How to Do Great Work Without Being an Asshole

It's long been an accepted, almost celebrated, fact of the creative industries that long hours, chaotic workflows, and egotistical colleagues are just the price you pay to produce great work. In fact, this toxic culture is the enemy of creativity, and with greater accountability and transparency in the industry—and more choice for young talent—than ever before, this unsustainable way of doing business is a ticking time bomb.

This is a straight-talking, fun read for all creatives: Director or junior, at an agency or client-side, working in design, advertising, publishing, fashion, or film.

Packed with anecdotes, self-analysis flowcharts (are you the asshole?!), exercises and action plans for better working practices.

Simple strategies can easily be implemented to create a happier, more productive team and—importantly—better work!.

About the Author

Paul Woods is an award-winning designer, writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles. He leads Edenspiekermann’s creative and technology teams as CCO, building products, brands, and service design work for clients in industries as diverse as editorial, sustainability, and transportation.

During his 15 years as a designer, Paul has been at the helm of projects for companies like Red Bull, Google, The City of Santa Monica, Morgan Stanley, and Time Inc., among many others. An advocate for the importance of user-centric design, Paul places a hyper-focus on the user in his work. A thought leader in the design and technology spaces, his bylines regularly appear in publications such as Fast Company, AdWeek, The Drum and Communication Arts.

In his spare time, Paul is an illustrator and co-founder of the satirical industry website Adloids. He lives in Pasadena with his wife Nora and a very stubborn basset hound.