Designity Reviews
79% would recommend to a friend
(38 total reviews)
Shahrouz Varshabi
83% approve of CEO
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Found 38 of over 67 reviews
Updated Nov 3, 2023
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- 5.0Nov 3, 2023MarketingCurrent Employee, more than 1 year
Pros
A lot of quality clients and creatives to work with. Many opportunities to grow. The company has grown pretty fast but has always taken into account the employees first. The compensations are really good compared to traditional firms. The people from top management to the bottom are very friendly and humble.
Cons
No office work environment yet but we know the CEO is planning to open an office soon for those who are interested to work hybrid.
- 2.0Oct 15, 2023Anonymous EmployeeCurrent Employee
Pros
Remote work You don't have to be in-person You can stay in your own space, (what can I say, can't find much good to say though I've tried.)
Cons
The internal environment often felt like a tightrope walk, with leadership's micro-management overshadowing actual work. Endless cycles of strategizing, deliberating, and revising hindered tangible progress. The persistent lack of trust in the team was a challenge for everyone. The supposed transparency sometimes veered into oversharing, especially when discussing underperforming team members. This made colleagues uncomfortable, as it felt more invasive than instructive. Despite the overarching narrative of transparency, some areas remained unclear, especially regarding compensation and performance reviews, raising doubts about the company's commitment to openness. The compensation structure and competition for creative jobs were needlessly complex. Leadership at Designity claimed to welcome open feedback, but in reality, critique was often met with defensiveness and excuses, obstructing genuine improvement. Moreover, there was a disconnect between the company's ambition and the team's maturity. The lack of organization and a clear strategy forced us to play catch-up instead of leading from the front.
4
Designity Response2moWe truly value your feedback. It's disheartening to note that you haven't had a positive experience. While there are many colleagues in Designity who are extremely happy and have invested their lives, we understand that Designity might not be the right fit for everyone. Working in a rapidly evolving startup environment isn't suitable for all. To thrive within Designity's team, individuals need to put forth innovative solutions to challenges, a role that demands commitment, and a willingness to receive feedback. Concerning micromanagement, diminished trust in an employee's capabilities can arise if they consistently miss their own deadlines, fail to meet their own set metrics, or aren't transparent. Such situations might lead to either the termination of the employee or intervention by management to offer guidance and help improve performance. Unfortunately, some employees interpret this assistance as micromanagement. Individuals who are genuinely open to feedback wouldn't feel micromanaged. Our leadership didn't just receive their positions—they earned them. They've journeyed from roles as a taxi driver, graphic designer, salespeople, and marketing managers to now leading as the CEO, COO, and COS. They prioritize employees' perspectives in every decision they make. Designity would be incomplete without its dedicated employees. Their happiness and satisfaction are paramount to us and we do our best to make Designity a better place as a team.
- 5.0Sep 5, 2023Anonymous EmployeeCurrent Employee
Pros
One of the standout attributes of Designity is its unwavering commitment to a transparent and honest culture. In contrast to many contemporary corporations, Designity consistently emphasizes clarity and directness in its approach. This is evident not only in their avoidance of superfluous policies but also in their strong endorsement of an open-door policy and genuine feedback mechanisms. I deeply appreciate how the company ensures that the voices of its employees, including mine, are not only heard but actively integrated into its workings. The leadership's consistent practice of providing the rationale behind their decisions further accentuates this. This candidness and openness are rare commodities in today's corporate world. My respect for Designity has been bolstered by its steadfast adherence to its core values, alongside its recognition and rewards for dedicated employees. It is evident that the company doesn't just pay lip service to these principles; it lives by them.
Cons
Designity has been experiencing a rapid phase of growth, and with such an accelerated expansion, there inevitably comes a set of challenges, particularly in adapting to the frequent changes. This dynamic environment, while demanding, is not necessarily a drawback. On a personal note, I find these challenges invigorating and an opportunity for both personal and professional growth. However, to better streamline our operations and manage the demands of this growth, it might be beneficial to expedite our hiring processes, ensuring that we have the necessary human resources to effectively manage and adapt to our burgeoning needs.
