At our agency, employees make up their own titles. They're usually pretty funny - like Jedi Knight, or Control Freak. We started this process because we understood how meaningless titles are in a small agency environment. We all wear many hats, and there are few layers.
Well, now I'm thinking that it's time for a new title for what we all do - especially on the internet side of things. Our roles are changing dramatically. What was once the acceptable job description for a "graphic designer" wouldn't completely apply today. Internet developer, designer, producer, programmer, all seem pretty targeted and limiting. Producers in shops like ours have client contact, are involved in strategic decisions, the conceptual process, graphic design, copy, programming, motion design, planning/implementation strategies and a few more things that I'm sure I'm forgetting. "Graphic Designer" doesn't cut it.
We as an industry should come up with a title that more accurately describes our role. Something that serves as the answer to the question "so what do you do?" Maybe it's Internetist. Or just Creative. I don't know - I'm not very good at thinking of titles - I just believe we need a new one. What do you think it should be?
Not that I care at all about titles. But it might make it easier to describe what we do at cocktail parties, right? Either that, or we could make stuff up - like what I put on my alumni association's "update card" that my university sent. Under current job, I answered "undertaker."
5 comments:
Personally I'm quite happy with "Graphic Designer." Just don't call me a "Graphic Artist." And what ever you do, dont call me a "Graphics Designer." Them fighten words!
When people ask me what I do, I just tell them I kick ass. That pretty much sums it up.
THAT'S a good answer. I'm going to start using that too. Nice.
Well, this is going to sound boring, but I made up my title at Digitas to reflect what I do. At heart, I am still a Creative Director. But Graphic Design no longer meets the kind of Design I facilitate, so I changed that to Experience Design. And I'm very strategic at the Brand level. Kind of like an Account Planner.
So this is what it says on my biz card:
David Armano
Creative Director
Experience Design/Brand Strategy
Yeah. That's pretty much what I do.
I like Experience Design - because it works for the media agnostic agencies too. Whatever the media, we are all creating experiences. That's nice.
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