Wow, it’s hard to believe that it’s already been a month since I started the Design Teams 101 series! I hope that this series has been helpful to those who are just starting into the design team world, or perhaps has given some insight to those who are already on design teams. Whatever the case may be, it’s been so neat to hear your feedback and see that some have been given the push to go beyond their comfort zones.

Today I’ll be addressing one question and then next week, we’ll hear some encouragement from the contributors and I’ll answer any last questions you might have.

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert in this topic, but I HAVE been in this industry for over a decade. In my effort to make this series even better, I reached out to some of my favorite companies and they gave their input on this topic. We’ll have the privilege of hearing from Kryssi and Angela from Mama Elephant, Shay from Winnie & Walter, Jen from Reverse Confetti, Michele from CAS-ual Fridays.

Today’s topics: What makes a person stand out? and Can a person get kicked off a team?

This question goes hand in hand with the other one I did previously  on what qualities stand out to me. Here’s what I wrote on the topic previously….

As a company owner and DT coordinator, I look for a variety of things. The MOST important thing is that the person is an active blogger. If you only post one every six weeks, being on a design team probably isn’t the right fit for you. While being on a team is fun and exciting, it IS a commitment. Here’s a listing of the qualities I look for in designers….

• Actively posts to their blog with well lit photos, clean work and an eye for details.
• Creativity is a must. I want to see different card designs, creative uses for my products and a variety of techniques.
• The text in your post can make a difference. Honestly, I don’t want to just see a card in a post. I’d love to hear the story behind the card, why you like that stamp set, who you’re giving the card to, the mishaps that came along the way– it’s fun to read a story while also looking at something pretty.
• I don’t require my design team to have all of the different social media accounts, but it does help. If they are active on social media, chances are they’ll promote you on there and us (as companies) are always for that. If I had to choose only two, I would say Facebook and Instagram are great ones to start with!
• This is probably something not every company notices, but I DO notice if someone is constantly negative on social media and their blog. I want to align myself with positive, happy people and if a person is complaining often, chances are they’ll bring that negativity to the team (which is something that companies do NOT want).

Here’s some feedback from some of the contributors on this topic:

“When I look for a new DT member, the first thing I look at is their overall style.  If their style fits with what I am looking for, I look at their photos.  Are they clear?  Do they provide detail shots of their projects?  I also look for the quality of their blog posts.  In other words, do they talk about the project (how they did it, what inspired them, etc.) and the products they used.”

“Someone who is actively creating and sharing as much as they can with their projects via their blog and via social media. We look for those posts that contain fantastic projects and a great read. Step by step tutorials are helpful to gain followers and readers. Be yourself and be consistent. ”

“Blog posts! I’m drawn to posts that not only have the eye candy, but are fun and inviting too. You caught my attention with your project, now tell me the story.  I want to hear about why or how you created your project. Was there a special technique involved? Tell me about it, I might want to try that on my next project. Was there a challenge that inspired you? If so, I might want to play too-is there a link? Are you playing with new product? I might need that in my stash-where can I get it? Was there an accidental glitter explosion? Crazy stuff happens when we get creative, share your process and trials and tribulations.  I also look at how often you post, specifically how many times a day you post.  Occasionally, things get crazy and multiple things are planned on the same day. It happens, but on a regular basis, my hope is that your post about my product will be at the top of your blog, and not buried under 3 other posts that same day.”

“It is a combination of factors but first and foremost is a strong point of view in partnership with thoughtfulness.  Julie (my friend and co-owner of Winnie & Walter, LLC) and I love all sorts of styles especially when the artist makes it their own and has a signature style.  Versatility is also a wonderful asset especially when the artist leaves their personal mark on whatever they make.  Thoughtfulness is that extra touch that shows the maker are adding themselves and the love. lol

Good photos help to properly convey craftsmanship and showcase talent.

An active blog is very positive as it shows engagement, dedication, an ability to be consistent and it is also a place to highlight personality and find your voice as an artist.  I am a huge blog reader (although I have had to cut back dramatically since starting Winnie & Walter) and .

You will need to be active in social media…that is just a necessary evil or a blessing depending on your perspective. lol ”

Oh, now we’re getting to the uncomfortable part of the series! In a word, YES.

Each design team is different and the grounds for dismissal are ultimately up to the company and/or DT coordinator, or listed in the contract. If a design team member is constantly late in their assignments, has poor communication with the coordinator, or their work  isn’t up to par, these are typically appropriate grounds to dismiss a member. Some teams are a little more flexible, but a HUGE part of being on a team is to have open communication with the person in charge.

Do you have any last questions you want answered in this series?  Leave it here and I’ll include it in next weeks post!

If you are new to blogging, or want some info on how to make your blog stand out and be “design team ready”, I created a five part series last year that you may enjoy. Just click the graphic above!

