How are you involved with Digital Asset Management?
How does a global organization use Digital Asset Management?
What are the biggest challenges and successes you have seen with DAM?
What advice would you like to share with DAM Professionals and people aspiring to become DAM Professionals?
Transcript:
Henrik de Gyor: [0:01] This is Another DAM Podcast about Digital Asset
Management. I am Henrik de Gyor. Today I am speaking with Miles Rohan.
Miles, how are you? Miles Rohan: [0:10] I am well, Henrik. Thank you for having me. Henrik: [0:12] Miles, how are you involved with Digital Asset Management? Miles: [0:15] : I am Director of Digital Asset Management at Nickelodeon, specifically
for non-broadcast assets. I generally say things that do not move. We
do not deal with video assets. That is a whole separate can of worms. Henrik: [0:29] How does a global organization use Digital Asset Management? Miles: [0:32] The need for Digital Asset Management at Nickelodeon grew out
of a need to securely distribute digital assets to licensing partners, marketing
partners, as well as internally, to various departments around the world. It grew
out of that. Essentially they are organized by different properties or brands.
Different people can access them. Henrik: [0:58] Miles, what are the biggest challenges and successes with Digital
Asset Management? Miles: [1:02] One of the biggest challenges was user adoption. In the early days,
at least, there was a real reluctance to using it. People like having assets on the
desktop or on their server. But over the years we have overcome that. [1:14] I
think, also, security has always been a challenge. We have a lot of different use
cases for a very robust security, a very nimble security, so those are certainly
challenges.
[1:26] As far as successes, well, it was a challenge. I think user adoption was also
a success, because we went from printing physical guides and mailing them
around the world to ceasing, essentially, printing and no longer shipping guides
around the world. Everything was purely digital. I think getting people into a
mindset of sharing assets because they can be securely shared, has also been
a success. Henrik: [1:52] Great. What advice would you like to share with DAM professionals
and people aspiring to be DAM professionals? Miles: [1:57] I think it is important to realize that, I think, DAM is really around us
at all times now, whereas 10 years ago that may not have been the case. Now, I
think DAM is…if you are on iTunes or Netflix or Amazon, these are all examples
of DAM that I think aspiring people should be paying attention to, the because
in a lot of cases, they are doing DAM well. [2:23] I think those types of systems
will certainly influence non-consumer-facing, internal-only DAM. I tell everyone,
and then I am also, obviously, metadata is key in consistency and controlled
vocabularies. Never underestimate the text view. Henrik: [2:42] Thanks, Miles. Miles: [2:44] Thank you. Henrik: [2:45] For more on this and other Digital Asset Management topics, logon to AnotherDAMblog.com. Another DAM Podcast is available on Audioboom and iTunes. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email me at anotherdamblog@gmail.com. Thanks again.
How are you involved with Digital Asset Management
How does an organization focused on food use Digital Asset Management?
What are the biggest challenges and successes you have seen with DAM?
What advice would you like to share with DAM Professionals and people aspiring to become DAM Professionals?
Transcript:
Henrik de Gyor: [0:08] This is Another DAM Podcast about Digital Asset
Management. I am Henrik de Gyor. Today I am speaking with Megan Re.
Megan, how are you? Megan Re: [0:10] I am good. How are you? Henrik: [0:13] Good. Megan, how are you involved with Digital Asset
Management? Megan: [0:37] I am involved with Digital Asset Management. I oversee the photography
for Food Network and Cooking Channel brand, and my position overlaps
the creative, the production and the asset management of photography. I
came to Food Network to redevelop and build a working photo team. With that,
I had to get my hands wet in all of the areas. [1:00] Coming from a background
with a BFA in photography, I understand what’s happening with a photographer’s
thinking, what is happening with digital techs’ thinking, an editor and
creatives. With that, we come down and we are working with our photography,
with our assets, with our DAM system, with organization and getting images out
to everyone’s needs ASAP. Henrik: [1:04] How does an organization focused on food use Digital Asset
Management? Megan: [1:16] We need it drastically. Without it, we would be lost. A company
as large as ours, we have thousands and thousands of photos. We are actually
turning 20 this year. Henrik: [1:17] Congratulations. Megan: [1:43] Thank you. That means we have 20 years of photography. We
have them in slide form, transparency form, and most currently over the past
10plus years, digital form. That also encompasses not only food and recipe
photos, but we have talent. I mean, our chefs, we have so much talent happening.
