Toxic Culture in Design Studio. - Automotive Designer Rivian Employee Review

2.0
13 Feb 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great products, great brand. Places a high value and emphasis on design. Huge potential! Really great coworkers and nice studio to work in. Lots of resources and talent in one building. Pay is good too!

Cons

Leadership. They have created a toxic work culture. Abuse, lying, blaming, hypocrisy, non-constructive criticism, gaslighting, gossip, and a fear based outlook are some of the hallmarks. If you are a talented designer looking to work here be prepared to have directors talking bad about you to other designers when you make a mistake. Be prepared for them to talk badly about you to your boss and especially their boss when you make a mistake as well. They do this to connect with one another. They will wait until you make a mistake and will go out of their way to remember it and document it; while downplaying your accomplishments and magnifying your mistakes. They will belittle you and talk down to you, and if you speak up; they will use it against you long term. Their favorite way to describe designers here is “negative” and a “bad influence,” after they continually disrespect you. This is a boys club with an out dated corporate mentality brought over from OEMs that is stark in comparison to what the company stands for.

Explore other reviews about Rivian

5.0
19 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Startup, people care about the work being done.

Cons

Upward mobility is unclear, and competitive.

2.0
9 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Colleagues and most of the team are a pleasure to work with. Decent work life balance.

Cons

Pay is not very good, management requires heavy improvement, no growth opportunities, unprofessional, bad culture

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