CREATIVE COUPLE: THE LEICHTS
With Valentine's Day almost upon us, we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the world's most Hallmarked holiday than to feature our favorite creative couples. We were super curious how rockstar couples like Wendy and Cliff Leicht team up both in work and in life. If you're married to your creative partner, does work-life balance go out the window?
"Initially we got married because we thought it would be a good marketing gimmick. Thank god we really did end up liking each other. A lot. We don’t hide that we’re a couple but we also don’t mention it to clients. They usually figure it out when they see us holding hands in presentations."
More of their insights, below.
WENDY
Describe your partner.
He’s about 6 feet tall. He has light brown hair, freckles, and a round face. He has a decent voice, a nice smile and great hair.
What do you admire about him?
Even though Cliff is a writer he has a great art director's eye. He’s also much more eloquent and diplomatic than I am. What I probably admire about him the most is that he’s humble.
Through working together, I have discovered...
...that my partner is a painfully slow reader and a really loud chewer.
CLIFF
Describe your partner.
Smoking hot. Incredibly talented. Intelligent. Funny. Smells like a sophisticated mash-up of the beach and salted caramel. Is this weird?
What do you admire about her?
Wendy has zero ego and manages to give so much to work while simultaneously not taking it too seriously. I’m the exact opposite.
Through working together, I have discovered...
...almost everything I know about my partner. We met in ad school.
CLIFF + WENDY
Give us some background. Who are you guys?
We’ve been at this for about 15 years and we still have no idea what we’re doing. But right now we’re having fun working on Target. Gosh, there’s so much great work out there that we wish we had done, but currently we’re loving everything that comes out of Wieden. Especially the new Squarespace work with Jeff Bridges. Genius.
What came first: romance or work?
As much as Wendy tried, work came first. We’re both a bit shy, so it took working together to get us together. Our first project together was a print campaign for aerosole shoes. I had her at ‘goosedown.’
How did you start working together? What was that transition like?
Since we met in school, there really wasn’t a transition. We just sorta always worked together. After a couple of years out in the real world, we decided it made more sense to actually work together, since we would just naturally kick around ideas we were working around with our other partners. In a sense, we were cheating on them with each other. Ad sluts.
Had you dated anyone in the creative field before?
No.
Do you have work/personal boundaries? If so, how do you draw that line?
Absolutely none. No, we try not to cross any lines at work. But every once in a while, a pet name will slip. Or she’ll reach over and stroke my hair in the middle of a client meeting. Usually when things are going badly. Then things go worse. Ha ha.
Ideal Coupling: Not Coupling ratio
I don’t know what this means. We’re always a couple. Take it or leave it.
Do you find that it helps to promote that you’re married? Ever hide it?
Initially we got married because we thought it would be a good marketing gimmick. Thank god we really did end up liking each other. A lot. We don’t hide that we’re a couple but we also don’t mention it to clients. They usually figure it out when they see us holding hands in presentations.
Favorite thing about working together. Hardest thing.
Favorite thing: There’s no weird partner issues/awkwardness. Hardest thing: Agreeing what music to listen to during the work day.
As a couple: how have you seen your work evolve? As a professional, how has your relationship evolved?
We think our work has evolved with the industry, going from very traditional to fully integrated thinking, product development, etc. Our professional relationship has remained exactly the same as it was in ad school, though. Which we think is kinda cool.
Are you friends with other creative couples? Why do you think people date each other in this field?
We’re only friends with creative couples.
I think people date others in our industry, simply because they get what we go through. The hours, the politics, the process. It’s a difficult thing for people that don’t do it to wrap their heads around. And we’ve seen many, many relationships end because of it, sadly.
Advice for other creative couples?
IM is a nice way to work out a lovers quarrel.
Anything I didn't ask you that you'd like to tell us about?
Nah, these were good questions. Thanks for letting us be a part of this.
The Leichts' Work
