Big Spaceship’s CCO Cedric Devitt on what it takes to be a great creative
As the industry continues to evolve to keep up with the latest technologies and innovations – not to mention changing consumer behavior – Big Spaceship’s chief creative officer Cedric Devitt thinks that the creatives who are most likely to succeed are often the ones that have a thick skin and are able to “get back on the horse” when something doesn’t go their way.
In a recent conversation with The Drum, Devitt said that the ability to be resilient is an important quality for creatives to have nowadays, since creative teams have to keep moving forward even if an idea dies or if the client decides to change direction.
“The ability to really develop that little bit of grittiness within you to keep going I think is very much a new skillset that is often overlooked in this day and age,” he said.
Devitt joined Brooklyn-based Big Spaceship last year as its first chief creative officer. Before that, he served as MRY’s chief creative officer. Throughout his career, he has worked with brands including Adobe, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson, and his work has been recognized by the One Show, Clios, Webbys and others.
Fun fact about Devitt: he co-founded the US Air Guitar Championships and produced Air Guitar Nation, a documentary about the rise of competitive air guitar.
His full interview with The Drum can be viewed above. See what Pete Harvey, partner and executive creative director of BarrettSF, had to say when we asked him what it takes to be a great creative.
Other episodes in the series
Episode 1
‘It’s about asking a lot of questions’: Deutsch’s Winston Binch on what it takes to be a great creative
The Drum recently caught up with Winston Binch, Deutsch North America’s chief digital officer, to find out what he thinks it takes to be a great creative.
Episode 2
‘Be a producer’: RPA’s Sarah Bates on what it takes to be a great creative
To Sarah Bates, creative director at RPA in Los Angeles, being weird is perfectly fine. In fact, it’s pretty normal and desirable — especially those “non sequitur adventures” that make a person interesting in a creative field.
Episode 3
‘Distill the brief’: The Mill’s Phil Crowe on what it takes to be a great creative
Are there bad briefs? That’s likely up for all kinds of debate but, to Phil Crowe, ECD of The Mill in Los Angeles, it’s less about the brief and more about the interpretation of the brief.
Episode 4
Saturday Morning leaders on being a great creative
It’s not difficult to be inspired by Saturday Morning, the movement for peace founded after a spate of police shootings against African-Americans including Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and others.
Episode 5
Lola MullenLowe Madrid's Pancho Cassis on what it takes to be a great creative: 'It's not about ideas anymore'
The Drum caught up with Pancho Cassis, executive creative director and copywriter at Lola MullenLowe Madrid, to find out what he thinks it takes to be a great creative.
Episode 6
Colle+McVoy’s Laura Fegley: 'Being a great creative is all about endurance'
Laura Fegley, ECD at Colle+McVoy in Minneapolis, treads a path of undeniable success.
Episode 7
‘Mind numbing patience’: Kirk Kelley, HouseSpecial CCO on what makes a great creative
Browsing through the work of Portland’s HouseSpecial can become a walk through a creative candy shop — starting with (pun kind of intended) iconic creativity for M&M's, including the well-received Candyman spot featuring Aloe Blacc and Zedd.
Episode 8
"Great creatives need a partner": OKRP leaders on becoming a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.
Episode 9
'Stick with your gut': Pereira & O'Dell's PJ Pereira on being a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.
Episode 10
Hunger, passion, curiosity: MullenLowe Singapore’s Shengjin Ang on being a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.