Landor Reviews

Pros

Very friendly people, Nice atmosphere, everyone seems willing to share their knowledge when they have the time.

Cons

the pay is low (though this is not entirely in Landor's hands) and there is a definite hierarchy within management.

Advice to Senior Management

Leaders in management need to set a better example in the work place.

Pros

Creative working environment
Great work parties

Cons

Lack of communication,
Managers resting on the laurels

Advice to Senior Management

I was thrilled to work at the famous Landor Associates, until a month in when I realized the mistake I'd made in choosing the job. They need to stop with the "permalancer" idea, unless employees desire to work this way. It seems unfair to people when you hire them and don't provide benefits/paid vacation/etc, as other employees receive. Also, have manager training. I don't understand how some managers even get that title, as from some of them, I saw very little managing.

Pros

Some wonderful, talented people there. Laid back and lazy environment if you're in control of your hours. You can move up if you understand and accept the system.

Cons

It was a talentless bureacracy. Little was merit-based. Management routinely took credit for the work of those below them, and very few had any good taste. The best talent never stays there.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the dead weight, there's a lot of it. Branding and design is about people, and you need staff that understands people, not just themselves and what they want to get ahead one step. Stop rewarding "squeaky wheel" workers, and reward staff who earn the company actual money with their work ethic. If your business is design, try to give a crap about it and less about promoting with worthless titles and meager pay. You pay peanuts and you get monkeys, and you've gotten lucky more than you deserve. It's an incredibly exciting time for our industry, and you're all missing the boat big time.

Pros

Nice people. Good office locations in the US and around the world. Good benefits package for Senior Director and Executive level staff.

Cons

No formalized practice area in digital (UX, mobile, social media). The company is run by the finance heads, from the topmost levels down to each office location. This strangles the ability to grow in essential ways that may not have direct impact on revenue...but all Landor competitors are doing. The culture of its "global network" is very fragmented and under-leveraged.

Advice to Senior Management

The agency is losing relevance in terms of how its traditional branding services are evolving to reflect the complex needs of today's businesses. It is having a clear effect on the type of talent Landor can attract and retain, and level of prestige brands the firm is able to land as accounts serviced by more than one office, and as ongoing relationships.

Pros

Great reputation, terrific history, smart people. Big brands, big projects.

Cons

Too focused on numbers versus the quality of the work.

Advice to Senior Management

Get the culture back in order

Pros

Good resume booster
Good opportunity to gain a lot of experience quickly if you are self motivated
Team employees are talented and fun

Cons

Low/No recognition
"Sweat shop"
Low salary
Not enough members on team to support workload
A senior staff that seems out-of-touch with the workers as well as the industry
Every year it seems like there is an explanation as to why there are no raises or promotions

Advice to Senior Management

Recognition for work well done is definitely needed. It would be nice if this recognition could come in the form of promotions or raises. I have seen too many talented employees feel like they had to leave because they just weren't getting recognition for saving clients, getting new clients and keeping clients happy. Many of these people work long hours for little pay and don't feel like they are compensated monetarily or even emotionally. When they approach senior management about this they are given the "that's just the way it is here" and then wonder where all of their employees went. If you want to keep attracting the top talent you have to treat your employees better.

Pros

Smart & fun designers. I stay because of my coworkers. Access to big accounts- -when they're actually won.

Cons

"Blandor" is run by stodgy old management kinda like "old boys club." They ask for employee feedback but don't do anything. I think if they really were interested in making a change and bringing the company back to it's former glory (like 30 years ago), then they need a new leaders from the very top down to local office. The NY "leadership " team is a joke. Talented designers are drawn to Landor but don't last long very long when they realize we won't get a raise except for every 3 years or unless we threaten to leave. I heard they make you show an offer letter to prove you actually have a job offer from another company before offering a counter!

Advice to Senior Management

If you're going to ask for employee survey & feedback then actually take time to do something about it. How about having a managing director who actually leads instead of letting finance run the show?

Pros

Renowned work from an amazingly smart and creatively talented team.

Cons

Landor lost it's heart and soul. Difficult to admit, but there is so much truth to this statement.

Landor's management lacks thoughtful leadership. We feel the Klamath slowly sinking and it makes me ill because I used to have so much pride working here. Yes, I continue to have much love for Landor - for what it was and what it can be.

Advice to Senior Management

You say you want feedback, you receive feedback and then you sit on the feedback. It's obvious, you can't handle the truth. The truth can be ugly, you can't hide from it and you choose to ignore it which speaks volumes that you really don't care. If you care, take some action.

Don't lose sight of the golden rule and please make a noble effort at least to practice it. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Respect, dignity, and honesty. Really shouldn't be so difficult.

There are a handful of exceptions and bright spots, but they are overshadowed by the majority to make enough of an impact. To this group, stay strong and my hopes are with them to turn Landor around.

Pros

It's a really fun, creative place. People are really nice, and really cool. The work is fun because you get to solve high level creative challenges for pretty big clients. Work/life balance is really solid as well, and it's a very casual place to work.

Cons

The leadership is really bad. They seem to have absolutely no idea what they are doing, and people continue to leave left and right for that very reason. There is no vision/strategy for the business, and there is no focus in terms of what our offer is, and how we can deliver it. I would be surprised if this company still exists in 10 years. A lot of talk, but no real action or results.

Advice to Senior Management

Leadership entails having a vision, and leading people to it. Please hire leaders who can actually lead rather than be really old account managers. It is not your job to manage clients, it is your job to facilitate the success of the business at a high level. You're all really good at talking, but completely ineffective at actually getting things done. That will continue to haunt you until the business goes under, or you get pushed out. Also, learn how to fire bad people. That's kind of important.

Pros

landor is renown
great benefits
some good inspiring designers...

Cons

..if they havent quit yet
headless management

Advice to Senior Management

let go of the deadweights