Working with remote Creatives (Part 2)
Finding the right artist
To determine the level needed, find the artist that suits your style, your budget and the timeframes they can work to, based on their portfolio. Ask to see their portfolio of work from your region. If they are in another country, ask about their experience with work they personally did, and request sample work. It should look consistent.
Ask how many images they can do in a week. On average, an artist should be able to produce 1 to 2 images per week on their own, possibly up to 3 if they are small interiors. Factor this in when working on bigger projects, or if they have a team to help them, as it’s easy to get bogged down in review cycles.
It is easy to lie about a portfolio, so if ever in doubt, use Google Lens. Search any image with it and you can pinpoint where that image came from.
In addition, ask about their use of AI. Some people are now 100% AI, others are hybridising their workflow, and others are traditional. This affects costs, timeframes and quality.
Briefing a Creative
The minimum to get started
Four sources, and the artist needs all of them before anyone opens a file.
From the architect or draftsperson
- 3D model
- Architectural plans
- Site survey
- FF&E and finishes schedule
From the interior designer
- Interior design plans
- FF&E and finishes schedule
Landscape
- Landscaping plans
- Planting schedule
Project manager
- Timeframes
- Consolidated comments and feedback
- Meetings and review schedules
Communicating with a Creative
Maintain the order or structure that is easy to see, act upon and execute. Ask what the expected timeframes will be and add them to Propagio, so everyone understands the expectations. Be flexible on dates, especially if there are additional changes or scope creep. This post is a different perspective on scope creep.
Country-to-country style and aesthetic differences
Every culture has its own design and ideas of what looks and feels expensive. Every country has its own aesthetic, weather conditions, geography, flora and fauna, traffic conditions and way of life. Every city has its own nuanced look and feel, supply chain and vibe.
Every Creative from another culture will have their own understanding of your culture, and it’s usually stereotypical. So when briefing a Creative in another country, that briefing package needs a bit more information. It’s everything we take for granted, the things we see every day but don’t notice, until a Creative sends an image that looks completely out of place. I worked with some amazing Filipino artists, and they all made the kerbing alongside a road 400 to 500mm high, because it floods in the Philippines. It’s dry in Australia, and kerbing is typically 100mm high.
When working out timeframes
It’s worth adding a 2 to 4 day buffer to the delivery dates. Factor in blackouts, computer malfunctions, software failures, sickness, religious holidays, family and non-working days. Also think about the conditions they have to work in, if it’s hot, humid or cold. It can be really difficult to work at 100% in those tough conditions. Empathise.
As a rough guide, interiors can take 1 to 3 days. Exteriors can take 2 to 4 days of actual work, plus time for handover, review, and updates and adjustments such as scope creep. Same rule of thumb as how to price a job.
I hope this helps someone,
Thanks for reading.
Luke