Next up in our ‘So you want to work in Design’ series, we look at the different types of agencies, their specialities and the types of traits and interests needed to thrive within them.

what creative environment suits your skills?

It's important to remember that "creative agency" doesn’t just mean “design agency”, it can actually be one of many combinations depending on what they offer the clients.

Some choose to go by "practice",  or "studio" or “space”. But a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

All creative organisations create; and juniors who are keen to enter them should understand that regardless of description, hard work, an innovative mind and great resilience will always be needed. 

Full-Service Digital Agency

This type of agency will offer their clients a complete creative approach to their brand and campaigns. This includes design, of course, but will also focus on advertising and marketing and have several big departments.

These agencies can be daunting for newbies but they're a great place to cut your teeth amongst a variety of creative talent. 

Digital Agency

A digital agency will concentrate on creating and designing products and platforms. They focus on technology and strategy and not so much on marketing and advertising. If you're passionate about tech, place yourself in one of these. 

Design or Branding Agency

Design and branding agencies have grown 100-fold over the last 10 years, as branding is such an integral part of the way we live today. Only the fittest brands survive or get our approval, be that in retail, consumer, travel, sport, leisure, professional services, to day to day foods, FMCG, household, wellbeing and even personal branding.

These agencies are strategic thinkers and awesome creatives too.

Made up of a mix of graphic designers, digital, motion design, they may even have those that are more integrated. But conceptual design thinking is at the heart of what they offer.

Interactive Design Agency

These agencies focus mostly on web design and other technological and internet based development. They design and develop apps, games, and other interactive products.

Advertising Agency

These agencies are mainly geared towards marketing and advertising strategies. They might or might not have a design team in house but it is common for advertising agencies to hire freelancers or collaborate with a design agency.

Sometimes advertising agencies work with limited media channels (e.g. social media, TV commercials). In that case, such an agency may not give you the full spectrum of possibilities to try new hats. 

Design Innovation Agency

These types of design agencies are a little different than the others in the sense that they don’t design “small” but rather solve big problems. They can either design and develop inhouse platforms or large scale products with huge complicated strategies and lots of planning.

Which type of agency should you work for? That all depends on your interests and skill set. If you'd like advice about your next career steps, get in touch with our recruiters. 

We hope you’re finding our series useful so far. Whilst you’re here, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and share this article with anyone you think it may help.