Designity Response3moFirst off, we want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear about your positive experience regarding our commitment to transparency and open communication. It's feedback like yours that reminds us of the importance of maintaining a genuine and candid culture. Your insight into the challenges that come with our rapid growth is spot on. We're glad that you view these challenges as opportunities, as we do, and we appreciate the constructive feedback on our hiring processes. We'll certainly take it into account as we look to make improvements moving forward. Finally, thanks for recognizing our efforts in keeping everyone informed. Your sense of belonging and inclusion is paramount to us, and we're glad to see it reflected in your experience. Thanks again for being a part of the Designity family and for sharing your insights. Let's continue to grow and evolve together! 💪
- 5.0Nov 3, 2023Talent Acquisition SpecialistCurrent Employee, less than 1 yearNew York, NY
Pros
The leadership team is great, it has a fusion of vision, and realistic planning to achieve the vision. The environment is a open-door policy one that allows everyone to help each other out maintaining an engaged and positive community. Having worked with both start-ups and fortune 500's I can say this has a great internal structure.
Cons
While the environment is greatly designed, perfection is a process of progress so we must keep working on it to keep achieving greatness.
- 5.0Oct 26, 2023Creative DirectorCurrent Employee, less than 1 year
Pros
Very clear instructions. Easy-to-follow process that gives you the opportunity to work through the tasks at hand to be onboarded without having to ask a lot of questions.
Cons
The Designity system is robust–albeit very efficient–so naturally everything can't be learned through onboarding, some things will naturally happen through on-the-job training, which is fine, just don't be stressed out if you feel you don't know everything. You'll get there.
- 5.0Oct 20, 2023Anonymous EmployeeCurrent Employee, more than 1 year
Pros
A lot of growth opportunities and learning experiences. The leadership cares about your success.
Cons
Sometimes, we experience a lot of changes, which is normal for a growing startup that is in a scale-up mode.
- 2.0Aug 11, 2023Anonymous EmployeeFormer Employee, more than 1 year
Pros
During my tenure at Designity, I was consistently struck by the company's potential, ambition, and good intent. Transparency in leadership is something I deeply value, and during my time at Designity, there was no shortage of attempts to keep things open. Designity is really 2 separate companies. The community of creatives who do billable client work has a different experience than the internal team. For the creative community, there are some very cool client projects to work on and the opportunity to build and develop skills. Designity is less a full-time job for creatives and more a platform that can be used to pick up project work. I observed no pros for the internal team.
Cons
The environment (specifically for the internal team) often felt more like navigating a tightrope than a collaborative workspace. The leadership's penchant for micro-management often eclipsed the actual act of creation and execution. The cycle of strategizing, deliberating, and revising seemed never-ending, leaving little room for tangible progress. The lack of trust in the team's abilities became a persistent challenge - for everyone. In many areas - across both the internal and creative teams - the facade of transparency actually verged into the realm of oversharing, especially when discussing team members perceived to be underperforming. True transparency should empower and unify a team, not divulge personal details or missteps. It was uncomfortable to witness colleagues being put under the spotlight in ways that felt more invasive than instructive. Additionally, while there was an overarching narrative of transparency, some areas remained murky. Processes, particularly around compensation and performance reviews, felt convoluted. This raised questions about the authenticity of the company's commitment to openness. For the creative community, the compensation structure and somewhat tough competition to land jobs can be a bit confusing - in spite of numerous attempts to explain it. There was a lot of overcomplication to processes all around. While at Designity, leadership consistently vocalized their desire for open feedback. However, in practice, any critique was often met with defensiveness, accompanied by a litany of excuses and justifications. This defensive posture overshadowed genuine concerns and stunted the potential for growth and improvement. Furthermore, there seemed to be a gap between the ambition of the company and the maturity of the team. The lack of structured organization and a clear strategy often left us playing catch-up rather than leading from the front.
8Designity Response4moWe greatly appreciate your candid feedback! As you pointed out, being a member of the internal team, especially for a burgeoning startup aiming to significantly disrupt the creative industry, is not a role that just anyone can undertake. This position is distinct from roles like creatives or creative directors at Designity. To excel within Designity's internal team, one must propose innovative solutions to substantial challenges that have the potential for significant impact. Such a role demands intelligence, dedication, and receptiveness to feedback. In practice, if an employee consistently underperforms, trust in that individual's capability diminishes amongst higher management. This can lead to one of two outcomes. In some instances, management might choose to terminate the employee promptly to circumvent further disputes. In other cases, management might intervene, offering guidance and counsel to aid the employee in improving their performance. Regrettably, some employees, when not open to feedback, perceive this support as micromanagement. Before questioning the system or criticizing others, the first thing we should do in any situation is to ask ourselves, 'Why did I arrive at this position?' The answer might shed light on another perspective, which can lead to a positive impact and guide your relationship in the desired direction.
- 4.0Aug 15, 2023Creative DirectorCurrent Employee, less than 1 year
Pros
- Really flexible working styles - Engaging community - Ability to mentor creatives as if they are your own students - Remote-only work environment - Growth-mentality mindset for executive leaders.
