March 29, 2024

Why Creatives need a seat at the table

Often creativity and creatives are hailed as the answer to many problems, but the reality is that those creatives are never given a seat at the table and allowed the chance to address the problems facing us. Jobs like city planning, infrastructure and others that deal with the day to day well being of people are not thought of in a creative light. But it could be argued that creative problems require creative solutions. This begs the question, why are there not more creative focused jobs in government, large or small? To quote former executive creative director of Google and current chief creative officer of the country of Greece Steve Vranakis “Stuff only exists because somebody decided it and made it up. Somebody decided that governments should work in a certain way, with a certain type of people and backgrounds. But when we see all the things that can happen via creativity, you then realize the requirement for people from a creative background.”

While not something people often realize cities are business and can benefit from the same types of things private businesses do. A creative director is someone who is brought into a business to create a vision or brand for a company. They are reason a campaign or project maintains a cohesive feeling, doing so through print, film and digital media. Be it an advertising campaign, fashion line, video game or magazine—by ensuring the visuals, messaging and/or interactive and motion designs are on point. A creative director also establishes budgets and timelines and manages client relationship.

Someone like this could help create a vision for a small community, something that encompasses the past but embraces the future and grows to meet the needs of modern families within that community. Listening to the needs of community members and offering unique solutions to meet those needs, things that those with more practical backgrounds and mindsets don’t think of. They would be the balance between the unique and the practical.

In a time when we are looking for new and innovative solutions to community problems it is imperative that we not rule out creatives and begin offering them a seat at the table.