Anna Goodson first got involved in the world of advertising and design while working part-time at her father’s printing agency. At his side, she learned first-hand every facet of running a successful business. In the years to follow, Anna broadened her sales and marketing expertise with a leading Québec ad firm and later as a representative for a top Québec photography agency. A lover of the visual arts, she started her own business representing illustrators and photographers, Anna Goodson Management, in the winter of 1996. The innovative, boutique-style agency serves the global marketing needs of the visual arts community.
11.26.08
Changing Colors and Altering Details
If you have a degree in what field is it? I’m three elective credits short of a BFA, with a specialization in drama in education. I started working for my father while I was at school and he needed me more and more and I never got around to going back to finish that elective course. Hopefully I’ll complete it before my daughter is old enough to ask me if I have a degree.
What career path brought you to your current position? I learned all that I know working with my late father. He really taught me the ropes. But after about five years with him, I felt the need to go out and do something on my own. Because of the hit TV series Thirty Something I became really interested in advertising; everyone on the show just looked like they were having such a great time and worked in really cool offices, so I set out to work in advertising. I had no formal training so I didn't even know what position I could work in.
I eventually settled on client services. I started in an agency at the very bottom, but moved up the corporate ladder quickly. After five-and-a-half years in advertising doing everything from business development to producing photo shoots, I left to work for a leading photography agency, representing fashion photographers. After a year-and-a-half I started Anna Goodson Management. That was fourteen years ago.
What’s the most unusual creative project you’ve ever heard of? One of my illustrators was asked to illustrate poo. Honestly.
What’s the most challenging type of project for ilustrators? I think the most challenging type of project for illustrators is one that is heavily art directed. Of course there is always some kind of direction from the start but when the illustration is dissected, colors changed and minute details altered, it can become something completely different from what the illustrator intended. (Illustrators like to feel that they were chosen for the job because of their style.)
What advice would you give an illustrator who felt no “connection” to a concept for an assignment? Take the money and run! Sometimes it happens that illustrators get jobs that they don’t connect to personally. It actually offers a great challenge and can result in great work. An illustrator’s job is to figure out a way to respond to a mandate in his/her style and convey the message the best way they can.
What is the most consistently recognizable trait of successful creative people? Drive. You need to have it and to not be afraid to take chances.
What’s your approach to balancing work and life? Before my daughter Sacha was born I was your typical Type A workaholic. That all changed as soon as she was born and so did my priorities. Family is without a doubt the most important thing to me and I have learned to balance both. Technology has made things easy for me. I never leave home without my BlackBerry so i can keep on top of things even when I am not physically in the office; the first time I got a call from The New Yorker I was at a park pushing Sacha on a swing.
What music are you listening to? Duffy and a great disco mix from the ’70s.
You're peripheral to, but certainly a part of creative industries, do you have any creative hobbies? I can’t draw and I’m a lousy photographer. So I would have to say that most of my creativity stays at the office. I spend a lot of time creating promotions and sourcing out new artists; I’m fortunate that it’s both a hobby and my job.
What’s your favorite quote? “If at first you don't succeed, try try again.” —T. H. Palmer
Do you have any advice for people just entering their professions? I have a lot, in fact, all can be read on my blog.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? I wish I’d known a lot of things, too many to mention. After fourteen years you learn a lot. But I wouldn’t change anything about my journey; it was difficult in the beginning but because of that, I think I grew much more.