We have production stills happening for every show, we have events, cookbooks,
branding it goes way beyond the food and recipes. [2:09] You are talking
about hundreds and thousands of images, and with that, many internal teams,
because we are a brand. We have a marketing team, a press team, our new
business team, an international team, which is many, many countries. We have
to make sure that everyone is self-sufficient in getting images at a quick pace,
because all of our internal teams need them drastically soon.
[2:27] They need to download photos and view the photos. We need to make
sure that there are all descriptions at your fingertips, so you know all of the
details. And make sure that my photo team is savvy. Aside from that we need a
DAM, my photo team needs to be savvy and aware of the brand’s needs.
[2:51] Aware of the workflow, the process, the metadata and establish workflows
from the start, so we can work with our DAM. With our DAM, we have a DAM
that has been with our company for a long time. Aside from that, there are other
tools and other workflows before images get into the DAM that we need. All of
these thousands of images have to somehow get in there. Henrik: [2:55] What are the biggest challenges and successes with Digital Asset
Management? Megan: [3:23] One of my favorite questions. Challenges, at least for us, and I
think it goes for many people, is introducing a new system, the need of a workflow.
If there is not a workflow, how crucial that is from the start of a shoot. Then
too, your asset management. There is always going to be a workflow for our
internal teams and our photographers. [3:42] For us, coming here, a huge challenge
was just getting our internal teams, because this was a new department
forming who has been working with photos for years, is what is our workflow
and getting them to trust us. Our photographers, some who had been shooting
for a while with us, getting them to understand, now we are going to be asking
for new needs.
[4:05] Such as, let’s add some metadata, let’s add the copyright, let’s add the
year establishing what our metadata needs were. That was a really big challenge,
because you are starting from scratch. So what do we need internally as a
company, and what we need internally for our DAM system? Every DAM system
is different, every DAM system has different needs, so that was a big challenge.
[4:32] Basically pulling in new systems to offset the frustrations that naturally
come with a DAM system. Every DAM is unique. Some are loved, some are not
loved. They all have their issues and we just find a way to work with them and
around them in finding support. We had a DAM system, as I mentioned already,
established in our companies. It was just instilling some new processes that
were going to make it easier in training.
[4:56] Also, what do we do with the old photos? The photos that are not yet in
the system that need to get in the system, or photos that can’t get in the system
because they are so old. So, what is another way that we can asset manage
these photos? We had a huge-which we are just finishing now-two bookshelves
worth of binders and CDs from 10plus years ago. Massive.
[5:18] Successes…Simplifying the workflow. I feel like I always work in numbers
of three, so I came down to three simple systems that we needed, including our
DAM. We instilled a workflow program that we use Global Edit that we love. It
helps with our selects, our instant viewing, our approvals and our markups.
[5:35] From there, we then work with our internal servers. We have two main
servers that work for us that back up everything, and then of course, our DAM.
That is the goto place at the end where everyone is self-sufficient; can go on
and download stuff immediately at different file sizes and it organizes.
[5:53] As we all know, once images are in the DAM, it is very hard to get them
out or to get them reorganized again. So, we have to go to that system. Very
well-organized and put together. Another success was the trust in my photo
staff, knowing that they are going to work hand-in-hand on all elements.
[6:07] We are a smaller team, unlike some other companies who have a very big
asset management team and then a photo production team, my staff works
hand-in-hand with everything. We understand from the start of the job to what
has to happen at the end.
[6:30] My producers are producing to the shooters all of the details that are
ready, and when it comes back in, my asset editors can take the rest and roll.
[Another] success was organization and speed. As we know, everything needs
to happen fast. Everyone wants it now. Downloads need to happen yesterday
when they are needed today. So that was a huge plus. Henrik: [6:34] What advice would you like to share with DAM professionals and
people aspiring to be DAM professionals? Megan: [6:55] Some of the advice I would say is to be prepared for challenges.
Take time to assess the project, the overall project or the company you are
going to be working with. Problem-solve and understand the end goals. If you
do not have the backbone instilled from the beginning, it is going to be challenging.
You are going to be constantly reworking your system and your problems.
[7:08] A DAM of some sort is needed for every company, even a photographer
in their archive to a small or large company. You need to figure out how
it is going to work best. Take the time at the beginning to understand what the
end goal is going to be.
[7:30] A big plus, I would say, is understanding copyright law and usage terms.
I can’t tell you how important that is, because that is really a big goal of somebody
who is going to asset manage, is understanding how something can be
used, to what term. The minute it is let go, it is going to be seen on social media
sites. These days, anywhere, anyhow, at any media, you will be seeing it.
