smartdept. inc.

smartdept. inc. smartdept. inc. is a nationwide creative, interactive, and marketing talent resource headquartered in Chicago. MORE THAN JUST RIGHT BRAINED

smartdept. tonight.

We provide companies with freelance, contract, direct hire, and contract-to-hire candidates. is a creative, interactive and marketing talent resource with offices in Seattle, Chicago and Grand Rapids, as well as a growing national presence. We provide companies with freelance, contract, direct hire and contract-to-hire candidates. Our ability to service customers of all sizes, while still taking a

boutique approach to service, allows us the best chance to cultivate the successful relationships we value. Freelance and Contract Assistance
Whether you need added support during your busy season, for special projects, to cover a maternity/medical leave, or just to fill the gap while hiring, we can help. In addition, while we consider ourselves boutique from a service standpoint, we do enjoy flexing our recruiting muscles with several of our MSP relationships. Direct Hire Search
We’re also here to save you from making expensive job posts, screening resumes and conducting endless interviews with candidates who are “just trying to find themselves.” Based on a detailed description of your criteria, we search for talent with the skills, experience level, personality, salary and benefit requirements, and career goals you want. Basically, we’ve done all the hard stuff. So when you meet our candidate, it’s like a second interview. Our search is on a contingency basis, and applies only if you hire a candidate we identify for your needs. Our placements even come with a guarantee. Contract to Hire
If you decide one of our talent is a good fit for your company, by all means, hire them. This works out great for everyone because the longer a candidate works, the bigger the discount on the conversion fee. High fives all around! WHY USING US IS SMART

Industry Experience
Our management team boasts (we’re not ones to brag, so “represents” is probably a better word) more than 60 years’ combined staffing experience. So there isn’t anything we haven’t seen. Yep, seen that too. Also, since the company was started by creative professionals, we still place a heavy emphasis on hiring creative people internally. With the possible exception of our HR Generalist, Angi. But she likes sports, so it’s cool. Great Minds
Our detailed matching process lets us really get to know everything about our talent – their short- and long-term goals, strengths and weaknesses, food allergies, amateur cat videographer hobbies, you name it. So when you present us with your criteria, we can provide the most ideal candidate, not just the most available one. We’re Accessible
Ridiculously so. Let’s say your deadline gets pushed up and you suddenly need additional help tomorrow morning. And you found out at 10 p.m. Chances are we can make that happen. We have before. A Boutique Approach
This does not mean we’re snooty and have valet parking. It’s a fancy way of saying we have time for you. No assistants, no chance of your account being passed around to somebody new who doesn’t understand your needs. No automated phone systems. Unless you count the cool speakerphone in the main conference room.

Creative gifts for your holiday shopping list
11/28/2025

Creative gifts for your holiday shopping list

This year's Colossal Gift Guide highlights some of our favorite art and design products.

Tuesday Tips from Creative Boom: How to do motion-first branding better
11/25/2025

Tuesday Tips from Creative Boom: How to do motion-first branding better

In a landmark webinar hosted by Frontify, Mitch Paone and Simon Chong explain how movement has evolved from a decorative element to a strategic necessity. In an attention-starved digital landscape...

Building a high-performing creative team isn’t just about hiring talented individuals; it’s about finding the right peop...
11/19/2025

Building a high-performing creative team isn’t just about hiring talented individuals; it’s about finding the right people at the right time, aligning skillsets with strategy, and retaining top performers. A strategic partnership with smartdept. can make all the difference. Elevate your next hire from good to game-changing.

Read more in our latest blog: https://thesmartdept.com/2025/11/why-great-hiring-managers-partner-with-creative-recruiters/

Tuesday Tips via Dice: How to Research a Potential Employer in Minutes (+ Prompt)
11/11/2025

Tuesday Tips via Dice: How to Research a Potential Employer in Minutes (+ Prompt)

A guide to researching potential employers before interviews using AI tools, forums, and LinkedIn—plus tips on how to apply insights during the hiring process.

Lunchtime read via Creative Boom: 'Have I missed the boat at 40?' Tips on dealing with ageism in creative jobs
11/07/2025

Lunchtime read via Creative Boom: 'Have I missed the boat at 40?' Tips on dealing with ageism in creative jobs

When you're young, they say you lack experience. When you're older, it feels like they're looking for someone younger. So what's the reality, and what's the best way to respond to ageism in your cr...

If you’ve never worked with a creative recruiter before, you might picture someone cold emailing about roles that aren’t...
11/04/2025

If you’ve never worked with a creative recruiter before, you might picture someone cold emailing about roles that aren’t a fit or forwarding resumes without context. However, the reality, when done correctly, is quite different. A great creative recruiter, like smartdept., is more than a middleman between job seeker and job poster; they’re a matchmaker, a translator, and often, a career partner or team-building advisor.

So what is it actually like to work with smartdept.? Find out in our latest blog:

If you’ve never worked with a creative recruiter before, you might picture someone cold emailing about roles that aren’t a fit or forwarding resumes without context. However, the reality, when done correctly, is quite different. A great creative recruiter, like smartdept., is more than a middlem...

Need some new creative inspiration? Creative Boom has some alternative platforms to help spark your imagination:
10/30/2025

Need some new creative inspiration? Creative Boom has some alternative platforms to help spark your imagination:

Got stuck in a Pinterest rut? Here are some other options. Founded in 2010, Pinterest has revolutionised the way people discover, collect and share ideas through its virtual pinboards. For million...

Lunchtime read via Medium: How to make a bigger impact with content design — even without hiring more
10/27/2025

Lunchtime read via Medium: How to make a bigger impact with content design — even without hiring more

Stop stretching your content designers thin and start making room for projects that count

Lunchtime read via Forbes: How To Turn Career Upheaval Into Breakthrough Momentum
10/17/2025

Lunchtime read via Forbes: How To Turn Career Upheaval Into Breakthrough Momentum

While external circumstances may be beyond our control, we can shape our mindset, responses, and actions to create breakthrough outcomes, even in turbulent times.

Over the past year, we’ve seen a troubling rise in job scams targeting creative professionals that are happening through...
10/14/2025

Over the past year, we’ve seen a troubling rise in job scams targeting creative professionals that are happening through text and email. These scams are becoming more sophisticated, harder to detect, and sadly, more common.

We want to break down not only how these scams operate, but also why they’re happening, and what we can all do to protect ourselves and our communities.

Read more in our latest blog: https://ow.ly/KIqT50XaMFZ

Lunchtime read via It's Nice That: Are client briefs getting worse?
10/08/2025

Lunchtime read via It's Nice That: Are client briefs getting worse?

As briefing documents become longer, more collaborative and more ambitious, it’s unclear whether they’re functioning as more blueprint or blindfold for creative teams.

Afternoon read from Creative Boom: How to market yourself without feeling gross
10/03/2025

Afternoon read from Creative Boom: How to market yourself without feeling gross

Self-promotion doesn't have to make you feel sleazy. Here's how to share your work with those who matter, without ever feeling cringe about it. Ah, self-promotion. That horrible mix of nerves, awk...

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309 West Washington Street
Chicago, IL
60606

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(312)2841350

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