Fab design blog Swissmiss just linked to a PDF of an article (from the Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario) about motivating creative people. As we prepare to host the judging of the HOW International Design Competition next week, this thought about peer recognition caught my eye:

"We all love to be recognized for what we do. We like to be recognized by our peer groups. It's my task within our company to make sure that we enter different award shows. It's amazing the number that are out there and they're expensive. Find the ones that are meaningful to you. Not only is it important to you as a company that your work is out there and to let people see it. It is important for the people who work for you that their work is out there representing you and that they get credit for it."

I'm also reminded of a past HOW story about rewarding creatives that offered some similar advice:

"Giving credit where credit is due and promoting your staff's hard work can be a cost-effective and valuable way to help your creatives build self-esteem. By regularly entering and winning design competitions, you not only add feathers to your studio's (and your clients') cap, but the contributing designers also gain deserved and desired recognition. Young designers routinely tell me that winning design awards is one of their core goals. This recognition comes in both public and personal ways. By entering competitions, you demonstrate pride in the work that your staff contributes and place a strong value on their efforts."

Check out both of the articles for lots of good idea about motiving your team.

Posted by Megan