[7:43] Someone who is detail oriented. If you are detail oriented, you are probably
the best person to be in this field working with assets, and aware of technology
change. Within a year or six months, there are changes out there for
every program.
[8:01] If you are managing a very particular DAM, keep on top of what the new
changes are going to be, the new rollouts. If you are having some issues with
that and you need help with a workflow, keeping on top of what other tools are
available to you to assist and to complement your current workflow.
[8:21] It is not a problem to bring something else in if it is going to help you, especially
when you are low on staff and you need to work quickly. That is exactly
why we pulled in some other platforms, like GlobalEdit for the speed. That
took care of a lot of time. There are many other programs and workflows out
there that will help you to get your images into a DAM. Henrik: [8:24] Excellent. Thanks, Megan. Megan: [8:26] Thank you. Henrik: [8:34] For more on this and other Digital Asset Management topics, log
on to AnotherDAMblog.com. Another DAM Podcast is available on Audioboom
and iTunes. Thanks again.
How are you involved with Digital Asset Management?
How does a cruise line company use Digital Asset Management?
What were the biggest challenges and successes with Digital Asset Management?
What advice would you like to share with DAM Professionals and people aspiring to become DAM Professionals?
Transcript:
Henrik de Gyor: [0:01] This is Another DAM Podcast about Digital Asset
Management. I’m Henrik de Gyor. Today I’m speaking with John George.
How are you? John George: [0:09] I’m really good. Thanks. Henrik: [0:11] John, how are you involved with Digital Asset Management? John: [0:13] Guess I’m right in the heart of it. I spend my days working between
business and the users and IT to keep our program running efficiently. [0:25]
Making sure that images, I work mostly with photographs that are used for
marketing, make sure those are easy to use and clearly labeled with the information
about usage. That they’re up to date and nothing that’s expired is available.
Managing the user base to make sure that they all have permissions to the right
images, the images they’re supposed to have access to. Henrik: [0:48] How does a cruise line company use Digital Asset Management? John: [0:52] Well, as I mentioned, it’s all marketing photographs, so 25,000
images of beautiful people in beautiful places. Then a few cruise ships, as well.
It’s used by the graphic design department. I actually sit in the graphic design
department, so I’m sitting with a good deal of the users. [1:06] The PR department
has access, other people in marketing. Then, some of the outside vendors
also have access to all these images, and they’re used for the website and for
any number of print materials, direct mail pieces, catalogs.
[1:22] On board ships, we have images of shore excursions that people, the staff
on the ship actually share with the passengers to try to entice them to jump on,
or jump off the ship [laughs] at the right spot and go enjoy the culture of the
country that they’re visiting there. Henrik: [1:40] So they’re shared internally with the groups that need
to see them. John: [1:43] That’s correct. Henrik: [1:44] Excellent. John: [1:45] Different groups have access to different groups of images, so
that’s one of the fun challenges of the whole thing. We separate the images,
basically, by folders. Then we have permissions to each of those folders, so the
PR department has kind of their own little folder that only they have access to.
Then the marketing department has access to a whole other slew of images that
are more about lifestyle and branding for the company. Henrik: [2:13] What are the biggest challenges and successes with Digital Asset
Management? John: [2:18] I’ll start with successes. I’ve been at the company for just over a
year now. When I came in, we were migrating to a new software system. We
were on kind of a homegrown asset management system. We’ve moved to
MediaBin last year. MediaBin’s been through about five owners. I think it was
Virage, Interwoven and then Autonomy, and now it’s an HP company. Service is
improving with HP. [2:48] They’ve been into the project of migrating for at least
a year when I came on board, though. There was a lot of challenges that we had
had with the metadata and getting that migrated, set up correctly, and getting
the images moved over.
[3:04] Understanding how to get some of the tasks, like the downloading tasks,
and the ways that this system translates the images. You can put in a PSD file,
and then you can download it as a TIFF. But you have to set up the tasks in specific
ways so that that gets done correctly, or you lose information. John: [3:26] For instance, I downloaded a PSD as a TIFF the other day and the
ship that’s in the middle of the picture is missing, which is the white spot there.
I found out that was due to the way it was uploaded. That PSD files have to be
uploaded with a certain kind of something has to be enabled. Maximum compatibility
has to be enabled, so it’s a little tiny checkbox about 3 menus deep
when you’re in Photoshop. If it isn’t enabled, then you can’t convert it to a TIFF
correctly.
[3:57] Now, I’ve got about 3,000 PSDs that I need to check and see if they have
maximum compatibility or not. That’s going to be fun. That’s going to be one of
my challenges.
