The CIO? The Accounting Manager?

If its the marketing/sales manager, then unfortunately he has a little more pull than you do. If its the accounting manager, then you need to have a pow-wow with his/herself and his/her boss.

You can also talk to you boss a possible change of job title. Typically from my experience, the graphics designer is the person that "just designs". You take the idea and make it magically happen through a computer. You can contribute to the idea, but really, someone else usually has the say-so.

 

[MiniWorks]

Thank you for all of your comment. You have all raised items that I will need to think about, and have thought about.

rjoubert - well! that is something that I didnt think about. In terms of the contribution that I make to the company I do that a certain sense of pride in what I do. In a way its great to see you ideas 'in motion' I create the 'face' of the company. Thats why I have this dilemma, I am a designer, I wouldnt tell the IT department what computers to order. But it seems that this 'one man band' is open for all! thanks for the good luck wish! (may need it!)

willif - Great advice. Over the past week I must say that I have restructured the way that I present my ideas and I have taken your method and applied it. Seems to be working quite well so far....but I'll keep you posted.


LadySlinger - Who is my boss? well, this is something that I ask myself nearly everyday! I am the only designer in the company and there are no marketing/sales staff on board that are here to help/support this side of the business. When I started this job it seemed very clear who I would preport to and in my contract it is written that I am to report to one of the named directors.
That has totally gone down the pan and I am being hounded by every member of management. It seems to go in trends, for the past few months it was the IT manager claiming he owns me (so to speak!) and now I've got the administration manager stepping in.

Over the past week I have been thinking a lot about my situation at this company and have been trying to analyse what the actual problems are, where they come from and trying to address them before I make any harsh decisons.

It seems that the lack of struture and proceedure brings about loss in time and security on my side about my design work. It seems that if you job title includes the word 'manager', you are allowed to step in and make a final decision about a design that you may not have been involved with in the first place. Its a free for all!

Not having a clear line of directorship in a project gives way for other members of staff (all managment regardless of expertise) adding in comments here and there and therefore I am going round in circles the designs that I create are sent from one person to another, one office to another. (This is what happened in my orginal comment, and seems to be a trend)

I think it may be time for me to specialise my area of design and try and join a design company that operates with a clear struture. Although I do know sometimes things may not run to a proceedure or set way, it seems like a loosing battle here. Like I said before this is not a power trip thing. Its a case of having a voice in what you are trained to do.

Having brought up the issues I have in my yearly appraisal with my official manager, it seems that all of my concerns are just brushed under the rug. I guess thats the nature of the beast then you work for a large blue chip company.

Heres to me getting out of this rut!
Thanks again for all of you comments. - its been a great help.