Creative Collaboration in the Workplace:

Here at Taylor & Pond, collaboration is key. Whether that is our Account Managers working with our SEO specialists or our Web Team with our Email Marketers, creative collaboration is constant in our office. There are many facets to creative collaboration in any workplace. As a Graphic Designer, I will focus on collaboration amongst creatives, whether that be another Photographer, Designer, or Videographer. There are two ways I break down collaboration: how we personally contribute and what we collectively achieve.

Photo by Alexandru Acea on Unsplash

How You Personally Contribute:

Before beginning to shoot or create content, it is crucial that we personally resolve to come with an openness to the project. For me, it looks like these three categories:

Communication

Take time to listen to each other’s vision for the project while keeping the goals in mind. Usually, the client will ask for a specific product feature, so it’s our job as creatives to anchor our vision around that goal and continually refocus if we are straying from the objective. Communication should be constant, and we can’t forget that we are on the same team and pushing for the same result.

Attitude

In any collaboration, our voice and ideas will no longer be the only ones, so we must remain positive and willing to change aspects of our vision. It can be difficult if you or your collaborator are attached to separate ideas, but if your partner has a more effective idea, it is up to us to humbly drop ours for the sake of the project and support our teammate in their vision.

Trust

 Arguably, this point is the most important. I have found that I collaborate best with team members with whom I have built longer and deeper relationships. Getting to know the other person will slowly, but surely, begin to drop all assumptions we may have of them and build the trust necessary to crush it on the next project together.

What We Collectively Achieve through Creative Collaboration:

Collaboration does require some personal sacrifices, but the benefits will far outweigh them every time. In my experience, I’ve noticed them in these six categories:

Problem-Solving

There’s nothing worse than running into a stumbling block while creating. Whether your creative juices don’t seem to be flowing or you can’t find the right copy or fonts to portray the emotion you’re looking for, having someone else on the project brainstorm alongside you can get you out of that rut and spark more creativity.

Learn From Each Other

It always amazes me how many ways we can create the desired effect. When collaborating, we learn by watching our partner tackle the creative through different mediums. For example, if something can be better executed through photo than through graphic alterations in post-production, we will take that knowledge with us to our next project.

Accountability

When there are two sets of eyes on a project, attention to detail increases, goals are maintained, and all the boxes are more likely to be checked off. Of course, we are all human, and mistakes are bound to happen, but with someone double-checking the workroom for error decreases.

Setting The Pace 

Likewise, two sets of hands on a project make it easier to dedicate oneself to certain duties. It is less about cutting the time in half and more about delegating tasks. Collaboration allows more time to be dedicated in areas that may not be as well tended to if only one person was completing them.

Quality

As mentioned above, because two sets of minds are at work, the quality of work will go up. Collaboration encourages problem-solving, establishes responsibility, and also helps bring more attention to details. Working together helps keep each other accountable. There will be a responsiveness to critique, which will increase creativity and overall execution.

Benefits The Client

Keeping all these areas in mind, the personal contributions and the collective achievements will benefit the creators and, most importantly, the client. 

Want to learn more about content creation? Check out our Content page here.