What No One Tells You #2: Who’s Who in the Creative Industry

What's an Account Manager? A Buyer? This is Your Guide to Industry Roles for Aspiring Art Directors

If you’re dreaming of becoming an art director, this is the most important thing to note: your output is only as good as the team around you. The people you work with aren’t just collaborators—they’re the engine that drives every campaign, and knowing how to navigate those relationships is key.

But here’s the thing: the dynamics, speed, and personalities in an agency are worlds apart from what you’ll find working in-house. Agencies run on adrenaline, cranking out campaigns like there’s no tomorrow, while brands focus on legacy, consistency, and perfecting their image one pixel at a time. And the teams? Completely different beasts.

So, who are these characters shaping your projects, and what do they all actually do? To make it easy to understand (and more fun), I’ve reimagined them through the lens of my favourite pop culture references—think Mad Men, The Devil Wears Prada, and Sex and the City.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the cast of characters you’ll meet, whether you’re sprinting through the high-octane world of an agency or navigating the meticulous, ever-evolving terrain of an in-house team.

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1. Roles in a Creative Agency

Here's the rundown in the order of how a project flows, with a Mad Men twist: