Pros
Location is a huge plus if you love Detroit and makes coming into the office easy. The social part adds a great layer of connection which is usually found in the younger crowd here. The top dogs are a little more exclusive but their social fun is definitely high end. The flexibility to work from home is also a big benefit, they’re understanding of appointments, sick time etc. There’s a lot of trust there. On top of all that, the pay is extremely competitive. They kinda love bomb you with raises when you first start and then things usually become stagnant after a few years.
Cons
There is a strong “boys club” culture here. Women are frequently siloed into technical roles and are not meaningfully included in design conversations or leadership discussions. This imbalance is immediately apparent. This applies to young designers as well. Turnover is pretty high, and recognition is not evenly distributed... Those who fit a narrow mold and dominate conversation (not because they are the sharpest) tend to be the ones who are seen, heard and given opportunity. If you’re reading this, you likely understand what I’m getting at. Unfortunately, there are noticeable shifts over time with the treatment of designers. You can go from being recognized as top performers to being quickly pushed to the margins, especially after being expressive, or questioning internal dynamics. Once you fall out of favor with leadership, who cosplay as HR, it’s hard to recover much ground. Additionally, there are leaders who like to use probationary measures when employees raise concerns about harmful behaviors. Rather than addressing the issues themselves, the response shifts to using perfunctory strong-arm tactics on the individual who is struggling. If you refuse to accept their deflection, your seat at the table will be pulled with no communication. You will be iced out, which has led to what I could only describe as constructive discharge. I saw long-time ROSSETTI designers walk out after experiencing this, and they have yet to receive any type of acknowledgement. For a firm operating in Detroit, there is a noticeable disconnect from the local community. Aside from departments like urban planning- who tend to operate more externally, the work does not consistently reflect a strong investment in or connection to the city. Sadly, it feels like another multi-million dollar Detroit firm claiming a title because they could afford to have an office above the streets they don’t walk on. (Besides for happy hours and lunch, of course) There are no consistent technical standards. Expectations shift from team to team, which leads to unclear direction and frequent rework. For those who aren’t regularly involved in the design side (which is most), it can make the process especially frustrating and limiting. I’ll save my breath on the AI misuse here. The office culture is social and energetic, but truly, that only carries things so far. Over time, deeper issues begin to surface, and the underlying dynamics become much harder to ignore. In a field that depends on collaboration and creative exchange, that kind of environment is limiting and ultimately unsustainable.