Creative and marketing pay is shifting fast, and in 2026, it really pays to know where things are headed. In this episode, we’re joined by two experts from Robert Half, Lucy Marino and Amy Mangan, to break down the 2026 Salary Guide and what the latest trends mean for both creative professionals and hiring managers.

We dive into:

• Why AI and digital expertise are earning top dollar
• How hiring managers are rethinking compensation strategies to stay competitive
• What creative pros can do to boost their value in a changing market
• The growing demand for contract talent, emerging roles, and flexible perks

Whether you're building a team or building your career, this episode is packed with insight to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Amy Mangan oversees the strategic direction of Robert Half's Technology and Marketing and Creative placement services, ensuring that they deliver exceptional solutions to their clients. She's responsible for managing a team of recruiters, client solutions managers, and other professionals, and is committed to developing their talent and helping them achieve their career goals.

Lucy Marino is the Executive Director of the marketing and creative practice at global talent solutions firm Robert Half, which connects professionals with companies hiring in marketing, creative, digital, advertising, and public relations. In this role, she oversees strategy and operations for the company’s marketing and creative talent solutions teams across U.S. locations.

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz

Mike Perry is the founder and chief creative officer of Tavern, a Brooklyn-based global creative agency crafting timeless brands across food, beverage, hospitality, and beyond.

With 15+ years at the forefront of brand building, Mike’s earned a reputation as a certified creative powerhouse. His career spans leading roles at top global studios like Stranger & Stranger, Design Bridge, and JKR, and media giants like NBC Sports and TikTok. He’s the creative mind behind some of the industry’s most recognizable rebrands for clients such as Budweiser, Burger King, and Diageo.

Mike Perry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mike_l_perry/

Mike Perry LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelperry/

Tavern Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tavern.agency/

Tavern X - https://x.com/tavern_agency

Tavern LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tavernagency/

Drop us a line - cheers@tavern.agency

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz

What if the most powerful kind of creativity isn’t about making things beautiful, but making them clear?

Gordon Kaye never planned to work in design. He studied law, built a career in New York, and handled media and trademark cases before joining NBC as counsel, reviewing everything from late-night jokes to broadcast standards. But when his father’s health declined, he stepped away from law to take over the family publication, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a magazine his father had launched in the 1960s to celebrate the people behind design, not just the work itself.

What began as a rescue mission became a lifelong calling. Gordon brought his legal mind and curiosity for communication to a creative field that thrives on clarity. Over the decades, he’s evolved GDUSA into more than a design magazine, it’s a respected voice for how ideas move through business, marketing, and culture.

On this episode of Design Of, Gordon and Justin talk about what design can teach every leader: how to communicate simply, lead with empathy, and build trust through the way we share information. They discuss how his outsider’s view helped him see design not as decoration, but as direction. And how clarity, when done well, can turn creative thinking into real influence.

For business and marketing leaders, this episode is about more than design. It’s about the responsibility of communication. About how we help people see what matters. And how legacy, when guided by purpose, can evolve without losing its truth.

Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.

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Podcast art by Maliya Naz