Why the future of creativity lies in killer collaborations

The best creative campaigns are almost always a celebration of multiple skills and ideas coming together – and with the ever increasing demands for new and exciting content, collaboration in the workplace has never been higher on the agenda.
Here are a few reasons why we use collaborations for next-level creative campaigns.

Create more with less

The demands for content are at an all-time high, with so many different platforms, mediums and competitors to keep up with. Trying to do everything yourself, or focus on only one type of content you’re comfortable with just isn’t going to cut it.

Whether you’re creating a new social media campaign, a video advertisement, or an email newsletter – there will always be multiple different streams of content required to make it all come together.

Working closer with collaborators is a great way for us to create more content in less time. Having a solid team of designers, copywriters, artists and illustrators ready to call upon helps us find the time to create more content than ever at a really high standard.

Enjoy a balance of skills

The best part of all killer collaborations is the coming together of creative minds. You might be a dab hand at Adobe InDesign, but coming up with the words isn’t your best skill. Or maybe you’re a brilliant photographer, but you can never style the shoot quite right.

Wherever your skillset lies, getting other creatives involved always result in new ideas on how to make the campaign its very best. While one person probably could put together a new website or a print advert themselves, a collaborative group effort is almost always the more effective move.

There’s something really special about getting a room (or a Zoom) full of creatives together and giving them the time and space to bounce ideas off each other, coming up with new and exciting concepts for our next projects.

Broaden your horizons

Never forget the power of diversity. Getting different views from different people with different backgrounds, experiences and skillsets is so important for ensuring the best possible outcome of a creative collaboration.

The more diverse your team is, the better understanding they are able to bring to the table. Whether that understanding comes from life experience, religious subtexts, or ethical considerations – it always pays to have someone else in the room who looks, behaves and lives differently to yourself.

For us, the best collaborations happen when we’re able to broaden our horizons, consider other opinions, and work out the best solutions together.

Grow your audience

Without a doubt, working with a collaborator can be a great way to bring increased awareness and exposure to your creative project.

Working with celebrities, influencers, bigger brands and known names is the traditional route to increasing your reach – but your collaborator doesn’t have to have a huge platform.

Two networks are better than one, whether you start small or go big. Teaming up with someone else often enables us to cast a wider net with the project, and also helps to bring new perspectives and feedback to the table.

5 steps to a successful creative collaboration

Now you know all the reasons why you should consider collaborating on your next creative project, it’s a good idea to figure out how it’s actually going to work.

The logistics, practicalities, and even emotional considerations all need to be thought out if you want your campaign to be a success.

Here’s five of our top tips.

• Make sure your skills complement each other

It might seem like an obvious one, but before you start your project you need to make sure you’re getting the right person on board for the job.

Your skills should complement each other. If you’re a photographer working with an editor, you need to know that their style is going to be compatible with yours, and you’re not going to disagree at every corner.

Check out your collaborators’ portfolios and previous projects, and get testimonials wherever possible before jumping into a new project.

• Agree deliverables and expectations right from the start

There’s nothing worse than jumping into a project without making a clear plan. We get it, a new creative campaign can be really exciting, especially when you’re working with another inspiring creative who can’t wait to get started either.

We make sure that everyone on the project understands what their deliverables are, what our expectations are of them, and any deadlines right from the start. It may seem like a pain when you just want to crack on, but it always helps later down the line to avoid any disappointment or frustration.

• Don’t micro-manage

When collaborating with other creatives on a project you feel passionate about, it can be easy to slip into the micro-managing grey area when you feel strongly about how it should be working.

But you know how difficult this can be! Make sure you can trust your creative collaborator completely before starting a project, and that way you should be able to let them do their thing without feeling the need to get involved at every step.

• Share work constantly

If you’re working on an ongoing collaboration, make sure to set regular times throughout the process to share your work.

After all, the whole point of a collaboration is to listen to other people’s thoughts and ideas, but that can’t happen if everyone keeps their work hidden until the last minute.

Make sure everyone knows what’s going on throughout the collaboration, that way there won’t be any nasty surprises when it’s too late.

• Make the process enjoyable

The biggest reason why killer collaborations are the future of creative campaigns is because, at the end of the day, they’re great fun.

Creativity harbours creativity, and there’s nothing better than sharing your skills and ideas with other people who actively want to listen – and listening to theirs in return.

So try and have fun, and make the process as enjoyable as possible. You’ll get the best outcome that way, and you could even find yourself collaborating again in the future!