Despite a few cons, this has been the best place I have ever worked. - Director Smart Design Employee Review

The summary: • An inclusive environment. • Big tech benefits without big tech BS. • The work is challenging and always interesting. • The culture and life-long friends you'll meet here. • A creative space filled with dogs, food, and premium drinks to help with stress The dets: TL;DR To start, I’m not kidding when I say this has been the best place I’ve ever worked in my career. I started in product design consultancies, then two of the FAANGs, and then back to agencies. Having lived on all three coasts, I still miss the place. Living in BK also helps with that score. People and HR: This place has grown interns, staff, and seniors to some of the most talented directors I’ve ever worked with. They care about their employees that is why you’ll read several reviews about the 7% salary bump when inflation peaked and a generous WFH policy. Also, regular HR reviews, feedback, and ever-improving benefits cycle – though I wish it were better. The culture draws you in, and so do the people, which is why I stayed as long as I did. It felt like my family. If you read the negative reviews – and I encourage you to do so – you will see short rants without any context. They were most likely let go or quit because they couldn’t communicate or collaborate which is a must at Smart. And I get it – they’re mad and Smart doesn’t always hire the best fits for the organization so take it as a warning. If you’re short tempered, have a chip on your shoulder, or build walls around your work, you will be held accountable. Writing a negative GD review is worse for you than them as they are still one of the top design firms in the world. Environment: The space is amazing! The location is beautiful in the Navy Yards – however a PITA to get to from where most of us live in Brooklyn. I quickly forget about that once I top off my Stumptown latte made on one of Davin’s several commercial-level espresso machines. Seating is plentiful and comfortable, and the dogs running around to say hi are a dream. But for me, wonderland starts in the amazing prototyping shop. Ron and Teru are the patron saints of Industrial Designers. They help teach you and work with you on every prototyping challenge without making you feel stupid. After a long day, a themed happy hour closes out your work with some great and insightful conversations. If you’re lucky enough to attend a post-happy hour bar crawl – do it. The work: The client list is as long as the industries they’ve worked in. But fixed cost and time constraints make it challenging to get through and you WILL work late. If you’re someone who cried at university about schoolwork interfering with your social life, this is not the place for you. I felt it was like taking classes at night. If you’re good, you’ll learn from it and better plan and adjust on future projects. Ads and Directors are always checking in but not micromanaging and everyone must contribute. This seems to overwhelm some newer hires. For example, another complaint I’ve seen is the workload and I’ve often seen a designer spiral and over-deliver on their work (e.g. way too many concepts shown). If you suck, don’t worry, someone will help, but only in the beginning. Remember, this is a house of future super stars so they expect some base talent to build upon. Communicate and ask questions, and don’t play the spoiled child by pointing to a billion-dollar company about a 4-day work week or at some lax WFH policy. More than half the work is physical product and that means physical collaboration. Growth: Growth happens at Smart. Its fostered and planned for. The areas where it lacks, if it matters to you, are past AD and Director level. The 99% that hit a brick wall are well prepared for any other professional environment whether at a FAANG or in another consultancy. I’ve even witnessed some start their own companies straight out of Smart. And BTW, that alone should tell you about the talent and learnings at an organization. Count the number of successful startups that have come out of it. For its size – its impressive. Again, ignore the negative reviews. Apply, interview, and accept regardless of what you read here. You won’t be disappointed.