75% of our creative department was slammed in the office until 6:30 tonight (Wednesday before Thanksgiving) with an upcoming Monday of super important meetings with almost every agency client and there wasn’t a single person in from any other department. After the pandemic the entire industry culture is fast, cheap, and meh and a huge percentage of employees don’t know anything else because they weren’t around before. Make it stop. Oh right, the agency AI bot crawling our shared decks will.

Sage is one of the best companies to work for if you crave a place where you have a voice and white space to grow, lead, be challenged and contribute to the culture. The agency's work is spread across public sector, tech and non-profit. My eyes were opened to the diversity of clients -- you could be working on a defense contractor, AI startup, cyber Fortune 500, a federal agency and an economic development project. Fast pace, challenging, yet rewarding work with a dedicated and smart team!

Creatives who have been able to switch accounts at the same agency: mind sharing the process? Who you talked to, any bridges that may have been a little charred in the process? Been at the agency working for the same client for 3 years and looking forward to 2026 I think I need to start looking for a new job or move internally. Art partner’s on the same page but they’re looking into moving back to their home country which also means I may be partnerless soon…

Hello all, I’m recently on the job hunt after a company restructure and looking for my next chapter as an Associate Director in creative strategy, comms planning, or digital. I’ve spent my career shaping campaigns that blend data, culture, and storytelling for brands big and small, and I love collaborating with creative teams to bring bold ideas to life. Agencies like Mischief, R/GA, and Party Land inspire me. 9 years experience and based in nyc. HELP

Hello Fishbowl community, I was recently laid off due to a slowdown at the creative boutique agency I worked for. I’m looking to connect with CDs interested in teaming up on freelance or full-time projects, or just grabbing a coffee. I’m a NYC-based Sr. Creative Director with 17 years of experience in Europe and the US, a strong visual background, and awards across the board—including Cannes Gold. If you’re open to collaborating, send me a message.

I am currently exploring my next Creative Director opportunity and am pleased to share my portfolio, which reflects 16+ years of leadership in creative strategy, brand development, and integrated campaigns across both tech and mission-driven organizations. My background includes work with Apple, IBM, WeWork, Pinnacol Assurance, and nonprofit brands, with a consistent focus on audience-first storytelling that delivers measurable business impact.

Have you ever had to deal with clients who really have no direction or vision for their own brand but are willing to pay a lot to get someone to do it for them? I appreciate the money, but I don't know how to help someone who doesn't know exactly what help they need. Or I would like to be given full creative and authoritative control. It's so hard to find middle ground. What have you done in situations like this?

Do agencies value good work from creatives if it’s not produced? I’m constantly told my thinking and work has been great at my agency but I can’t seem to get anything fun produced in the 2.5 years I’ve been at said agency. Just the backup mediocre ideas, we bring in once client refuses the fun one. Should I be looking for a new gig or worried I’ll be let go?

How many account people does an agency really need for every creative who does the work? The ratio is just wild a lot of the time, and even during layoffs it doesn’t change. Hierarchy galore. Trim the fat and fix the ratio towards hiring more people who actually do the work.