NAME: Scott Nagle
JOB TITLE: Art Director/ Designer
WHERE DID YOU START YOUR CAREER?
After studying at Julian Ashton Art School where I had achieved an Advertising Art and Design Diploma, I began my career as a Commercial Artist Illustrator working in an Advertising Art Studio in Neutral Bay, Sydney. I specialised in airbrush and line illustration, TVC (TV Commercial) story boarding, squeaker presentation visuals and graphic design. I loved it, working along side these incredibly talented professional artists was a dream come true and really inspiring. They were just so passionate about every aspect of their work, it was contagious.
Back in the day, photography for the Advertising industry was very expensive compared to creative, however the art studios were a big part of the advertising and marketing industry. Working on big brand campaigns such as the art for Coca Cola's latest promotional campaign was exciting enough but then to see your work in-store and out on the street was amazing. That was it for me, I was hooked.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
There are many things to love about my job. What I love most is the idea, "The Big Idea". There is nothing more satisfying to me than brainstorming ideas for a brand with your colleagues or waking bolt upright at 3am in the morning with a great idea for your next campaign or promotion and by 1pm that afternoon after much discussion with said colleagues, bringing that idea to life. Some ideas just hit you in the head, others provoke emotions and further thought that in turn lead into a world of other possibilities.
The love I have for what I do means it never really feels like a job!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR AVERAGE DAY, WHAT DO YOU DO?
My average day starts with a morning run or surf; if I'm lucky!
My next morning ritual is to have my first coffee before I can even contemplate starting my workday.
My workday typically starts with a brief from a client. I then start on brainstorming an idea and developing the strategic concept and how it will play out in a campaign. Sketching madly whilst maintaining the brands core values is always very exciting and you never know what you will come up with. Once approved, it's on to production where I could be art directing a fashion or product photo shoot or briefing a team of finished artists on the overall look and feel. Often when working with a fashion client, it means selecting and casting talent, engaging wardrobe, hair and make-up stylists, booking the right photographer and a myriad of other crew - so, it's very much a collective effort. And if it's working with food, animals or even kids these can bring on a whole new set of challenges!
Once all the production is completed, selecting the best images and preparing them for print or inclusion in an online campaign or promotion is the next step. This involves colour correction, deep etching backgrounds, retouching, formatting and layout. From there, I could be on the phone to suppliers or down to the printers or packaging facilities for a press or packaging check.
Then it's back in front of the client to pitch your campaign. This can be heaven or hell depending on the accuracy of the brief and your creative ideas. The aim is for the client to fall in love with it and brief you again on their next project, so it all starts all over again!
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU DREAD DOING?
MYOB - the accounting package called Mind You Own Business.
This is what I call hard work! There's nothing more painful; well perhaps pulling teeth without anesthetic or childbirth?
Maybe with a little more practice and patience I can learn to appreciate the 'creative' side of accounting? But for now... Aarrggghhh!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER SOMEONE WANTING A CAREER IN FASHION?
Make sure you do your due diligence,so often we go into these seemingly exciting careers thinking it's all glitz and glamour only to find out it's not what we expected it to be. Fashion, like any other business has many different areas of expertise, so if you love fashion and you're an accountant you can have just as much job satisfaction as if you were a buyer, writer, stylist or creative, like me!
My other piece of advice is to be flexible. If one area/position isn't working for you, try something else. Don't be afraid to move around and to find exactly what fits; what suits you best.
IS IT WHAT YOU KNOW OR WHO YOU KNOW?
I think it's what you know! If you know what you know then others will know too. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Great work and great to work with, means you'll get noticed and others will want you on their team.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Being creative in all aspects of life inspires me! Creating powerful messages and communications through the combining of words and images together in different ways is challenging and exciting at the same time. I love exploring new techniques and pushing the boundaries.
To push beyond the 'norm' and draw inspiration from both natural and unnatural sources is my daily goal. I like being unpredictable and delivering fresh ideas daily that bring out qualities and connections with others.
I am a 'glass half full' kind of person and can see the intricate beauty in everything, which is very inspirational in my work.
Want to recruit SCOTT? Why not, he is an exceptional catch (and a quality RTJ Insider)! Email him at scott.nagle@three.com.au
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