Pleasant and relaxed work environment with good work/life balance
Pros
Overall, I look back on my experience at ONeil fondly, although it wasn't the right environment for me long-term. The culture is very relaxed and everyone I worked with was very nice for the most part. I appreciate the fact that I was given a chance to learn some new skills that have helped me as I have progressed in my career. Although I wasn't enthusiastic about the home building industry and the brands that ONeil worked with, I appreciated the enthusiasm for both the work and employees that the president displayed throughout the time I was employed. There was a certain sense of purpose and integrity that felt genuine and really resonated with me.
Cons
I knew from the start that ONeil would likely not be a good fit for me long-term since my feelings regarding the home-building industry are somewhat negative. I didn't like the brands, photography, or houses I was trying to highlight in my work. I thought maybe it would be different with time, but my feelings at the end were the same as when I started. Some mentorship or community may have helped change my perspective, but there really wasn't much of that. I was hoping to get into an environment where I would get more of a chance to learn from other designers and collaborate with different team members. I definitely picked up some knowledge and experience along the way for which I'm appreciative, but it was mostly things I learned on my own. By the end of my time at ONeil, I realized that I wanted to work with brands that resonated with me (or be part of helping establish them as a brand designer), and I wanted to work in an environment where I could learn and collaborate with other designers and stakeholders with clear opportunities for growth.