Cons
- Workload can be overwhelming. - Although good changes, a lot of changes happen fast. - Not the highest of pay/compensation for the quality of talent provided. - Promotion is based on a score system as opposed to development and time.
1Designity Response3moThanks a bunch for sharing your experience at Designity! We're delighted to hear that you appreciate our flexibility, the community we've cultivated, and our growth-minded leadership. It's always encouraging to know that our values are resonating with the team. On the other hand, we genuinely value your constructive feedback on the workload, the speed of changes, and the compensation system. It's essential for us to know where we can improve. The insight about the promotion system is particularly eye-opening, and we're grateful you've brought it to our attention. Your advice about workload management is well-taken. We're always striving to find the right balance and will be looking into ways to address this concern. Once again, thanks for being a part of our journey and helping us grow. Your feedback is invaluable!
- 5.0Apr 12, 2023MarketingCurrent Employee
Pros
This is a great place to work if you're looking to grow in your career. The CEO and the leadership team is very visionary and they have big goals. The team you're dealing with on a day to day basis is also very positive and fun. Everybody works hard and very efficient. A lot of learning and growing opportunities. I personally very much like the transparency that the CEO is pushing across the company. Good or bad he wants it to be communicated which makes us very comfortable and close.
Cons
The company is growing very fast and that comes with some pain from time to time. The reality is when you're building something big like Designity, you'll be always criticized by low performers and haters. I really think the leadership is doing a great job performing under the pressure and focusing on the best players.
Designity Response8moThank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you find Designity to be a great place to work and appreciate the growth opportunities provided by our leadership team. It's wonderful to know that our team's positive attitude and dedication to hard work have made your experience enjoyable. We also value the transparency pushed by our CEO, as we believe it is crucial for maintaining a healthy work environment. Regarding the challenges you've mentioned due to our rapid growth, we appreciate your understanding that growing pains are inevitable when building something as significant as Designity. Rest assured that we will continue to strive for improvement and maintain focus on our best performers. Your advice to management is greatly appreciated, and we will definitely share your kind words with them. Your feedback not only motivates us but also helps us recognize areas of improvement and growth. Once again, thank you for your valuable insights, and we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and success together.
- 3.0May 24, 2023Anonymous EmployeeCurrent Employee
Pros
All of the five star reviews are correct. Designity is a truly unique, collaborative, enthusiastic, creative, and flexible place to work. The business model is brilliant and everyone works exceptionally hard to produce great work. Nearly every employee is energized by their work and enthusiastic about new opportunities, both on the internal team and on the creative side. Opportunities to grow are neverending and there is always someone to support you when you reach out. Feedback is consistently asked for and provided so you always have a clear picture of how well you're doing and where you can improve.
Cons
All of the one star reviews are correct. The communication, and management practices across the internal senior leadership are very poor. They lack emotional intelligence, thoughtfulness, and basic professionalism, all under the guise of valuing "hard work" and "transparency" because Designity is a "start up." It will always be a start up unless senior leadership starts acting like true leaders of a company. The tendency for micromanagement across all aspects of work is highly demotivating and controlling. The 360 degree feedback should be audited by a professional as it currently has gaps in structure and application. The systems used across the company are clunky and cobbled together and break frequently as the company doesn't invest in proper technological solutions as a cost-cutting measure.
3Designity Response4moThank you for taking the time to provide us with such a detailed review. We genuinely appreciate the feedback from our employees as it gives us a clearer understanding of our strengths and areas that need improvement. First and foremost, we're thrilled to hear your positive insights about Designity. We take pride in our business model and our team's enthusiasm and commitment to producing excellent work. Your commendation of the abundant growth opportunities and support mechanisms align with our organizational goals and it’s heartening to see them acknowledged. We do plan to always act like a startup and we think this approach is much better than being a political corporate that can not move fast enough. We definitely understand the importance of emotional intelligence and hopefully, by making Designity a hybrid model and meeting people in person in the office from time to time we can establish a better relationship.
Designity Reviews FAQs
Designity has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5, based on over 67 reviews left anonymously by employees. 79% of employees would recommend working at Designity to a friend and 77% have a positive outlook for the business. This rating has decreased by -13% over the last 12 months.
79% of Designity employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews. Employees also rated Designity 4.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.2 for culture and values and 4.4 for career opportunities.
According to reviews on Glassdoor, employees commonly mention the pros of working at Designity to be senior leadership, career development, culture and the cons to be management .
