So you wanna build a creative team (1/9): 🦸 Creatives, assemble!

This is part 1 of a 9(ish)-post series on building an internal creative services team. If you have the resources, this is the way to go (rather than outsourcing). But there’s a lot to consider, and I’d like to help.

Here I’ve collected advice from 25 years of experience. I hope you find it valuable (and let me know if you’d like me to dig in on anything.)

To start: “Who should be on the team?”

The key lies in assembling a diverse mix of talent that covers essential areas of expertise, manages workflow effectively, and mentors team members.

Here’s a breakdown of recommended team compositions for startups, small businesses, and mid-sized businesses.

Startup: lean and mean 🚀💪

1. Creative Director: The creative visionary who guides the team’s direction and ensures top-quality work.
2. Visual Designer: The creative generalist responsible for crafting eye-catching designs and graphics. Good a lot, great at little.
3. Content Strategist: The mastermind behind engaging, targeted content for various channels.
4. Project Manager: The glue that keeps projects running smoothly, ensuring deadlines are met and resources are allocated effectively.

Small business: acohesive unit 💼 👩‍💻

1. Creative Director
2. Senior UI Designer: A specialist in user interface design, focusing on the aesthetics and user experience of digital products.
3. Visual Designer
4. UX Designer: The user experience expert who ensures your products are intuitive and enjoyable. Do not underestimate the power of this role.
5. Content Strategist
6. Social Media Manager: The voice of your brand, managing and growing your presence on social platforms.
7. Copywriter: The wordsmith crafting compelling copy for ads, websites, and marketing materials.
8. Web Developer: The code expert who brings your digital designs to life.
9. Project Manager

Mid-sized business: a robust ensemble 🏢 🤝

1. Creative Director
2. Art Director: The leader of the visual design team, providing direction and mentoring designers.
3. Senior UI Designer (x2): Double the expertise provides a sounding board, necessary redundancy, scale, and the ability to handle more complex digital projects.
4. Visual Designer (x2): Again, an expanded design team for diverse visual needs.
5. UX Designer (x3): Again, more user experience specialists, allowing for specialization in research, testing, and interaction design.
6. Content Strategist
7. Social Media Manager
8. Copywriter
9. Senior Web Developer: The seasoned developer responsible for more complex projects and mentoring junior developers.
10. Web Developer
11. Video Producer: The master of storytelling through video content.
12. Photographer: The expert in capturing stunning images to elevate your brand.
13. Data Analyst: The data-driven decision-maker who helps optimize your creative efforts.
14. Senior Project Manager: An experienced leader to oversee larger, more complex projects.
15. Project Manager

Remember, these are just guidelines. Your ideal team composition may vary based on your specific needs and goals. But with the right mix of talent, you’ll be well on your way to creative success.

In my next post I’ll get into the costs you can start to budget for.