Respect Your Creative Coworkers!

From the Jobacle inbox...

Do you ever feel like telling people at your job to back the F up?

Time and time again I have experienced a frustrating phenomenon: people, who don't have your level of education and experience, question what you do.

Despite my solid track record as an award-winning graphic designer, I find myself being questioned at every turn.

Why is it when it comes to the creative arts, do people who don't know what the heck they're talking about, have to push their nose where it doesn't belong?

Do these same people tell their doctor how to identify disease?  Or their neighborhood dry cleaner how to remove a stain? 

I'm not suffering from an inferiority complex, at least I hope not. I don't expect coworkers to take my word as gospel, but a little respect to let me do what I do would be appreciated. The same way I trust them to do what it is they do.

Am I alone?  Thanks for entertaining my rant.  My goal isn't to conjure up sympathy or play the world's smallest violin. Just a reminder to show people some trust!  Your Web site rules! 

Sincerely,
Trained professional who's fightin’ mad!

Comments

[Krod]

@Trained professional who's fightin’ mad!

I am an award winning Web Designer (actually I am so much more. but whatever). I work for a very successful company, get paid far above what is average for the area. Yet, my professional opinion and advice is almost ALWAYS looked over.

I too do not understand why I was hired as the Senior Web Designer yet no one listens to me.

It is perplexing.

Krod

[Jack Baty]

Doctors are wrong all the time, so yes, sometimes a second opinion is warranted. Same thing with the creative field.

Sometimes the freshest and most interesting ideas come from unexpected places, even from people who "don't know what the heck they're talking about."

[Andrew G.R.]

Yup, doctors (and everyone for that matter) can be wrong. I have no problem with gathering the opinions of all of the relevent players. But sometimes, you must defer and leave the decision to the 'expert.'

I can see both sides of this argument, but as a creative worker myself, I tend to agree with 'Fightin' Mad' that artsy types often get their toes stepped on.

[Living in Cubicle]

Here's a perfect example what happens with those fresh ideas...
I think that 90% of all the crap design exists just because people don't believe the expert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU9YeOQm3Y0