[4:07] But really, going back to what the success was, it was really just getting
MediaBin running and making it user friendly, making it easy for people to
search for things, to filter things, and making search as intuitive as possible.
That’s been a lot of fun.
[4:22] The challenges, I kind of think of it as three parts of educating people.
One of them, part of that is just the technical aspects of the program, because
MediaBin’s kind of quirky, like there’s a two stage download. You hit the download
button and it actually sends it to another server. Then you have to download
it again onto your hard drive, which isn’t totally uncommon. But users don’t
pick that up right away. You have to walk them through and teach them those
kinds of things.
[4:49] Also, we use Internet Explorer 8 at our company, system wide, and that
happens to be one that has the most bugs with MediaBin. So people are always
having problems with the different bands not showing up. I have to go in and
teach them, you’ve just got to log out and log back in. Simple things, but still,
it’s one of the kind of day-to-day challenges of working with MediaBin and
being a Digital Asset Manager.
[5:15] Then, search strategies, because in this day and age, everybody really
expects every search to work as smoothly and quickly as Google does. That’s
not the case. Somebody was looking for panoramas, big wide pictures, and they
use the word “vista” to search for it.
[5:31] If you have a big search synonym library that would work OK. But one the
challenges we have there, is that we have a whole class of ship called “Vista
class.” [laughs] If somebody is looking for “vist” as “vista”, it’s going to return all
the Vista class ships, and not pretty landscape shots. That gets frustrating with
people, and you have to show them some of the ways around it and how the
keywords are going to work best for them.
[5:56] It’s a pretty small database. We have about 250, and it’s probably growing
to 300 or so now. So it’s not unwieldy to try teach people how to use the
keywords and what keywords work best in that situation. Then I guess, the third
biggest challenge, and it’s really a growing challenge, is just the legal aspects of
all the images, and how we’re allowed to use them. Because we’ve got models
in the pictures and we have photographers’ rights. Those things all affect how
and where we can use images. John: [6:33] We have some images that we can use worldwide, some images we
can only use in North America, some we can use only in print and some online.
Online now takes a new meaning, because they want to control how they’re
used in social media, not just on our website or in ads. That world keeps evolving,
and you have to keep up with some of the changes within that, and then be
able to share those changes effectively with the users so that they are using the
images correctly. Henrik: [7:04] A lot of challenges. John: [7:05] Yeah. It keeps things fun. Henrik: [7:08] Definitely. What else would you like to share with DAM professionals
and people aspiring to become DAM professionals? John: [7:14] My main advice would be to be creative, be flexible, and be aggressive.
I never expected to be working for a cruise ship company as a Digital Asset
Manager. I went to school to do this kind of work. Librarianship is in my blood.
My mom was a children’s librarian and my sister’s a children’s librarian, both in
Wallawalla, Washington. [7:34] I’m more on to the digital side, of course. I’ve
always been more to work in academia, or with special collections in a public
library, something more humanities based resources than marketing. But this
has been a great opportunity. I finished school just as I was offered this job, so
it’s been a great first step and a great amount of experience.
[7:56] But I had to take the flexibility and say, “OK. I have to work in a corporate
environment instead of the nonprofit world, because I’m going to be doing exactly
what I want to be doing.” But then on that, this is stuff I’m sure everyone’s
heard 100 times once you’re in the company, you still have to find your duty to
justify your place.
[8:17] People don’t understand how librarianship fits into managing a photo
database and why you need to understand what the value is of having a good
metadata schema so that you can find the cities on the states and the countries
that pictures are taken in. That just is all second nature. People think it
just happens. Henrik: [laughs] [8:39] John: [laughs] The users all think, “Why can’t we just do that?” because
[laughs] [8:40] there’s a lot of background information that has to happen. These
aren’t just the people typing in keywords. It’s the business side who want
those things to just happen by magic. [8:58] You should teach them not only is
your job tougher than they think, but they can benefit by using Digital Asset
Management, at least the theories, to work for their day-to-day challenges.
Whether it’s managing, where they store their documents, or if they have their
own assets, images, videos, or audio files, what have you, that they need to be
more ordered with than they are, and make them easier to find. Henrik: [9:29] Thanks, John. John: [9:31] Yeah. I appreciated the opportunity. Henrik: [9:33] For more on this and other Digital Asset Management topics, log
on to AnotherDAMblog.com. Another DAM Podcast is available on Audioboom
and iTunes. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me
at AnotherDAMblog@gmail.com. Thanks again.
Another DAM Podcast 