Hey Art, Im curious.

[HYNES]

At this stage in your career when a corporate giant comes a knocking, whats their pitch to you like? Do they want a solution based on (their view) of the definitive "chantry style", or are they looking for a more standard design with just a brief stylistic input from you. Is it all just a name connection? Carson's work for Microsoft seems to support the latter thought. Whats your experience?

[art chantry]

xxoo

[art chantry]

xxoo

[HYNES]

thats a pain in the arse, but im still interested. Anyone else care to comment ?

[kozik]

I do a lot of commercial jobs that involve either snack foods or sport clothing or youth clothing.

They are trying to 'sell to youth'. the jobs are usually several to many images based around a central theme or campaign.

for example:

Levi's: Job: Provide 24-36 ideas for t shirts.

They pay a development fee and then per design used.

Done that twice now.

YooHoo: they sponsor an Extreme Sports team: Skaters. rollerbladersd and BMX:

Job: 16 sticjer designs riffing off their logo and colors. team shirts and skateboard deck.

18 total designs.

Development fee and then usage fees.


I generally have good luck. For a long time I have had ongoing contracts...say...X number of dollars worth of work per year for 2 years at X dollars per design. I did like 30 Slim Jim designs that way. I get less per design but have 2 years steady work. Thtat job was anything from a box to a label to an ad to character development.

Same for Altiods...Mckenzie River Brewers.


I offer my services as an over-all creative consultant/illustrator. I also write copy, make slogans etc.

Always work hand in glove with their creative team or a creative director.

Never a problem. Then again, when it comes to commercial work I always emphasize flexibility and a willingness to 'do what they want'.

Also, I supply pre-pressed ready to print digital files to their exact specs or the printers/manufacturers specs so it's easy for them. Hence a lot of repeat work.

The key, it seems to getting a lot of this work is to in effect, act as the 'problem solver' on the job and make their experiance easy and pleasant.

average fee runs 3500-25,000.00

also..I use a rep which ups the price. she gets 25% commission and deals with all the legalese etc.

[HYNES]

Frank, Thats interesting, but I'm still wondering about the companys angle. Ive done work for large entities too and understand the necessity to be flexible as the problem solver, but when a company actively seeks out someone who is presently "hip" based on their uncorporate work, it seems odd that the final project usually has little of this "style" they were first seeking. It seems to defeat their purpose. Are they savvy enough to understand that even a touch of that designers style, can give them what they're looking for, or do you think it comes down entirely to the many fingers in the pie that corporate design work entails. How controlled is your work for these companys? Ive seen an ad you did for steel reserve, and it seems they were purely after what they saw as your definitive style. Is this an exception to the rule?

[kozik]

Over the years I have worked with many 'big design' firms. all of them just abo.

I do the jobs purelu for MONEY. Being a 'creative genius' does not enter into the equation. they way it works is...they usually have at least 2 competing teams working on the project...each one has a guy makiong decisions. Creative directors are almost NEVER women, which seems weird.

Usually,, my stuff is chosen because the person is like, into it on a personal level...the reality is that the clients usually need something that will 'work' in their eyes...so I get the gig because of my 'self' but it ALLWAYS ends up being something watered-down. As it must please the clients idea of what will work, and MOST clients are like inherently conservative.

Now..I do these jobs to MAKE MONEY and do not care whether or not it 'looks' like my stuff or is 'creatively good'. I have ONE goal-please the client get the check.

So, for example...all that Slim Jim stuff -you cannot tell I did it. SaME FOR LEVI'S..OR A LOT OF STUFF. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 'ME'. JUST DESIGN WORK..HELL. I DID A BUNCH OF STUFF FOR WIRED ONCE...COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...BUT- MY 'NAME' GETS ME IN THE DOOR.

sorry all caps.

Now, some clients, like STEEL RESERVE..I develpoed a personal realtionship with the owner and yes, a lot of the stuff was 'way Kozik'..but then other stuff for same guy was invisible.

IN 'commercial' work it's usefullness and speed and client happiness that counts.

The benefit is...you make decent dough on a regular basis and then can spend like a lot of time doing shit like maiking posters, painting, putting out records or hanging out on this site.

I like commercial work. It's ALWAYS easy, they are ALWAYS nice and I get PAID.

I have done maybe 150 'big commercial gigs' and NEVER ONCE have I gotten screwed or insulted or anything. It's allways super-nice.

INDIE work however is another ball of wax..I have had a VERY FEW negative experiences.

I think it's up to you..if you are like a NEGATIVE person with an agenda you will have a bad time. If you are POSITIVE and understand there's a JOB TO DO that is more about the client than you you will be treated nice and paid well.

I hear all these horror stories but never experienced a one myself in ten years plus of this stuff. ever.

[kozik]

...on further thouight..It could be that maybe I am really thick-skinned and somewhat 'ego-less' about my work...so perhaps I have been 'insulted or degraded at some point by a client...and did not notice?

But I cannot ever really recall any problems ever, especially about money...I get PO's..contracts..send an invoice..Allways paid. Get Kill fees etc..also..

you never get EVERY job offered...it's more like you get 50% of them....like half the deals never work out that seems fairly normal.

Expect to send a lot of samples for no good end result. Thats just the way it is.

Am I crazy?

[kozik]

You should also Get Uncle Charlie's Opinion...he does more big stuff than I do..

CHARLES? whats your take on this?

[uncle charlie]

my butt hurts, I have to stinky