Designers! Shoot straight. Always
It all began with an idea.
We (the client) wanted a concept artistically represented. The theme was agreed upon. What we hoped for was for an artist to take forth the theme and create a piece of art.
We really would have done it in-house ourself but we honestly thought the project would have been done professionally by an expert; as he would spend time interpreting, crafting and executing the art piece to perfection. So we asked around for a few designers to help us scout for the greatest in that art form so we could commission him or her for the task.
Of course we did our homework. Of course we got the best artistes. Money was no issue. To be specific, we got one who was exceptionally good, a guru. Let me call him ManA, and one who was young and upcoming but also great; ManB! So we had the perfect team to do the work. Each assigned a different variation of the theme but both would use the same medium.
Sketches were done, and submitted by both. Changes were made. ManA had a near perfect sketch. ManBs sketch was good but we needed it to be great so we had another seating to brainstorm on how to make it better. ManA was there too to help with ideas. After all brothers can collabo for a greater outcome. “Nikujengana” as they say. Quotes were approved and ‘kazi sasa iendelee.’
Well fast forward to two weeks later. An assumption is made that both artistes are completing the project. Quick check and both insinuate that they are doing ‘final touches’. Exciting digital photos of WIP are shared. We are all smiles. Eager. Humbly waiting. But with grand expectations.
ManB comes through, just on the deadline, as agreed. ManA is mteja. Mteja for 3 days. Deadline lapses. We say, heck probably family issues, probably stress, wacha we shall know. Few days later, finally a response. The response is, an image shared on one of those popular socials we can’t get our eyes off. We are wowed. Literally. Flabbergasted. The work was exceptionally illustrated. But question is, where is the work? Can it physically be brought to us?
To cut to the chase. The image was just a carrot. To be dangled and taken back into the pocket. It was the classic representation of a game I play with my little son. Peak-a-boo.
The now baptized “drama queen” wanted now to call the shots. Purportedly, the image “shared” now was not actually work we had commissioned him to do but ‘his work’ for him to peddle it to the highest bidder. The messages came thick and loaded with “Masharti”. Also the ManA was in a hurry, ‘alikuwa anaruka majuu, kwenda overseas’. Whee!
We kept thinking, how again does the terms of agreement change after we had shaken hands on a project that was so straight forward (and was our idea?). Costs agreed upon had now become nonsense. The ask price now of what was originally agreed upon and expected was now going for x4 the price. Worse yet, deadline has been passed by a week. I said a little Novena, as I despaired. The beautiful offending image, secretly deleted from my phone. Wishing I could also retract the image sent to some of the principal funders of the project who had recieved a ‘sneak peak’. Nightmarish does not begin to describe the feeling.
Long and short of that fiasco was…That boat was left to sink. In the deep sea. We dropped ManAs work and celebrated ManBs work. With vigelegele na shangwe.
End of story.
This I’m sure is a story most people in the Creative and particularly arts industry relate to. We have seen genius designers and artists play games with business. I write about it because it bothers me to see fellow creatives behave in an unethical way especially with serious client work. Most of the work we do is based on trust and good will; that we shall honor the jobs briefed to us to the clients’ satisfaction.
I know that we aren’t surgeons or firemen who save lives, but we are experts in an industry that seriously relies on our talents. To deliver persuasive content and drive demand for the clients brands, copyrights, product or service. To some, creativity is a life blood that builds relevance for their customer. So you can imagine when a client has given out a task, waited for the work, then gets zero for the wait, ‘tall’ unrealistic stories and zilch explanation of why the terms of payment or compensation changed. It’s totally unacceptable and appalling.
Beware of these drama queen/king creatives. What is unfortunate is that one never quite sees it coming.
Creatives, let’s get rid of the politics in the work and focus on rolling up our sleeves and honoring our commitments. Let’s leave Tom and Jerry to do all the endless chasing on the TV screen — not bring those jokes to our work.
Give it the respect it deserves.
Surpass the clients’ expectation.
Surprise and delight with the devils detail (yes that’s the Kenyannese way of saying it).
And most importantly, stop being melodramatic about your feelings and kidding yourself that ‘it’s your work’. Start seeing it as “our” work and embrace the attitude of saying, “my point of view for you is…”.
Let’s share our work willingly with ‘no strings attached’. Let’s be honest in our dealings with fellow mankind and leave the “holier than thou” attitude at our bathroom mirror.
Because God has given us a great gift, we should go about our creative work with honor, humility and wisdom.
Kudos to ManB.
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Talent is nothing unless backed up with discipline, honor and responsibility. It’s called business ethics.
(Based on a true story)