I hope you all have a GREAT Monday. I have a doctor appointment later on and then I’ll be working hard to ship out as many orders as I can. It’s going to be a busy day!

Happy Monday!

So now that you’ve read a little bit about what companies are looking for, tips for applying and the benefits of being on a team, I wanted to address some of the other tidbits about a design team. This week I won’t have feedback from the lovely contributors, but I’ll bring them back again next week!

Today I wanted to answer some of the questions that you all have asked during this series. It was so fun to read your questions! If I didn’t answer your question in this post, I’ll do another round up of questions at the end of this series!

Today’s topics: does a team hinder creativity, how to handle DT rejection and being on multiple design teams and time commitment.

This is such a great question! For me personally, when I was previously on a design team, it was initially hard to get into the routine of creating- especially when a specific stamp set/ product was chosen. If you’re on a team for a company, it’s always good to do a little research to see if their style/ brand is something you would buy yourself. If you aren’t crazy about their products and wouldn’t buy them yourself, this probably isn’t going to be a good fit for you as a designer. Companies want people who are EXCITED about their products; it shows in your posts and projects.

I will state that every once in a while, you might find yourself needing to work with a product that exactly your favorite- that’s okay! Not every product has to be your favorite, but if you can make it fit into YOUR style or crafting and be creative with it, that’s what us (as companies) are looking for.

As far as deadlines, I will state that I typically am one that works well under pressure. If I know I need to have a specific theme or product showcased, this is a great starting point. Each team is different in their assignments and deadlines, but I know that some of them you have to create as soon as you receive the product. I’ll admit that there were a few times as a guest designer where I needed to do this and it DID hinder creativity working under an extreme deadline. As a designer you want to make your projects beautiful (as you should since they are attached to your name and brand), but typically, being on a team should enhance your creativity and not do the opposite.

This question is one I remember all too well. While I can’t say that I’ve ever been rejected from a team I really wanted to be on, I can relate in correlation to wanting my cards to be published. I was fortunate and got the very first thing I submitted published and then it was a long, dry spell.

After being published so quickly, I proceeded to apply to multiple publications, only to be rejected time and time again. It was hard and I know you all know the feeling. I will admit that I did shed tears after not getting emails from an editor (that I truly thought I would receive). It was hard the first time, but then not hearing back the second, third, fourth…. time was even harder. I started taking it personally and almost wanted to stop crafting all together. I then had to step back and realize that I was putting way too much pressure on myself and I was taking the JOY out of crafting. I stopped submitting and fell in love with crafting all over again.

When I took a step back, I not only developed a love for crafting again, but my love for blogging came back as well. All of the time and effort I had put into submitting, I refocused into other areas and then a whole bunch of other opportunities came after that. Isn’t it funny how that happens?

Before I answer this question, I must note that each company has different policies. Some will say that you must work exclusively for their company during your term, others may note you cannot be on conflicting teams (one that has similar styles or products) and some teams may not have any kind of clause at all.

For the PPP team, I do not mind at all that my designers are on other teams. In fact, I love that they are! Each of my designers have a unique style and come from different crafting backgrounds; many of which have been molded by the teams they have been on previously. I love when they can mix the stamp companies they work with and showcase them with PPP products. This crafting world has so many wonderful companies and I have always been an advocate of bringing companies together.

With that being said, I do try my best not to have designers who overlap with other companies who sell predominately sequins and other embellishments.

There really is not set answer for this. As mentioned above, each time will have different assignments and requirements, and each designer has their own style. For one person a card may typically take an hour and another person could take 20 minutes.

I do want to mention that being on a design team is so much more than creating a card for an assignment. You’ll also need to photograph and edit the project, type up the post, add in the necessary info…. some teams may ask that you also post on social media to promote the assignment, or upload to Flickr, Pinterest, Facebook. My biggest tip in all of this: STAY ORGANIZED. A calendar dedicated to your assignments, or a spreadsheet of some sort will 1) keep you from falling behind deadlines 2) keep you sane 3) be a world of difference to the design team coordinator/ company owner.

More on that in the last segment of this series….

Have a specific question you want answered?  Leave it here and I’ll try to answer it before this series ends.

If you are new to blogging, or want some info on how to make your blog stand out and be “design team ready”, I created a five part series last year that you may enjoy. Just click the graphic above!

I hope that you all have been learning and enjoying this series- it truly was created for YOU. I can’t wait to share the remaining info I have from the contributors next week- they have so much great feedback to share! If you have found this series helpful, be sure to tell a friend!

