Agencies Must Integrate Cause-Driven Work

It’s safe to say that competition for talent has never been so fierce. And with the headcount at 99designs by Vista doubling in the past twelve months, we’ve experienced the reality facing employers around the world firsthand. But as organizations battle it out, it turns out that much of the creative talent has other ideas. In fact, in our annual survey of more than 10,000 freelance designers, half of all freelancers working with agencies have considered leaving agency life in the past year, and a third have already quit. A startling insight, certainly—but with the backdrop of a career-disrupting two years, this year’s report made us look internally and realize the many lessons employers can learn from the freelance community. We gained insights into how freelancers are approaching their careers, growth and development in today’s context, and the key drivers that create fulfillment and define success. More than ever, creatives want to control their own professional destiny, signifying a wider realignment of priorities, motivations and an increasing level of clarity that can be seen reflected right across the global workforce, regardless of industry. But at a time when the workforce is more mobile and willing to move than ever before, one thing stands out. There is a clear cry for purpose amongst the narrative noise of the Great Reassessment that every organization can respond to. Agencies Need a Strong Plan for Freelancers. Here’s How to Develop One Help people harness their talent for good Brand activism is on the rise, but it’s no longer just a corporate concern. Creative freelancers are putting purpose over profit, with 85% saying it’s important for them to work for clients who share their values. And this isn’t just lip service: We’re seeing this play out in creators’ financial decisions, with 40% of freelancers having turned down work in the past year because of a client’s stance on social issues. Just as freelancers are more selective about the work they are taking on, so too are job seekers and employees more willing than ever to make more informed, values-based decisions about who they work for and why. If you’ve built a values-centric culture, you likely have a team of talented people who want to do meaningful work. Creating opportunities for people to build purpose, not just profit, into their day to day is key—both in the context of your mission and vision as a brand, but also for causes that individuals care about. Amplify your people’s impact For us, creating the space for cause-driven work has been centered on our values of putting people first. But amplifying that impact is critical and goes a significant way in demonstrating the authenticity of whatever purpose an organization has infused through its culture. Through a decade-long program called 99nonprofits, our team is able to work directly with not-for-profit organizations around the world on fully-funded design projects, connecting them with our freelance community and combining our core purpose as a product and brand with a practical layer of creative support for causes they care about. We also provide global volunteer leave to give teams the time to dedicate to a purpose they care about, as well as year-round donation-matching that provides regular and steady amplification in a manner that supports our broader brand values. Finding ways to create everyday opportunities for purposeful work is the real "new normal" for brands and agencies around the world. Ultimately, creative people crave purpose, and there’s valuable lessons to learn from those who have already left their full-time roles to strike out on their own. Real Change Comes From Within When It Comes to Your Team’s Well-Being

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Creatives Crave Purpose—Agencies Must Integrate Cause-Driven Work

New survey data shows why many have left full-time roles to freelance

Patrick Llewellyn

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Patrick Llewellyn