NDC Creative Recruitment

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” - Muhammad Ali August is always a great month for catching up with old clients and meeting new ones. It is generally a slower month with all the holidays, so people have time to chat. Sometimes that means just catching up & sometimes it means meeting new founders who are early in their journey of entrepreneurship, dissecting what is working and what is not. LinkedIn is full of shiny stories where everything goes right but that is rarely the reality. For example, making the transition from being a successful freelancer to running a fully-fledged studio or agency is tough. You have to put in loads of hours; sure, you have the talent to do the design/creative work but the rest is often a journey. It is about working hard and working smart, even when you do all the right things there will be obstacles. What I am hearing from many of the conversations I have with founders and hiring managers is that the "pebble" is hiring & recruitment. I hear how frustrating it can be when you can’t find the right person or, worse, hire the wrong one. This is where working with a good recruiter who knows your market and the specifics of your industry can make a difference. We have an eye on: • What makes a good process a great one – how can you be more strategic? • The ever-changing tech and the designers who not only have the skills but the ones who are adaptable, curious and evolving. • The freelancers that are ready to take the leap into perm. • The senior designers or art directors who are on the cusp of becoming creative leads and great CDs. • The nerdy ones who deliver outstanding creative work but also practice technical wizardry. • The ones who use data to solve problems as well as create “eye-wateringly” good visuals and narratives. • How to write good briefs & job descriptions • Perception of your brand culture & values. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution but close to 20 years of recruitment experience means that we are pretty good at homing-in on what you can improve with your process or help with finding “your person”. If you are a founder and fancy having a no-strings-attached chat about hiring, then hit us up. I love to talk shop DM me here or here naomi@ndc-creative.com

If you can be anything be kind. Kindness is called a virtue and this is with good reason. You can't really put a value on the power of being good & kind or showing compassion. If ever there was a time to lead with empathy to be more considerate in your daily interactions with people, that time is now. LinkedIn can feel like a vacuum and I’m not going to lie - hanging out here has sometimes felt futile with all the chaos going on in the world. Just last week, I spoke to two designers whose immediate family members had been attacked because of the colour of their skin. Those people are someone's mum and someone's aunty. There are so many atrocities occurring and people are really suffering. They may not actively show it but some are barely keeping their head above water. If you can take an extra moment in all your interactions, I encourage you to acknowledge people to really see them. Check-in on the those around you; they are somebody’s daughter, sister, aunt, dad, brother, etc. When you grab your coffee or sandwich in the morning say hello to the person who served you. Ask your Uber driver how they are doing. That cashier is a person; your Amazon delivery driver has a family, a heart and no doubt their own story to tell. How often do we ignore the humanity of others because we are consumed with ourselves? Look up from your mobile, we are connected yet never so disconnected, we are all guilty of perpetuating this. We are so used to communicating without really interacting. If you do one thing today, lead with kindness, lead with empathy. You could be the person who really makes a difference in someone’s day.

Art Director - Omnichannel - must have solid social, motion (hands on), moving image experience. Salary Circa 100,000 -110,000 CHF + RELOCATION THIS ROLE IS BASED IN SWITZERLAND (Zurich) Ideally looking for candidates in Europe / Schengen Nations. I am looking for an Art Director—a big thinker and creative leader who likes to get their hands “dirty.” An Art Director known for consistently bringing their “A game” when it comes to bringing concepts to life. This could be the role for you if: * You enjoy and are skilled at using design to solve real business challenges effectively. * You utilise creative paired with solid design as tools that bridge a brand's internal vision and exceed customers' expectations. * You are looking for something a bit different, something that flexes your “social good” muscle. This client is a lifestyle and travel brand whose mission is to facilitate better communication globally via cultural exchange. You’d get to scout locations internationally, conceptualise, and execute world-class creative work. Work with and lead ambitious teams who pride themselves on not just achieving creative excellence but smashing it. You are a natural leader and storyteller who thrives in a multi-channel environment. You have done it all in your career, but you have a sweet spot for social, motion (hands-on), and moving images; it is where you excel. You get how they function, and because you also hang out there, you are driven to create the best visual brand experience in all you Brand / Client side experience would be great. For more details email me - naomi@ndc-creative.co.uk

Interviewing - A matter of time. I saw this meme and it made me laugh because a big learning curve for me this year has been learning not to say yes to ALL the things ALL the time. It got me thinking about the number of candidates I speak to who understandably get stressed out by the interview process, not because they haven’t done their prep, but because it is tough out there. Looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself. Then there is life, we all have so much going on. If a client suggests a time when you know you are going to be running on empty, you needn’t feel obliged to accept that slot. In my experience, most clients are pretty cool if the suggested time doesn’t work for you. The interview process should always be a two way street, which means you also get to set the circumstances which should also be optimal for you. You want to put your best foot forward and the client wants to see the best of you. If you are on your fifth interview that day, it is fair to say that you are unlikely to be on top form. Giving yourself the time and space reduces some of the stress, makes you less anxious, meaning you will probably be more composed and confident. Allowing yourself enough rest means you’ll be more mentally alert, which can only positively affect your performance. Yes, I get that it is not always possible, but it is totally worth asking for or suggesting times that work for you, not just the client. Interviewing should be as much about you, as it is them. Be kind to yourself.

Have we lost the art of networking? I don’t mean the superficial small talk at business events just to expand your little black book. I mean actually having proper conversations with people because you are interested in what they are doing, to learn or share an experience / Info or knowledge or just to connect as you have stuff in common. The conversations to check in on your people to make sure that they are good. The ones that get squiggly and you never know where they might lead, (my favourite kind) The obvious wins include: - A network to support your aspirations / mentoring - Introductions / collaborations / partnerships - New Job opportunities (particularly roles that are not advertised) - Staying up to date on what is happening in your industry - Making a new friend If you’re hesitant, my advice is to dive in and just do it. What does this look like? •⁠ ⁠Attend Events: go to that event you’ve been thinking about. •⁠ ⁠Do the Workshops: learning and connecting, what’s not to love! •⁠ ⁠Slide into DMs / Email: Drop an email to say hi, congrats / well done, or to ask questions. •⁠ ⁠Celebrate others: If you see someone doing something well, congratulate them, drop them a note give them a little big up. •⁠ ⁠Offer help: without expecting things in return •⁠ ⁠Follow up: it is all about staying in touch, you can’t build relationships without maintaining contact. •⁠ ⁠Be curious & authentic: be genuine, have a interest in people’s stories and experiences. The thing is, don’t just do it when you want something, it should be transactional, it is about real human connection & it only works if you are in it for there long run. You’ll be surprised how generous people can be with their time and what you might learn along the way. There are no quick and dirty short cuts, you gotta put the time and effort in. You miss 100 % of the shots you don’t take.

This is happening! London's motion design community is thriving and it is gearing up for a brilliant new event —the OPN Motion Design Festival. Organised by the talented team at Weareseventeen & Adrian Baxter, who runs London's only pure motion design program at Ravensbourne. This two-day festival is promising to be a celebration of creativity and innovation of all things motion design. - Designers / Creatives: If you are already working in design or motion design, this event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry leaders and peers.   - Students: If you are studying and are considering a career in motion design, this festival is an absolute must. (Plus, it's free for students)! You will also get to enjoy: - Talks: Hear from some of London's top studios and gain insights into the latest trends and techniques in motion design. - Workshops: Free workshops (you’ll need to register for these) to hone your skills and learn new ones. - Design & Illustration Market: Checkout unique pieces from talented designers and illustrators. BTW - Let’s also take moment to appreciate the super cute & playful identity (also created by WA17), this visual treat is a blend of work / projects from all the students & speakers involved. (You can read more about this via the It's Nice That article linked in comments) In the words of Mr Adrian Baxter himself: “This has been on my mind for over a decade. In the UK we have such an incredible industry. It deserves its own spotlight. We also desperately need to help open the doors of inclusion. What better way to do this than to bring together young creatives, students, educators and industry together." If you are in town get down and show your support. Oh and if you see me then come over and say hi! Links to tickets in the comments