Until next time…

I’m so glad that you all enjoyed the first installment of Design Teams 101! When I first started this crazy world called blogging, I had no idea what a design team was, let alone how to get on one. As time went on, I soon began asking myself questions. How could I be part of something like this? What made a designer stand out to a company? These questions, along with dozens of others, were constantly on my mind and I wish I had a little guide to this world. I’m hoping that by the end of this series, you’ll feel equipped when you see a design team call, or at least feel knowledgeable as to what teams are looking for.

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert in this topic, but I HAVE been in this industry for over a decade. In my effort to make this series even better, I reached out to some of my favorite companies and they gave their input on this topic. We’ll have the privilege of hearing from Kryssi and Angela from Mama Elephant, Kelly Marie from Lawn Fawn, Shay from Winnie & Walter, Jen from Reverse Confetti, Michele from CAS-ual Fridays and there might be a couple other guests as well.

Today’s topics: Is DT experience needed? and What qualities do companies look for in a designer? 

As a company owner and one who has been in charge of teams, I can honestly say that NO, you do not need experience. We have all been “newbies” and quite honestly, I like finding unfounded talent. On a team that I led, almost every single person that I asked to join had no prior DT experience. It’s such a neat feeling to find unburied treasure and see your designers grow in their style. Nowadays, so many people are on teams and it may seem like the same people get picked, but believe me, we ARE on the lookout for up and coming designers.

Here are a few tips that can get you noticed by your favorite companies:

• Tag, mention and hashtag your creations using their products on social media. I’ve found so many great designers who use my products via Instagram and Twitter that I probably wouldn’t have noticed before if they didn’t tag @prettypinkposh or hashtag #prettypinkposh.
• When posting cards using their products, be sure your photos are well lit, so their products shine in all their glory. A blurry, or dark photo, is pretty much a guarantee we will not re-post or share your creation.
• If you blog a card using a company, be sure to link to them. Believe me, we notice when people are visiting us from a specific blog!

Here’s some feedback from some of the contributors on this topic:

“Not at all, but if they do not they should be aware that each company has their own expectation and compensation contracts.”

“No experience necessary, but you should have an active blog and be organized, be able to follow directions and have great communication skills. ”

“Be yourself and only apply to design teams for companies or challenges you truly love and believe in because if you don’t it shows and you will begin to dislike the work.

Sharpen your skills with classes and challenges.  You will learn so much and really develop your style and as you progress you will get noticed!

Also, some companies/websites build and craft design teams by invitation (we do this) rather than through design team calls and my recommendation would be to strut your stuff to the companies you love—enter their contests and challenges, follow their social media, share projects you make with their product on social media and tag, message or email them so they can see it!  I assure you we pay attention and appreciate when someone is so enthusiastic about our company. ”

For me personally, as a company owner and DT coordinator, I look for a variety of things. The MOST important thing is that the person is an active blogger. If you only post one every six weeks, being on a design team probably isn’t the right fit for you. While being on a team is fun and exciting, it IS a commitment. Here’s a listing of the qualities I look for in designers….

• Actively posts to their blog with well lit photos, clean work and an eye for details.
• Creativity is a must. I want to see different card designs, creative uses for my products and a variety of techniques.
• The text in your post can make a difference. Honestly, I don’t want to just see a card in a post. I’d love to hear the story behind the card, why you like that stamp set, who you’re giving the card to, the mishaps that came along the way– it’s fun to read a story while also looking at something pretty.
• I don’t require my design team to have all of the different social media accounts, but it does help. If they are active on social media, chances are they’ll promote you on there and us (as companies) are always for that.
• This is probably something not every company notices, but I DO notice if someone is constantly negative on social media and their blog. I want to align myself with positive, happy people and if a person is complaining often, chances are they’ll bring that negativity to the team (which is something that companies do NOT want).

“Creativity is the most important quality any designer can have.   Committed is another quality that comes to mind.  By that I mean, understanding and following through on what is expected of you as a DT member.  I laugh at the word “organized” because we all have our own brand of organization.  You have to do what works best for you.”

“Ideally, the whole package — someone who is talented, active in the community, and knows how to present their work.”

“At CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, I look for designers who make my jaw drop with their design skills, are fun and engaging in their posts, and who provide product links regularly.  I want to know that you when you visit their blog, you’re going to see a great project, have fun reading about it, and be able to find where you can get my products by clicking on a working link.”

“Someone engaged, responsive, responsible, enthusiastic, helpful, positive, fun and who put out consistently solid work. We also want designers who truly love creating with our product.”

This was also a lengthy post, but I hope you came away with some information that you didn’t know before. I know that I’ll have at least two more posts in this series. As I write these posts, I’m finding out that I have so much info I want to share with you all!

Have a specific question you want answered in this series?  Leave it here and I’ll try to answer as many as I can!

I’ll see you next Monday with part 3 of this Design Teams 101 series. If you find this series helpful, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss any of my posts. Until next time…