Mari Kolkowsky (D&D Art Director) got laid off yesterday

[Jester David]

Regarding that Ex-Employees list Morrus, did you heard that Steve Winter also left on Nov 1st? He wrote on Facebook;

Today was the final day of my contract at Wizards of the Coast as web producer for the Dragon and Dungeon online magazines. When I came back from a lunchtime game, this was waiting on my desk: the OD&D wood-box gift set. I know that it's just a happy coincidence, since they were delivered to everyone in D&D R&D, but what a great parting gift. Thanks and Farewell to all the talented writers, editors, artists, producers, and Wizards staff that I worked with for a remarkably short but highly enjoyable year.

Mister Winter was in the previous round of layoffs but was brought back, sadly apparently only on a temporary basis.

 

[Jester David]

Ironically, WotC is currently looking for a Magic art director.
http://company.wizards.com/about/careers/art-director-magic-rd-job-renton-wa-us?careers-view=1


(And D&D has been looking for a marketing Art Director since the 5th
http://company.wizards.com/about/ca...geons-dragons-job-renton-wa-us?careers-view=1 )

 

[WayneLigon]

Surely WotC must realise that their public image is not the greatest at the moment, and that something like this is only likely to bring them a negative reaction, which is just what they don't need at the moment. I am left scratching my head, wondering about the details ... but the only thing I can think is 'dumb, dumb, dumb'.

I think they are equally aware that the vast number of gamers that purchase their products are (1) completely unaware of things like this and (2) couldn't care less even if they were. WOTC is going to be pretty bulletproof to pretty much any 'PR'-related incidents, because they're the sole source of the product they produce.

 

[fjw70]

I think they are equally aware that the vast number of gamers that purchase their products are (1) completely unaware of things like this and (2) couldn't care less even if they were. WOTC is going to be pretty bulletproof to pretty much any 'PR'-related incidents, because they're the sole source of the product they produce.

Agreed. Of the 2 to 3 dozens people I have played D&D with over the last few years I am only aware of one that reads D&D message boards.

I feel bad for Mari but without knowing any details behind the move I can't possible hold this against WotC.

 

[Geek Art Director]

BTW, Mari has her portfolio up on Behance. Her D&D stuff looks awesome. Check it out!
behance.net/Kolkowm

 

[MJS]

BTW, Mari has her portfolio up on Behance. Her D&D stuff looks awesome. Check it out!
behance.net/Kolkowm

it is, though I think if you are an art director, you really should say more about what you did on each project. Presenting an artist's portfolio seems almost disingenuous.

 

[darjr]

http://www.behance.net/Kolkowm

 

[Roland55]

Jon Schindehette, WotC's senior creative director, stepped down recently to go to a different firm. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that Mari worked closely with Jon, and his replacement needed someone else in that position. At the very least, it seems unlikely to me that Jon's departure is unrelated to Mari's layoff.

Logical. Certainly matches my many decades of the corporate experience.

 

[Roland55]

Sad news whenever someone gets laid off due to a corporate mindset and business plan that has built-in cyclical layoffs.

Given they are likely to release 5E on 06/06/2014, she has probably gathered 99% of the art being used to layout the books. They've got a bit of rules tweaking to do based on feedback from the final playtest pack, the layout to clean up, then it's off to the printers and in the hands of the marketing team.

Sadly, that probably means a bunch more layoffs coming in the next six weeks since much of the heavy lifting is done on the building of the new edition.

Sadly, also quite logical. By the standards of corporate logic, at least.

 

[Roland55]

Not part of law, but "non-compete" clauses in contracts are common. If you work for me, you cannot turn around and then go to work for one of my direct competitors for a time. This is meant to prevent you from taking current knowledge of my business and clients to my competitors.

In Massachusetts, non-competes are nearly unenforceable in court, but in some other places, and in some industries, I'm told they stick pretty well.

This is quite true. I've worked in several states where non-competes are VERY enforceable in court. As Umbran states, Massachusetts is very much NOT one of those states.