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Testimonials
"I have my entire team working on this and we love it. It has really made a huge difference in how we manage projects and our billing processes. We are thrilled and thank you very much!"
Lori Heller
Heller Productions Inc.
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"Best of all, our business is going to improve because of it, and as we grow the system will easily grow with us..."
Ronnie Roper
ONE DESIGN
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"We love it! It's helping us track time with more accuracy (obviously) which allows us to invoice / estimate jobs with much more precision."
Anne Wagner
Reinos Printing
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"I used to do 'guesstimates' and then drastically reduce the estimated completion times when billing because I could never really tell how much time I was actually spending. With the last two projects I've worked on, I've seen, from the time-tracking, all the billable time (and valuable money!) I would have lost. Consequently, I've been able to boost my profits in the space of just two weeks!"
Damola Akintonde
ThinkBig! Creative
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FunctionFox
is committed to helping smaller creative companies improve their business. TimeFox, our web-based time and project-tracking tool, is designed to help smaller advertising, design, marketing and PR firms manage their business, and do more with their valuable time.
This month, long-time FunctionFox Systems customer, Steven Morris, of Morris Communications, tells how to reward, motivate and inspire a creative team by thinking way beyond the paycheck.
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Feature Article: Rewarding Creatives
Advertising and Design News
Contact FunctionFox
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Rewarding Creatives
Do you know what it takes to keep your creative team motivated? As this veteran designer discovered, the secret to a happy staff isn't just showing them the money.
by Steven Morris
We creatives are a fickle bunch. When you get past our ultra-hip outward expressions, we're a relatively hard-to-please group that thrives on constant change and challenge. Due to the subjective nature and relative value of our work, we need ongoing reinforcement and acknowledgment that we're doing a good job. This is even more important when a designer is trudging through the 11th rendition of a demanding client's "fun" fuzzy-bear logo, only to have him say yet again, "I don't like it."
Like good news on CNN, positive feedback from clients is rare in our industry. Don't hold your breath waiting for your clients to share it. It's up to us as managers to find ways to reward and fuel the fires of inspiration beyond the paycheck.
As a creative and a manager of creatives, I'm constantly looking for ways to inspire myself and my team—from group outings at the art museum to bonding time around one of the pinball machines or the pool table in our studio. Especially in a down economy, firms are hyper-conscious of keeping the financial flow in check. Yes, salary hikes are good, and bonuses have impact, but studies done by American Express Incentive Services and other incentive companies have shown that money isn't the most effective way to demonstrate appreciation for a job well-done. A non-cash reward provides a tangible, lasting reminder of achievement, while fostering a family environment.
Just think of the occasions when you receive gifts. Ask yourself, "Would I rather receive a gift that has a high level of emotional resonance (i.e., a well thought-out, handpicked present that was carefully wrapped by the sender) or a check stuffed into a greeting card?" For me, the answer is clear: The gift chosen especially for me has a deep and lasting impact that goes far beyond its monetary value. This personal touch creates a closer relationship between giver and recipient.
I'll admit that I'd been relatively unaware of the many ways different creative groups (both firms and in-house teams) reward and inspire their staffs. My experience in working for others wasn't exactly helpful. So when I opened my studio, I searched for ways to build a culture and an ongoing creative wellspring. In talking with fellow managers, I've learned of the varied and heartfelt ways in which firms acknowledge their employees. (This discovery was both humbling and inspiring. It also made me want to send an application to a couple of the companies.) These ideas fall into two categories—non-salary compensation and creative inspiration—although many creative groups offer rewards in both areas, and several activities serve both purposes.
More...
This article has been reprinted with permission from HOWdesign.com and
written by Steven Morris. Steven is the head honcho of Morris Communication,
a San Diego firm that specializes in identity and collateral design for the
toy, game and entertainment industries.
steven@thinkfeelwork.com
If you have an article that you would like to share, please contact us at 1.866.369.8463 or email
info@functionfox.com.
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AIGA Boot Camp + Expo
September 30, Chapman University, Orange, Calif.
The fight for artistic freedom will get a major boost at the AIGA Boot Camp + Expo on Saturday, September 30, 2006, at Chapman University in Orange, California. This all-day event, presented by AIGA's Orange County chapter and powered by Adobe, starts with the Boot Camp, a workshop on Adobe's Creative Suite 2 workflows (for intermediate to advanced users).
The Expo, which follows the Boot Camp, will showcase the event's sponsoring partners, as well as the winning designs from the 19th annual HOW Self-Promotion Awards. For information on ticket pricing and reservations, go to AIGA Orange County's Web site at
<http://orangecounty.aiga.org/events/bootcamp>.
In-HOWse Designer Conference
October 29-31 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago
HOW Magazine presents the In-HOWse Designer Conference geared towards in-house creative managers.
The agenda this year is packed with helpful tips-from balancing peak efficiency and creative excellence to building, managing, and nourishing the design team.
As a subscriber of FunctionFox's About Time Newsletter, you're entitled to receive $50 off the registration fee. Just use the coupon code FF76 to take advantage of the discounted rate.
For complete information, visit the
In-HOWse Designer Conference
website.
All prices are in US Dollars, unless otherwise noted. This special discount cannot be combined with any other discount offers.
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For a TimeFox Demo, go to:
www.functionfox.com/demo
To arrange a guided tour of TimeFox, please send your request to:
info@functionfox.com
or call 1.866.369.8463
You can opt out of the About Time Newsletter at:
www.functionfox.com/newsletter/no_thanks.asp
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