Toxic - Graphic Designer KIMBO Design Employee Review

Paid my rates, including rush fee

I understand agency work can be fast-paced and demanding, but this experience felt unnecessarily chaotic due to poor project management and unclear communication. I was brought on as a contractor for an urgent project with little onboarding or clear briefing, which led to avoidable mistakes and shifting expectations. Communication was often reactive rather than structured, and timelines frequently felt unrealistic compared to the actual scope of work. There was also an expectation of late-night and weekend availability that hadn't been communicated beforehand, making work-life balance difficult to maintain. Feedback could be vague or inconsistent, especially when source materials changed or lacked alignment internally. Overall, the environment felt high-pressure without the systems needed to support people effectively. On top of that, I had to follow up repeatedly to receive payment.

The office is conveniently located near the SkyTrain, which makes commuting much easier. Fridays in particular tend to be more relax. Additionally, the agency works with various government clients, offering valuable experience and exposure to public sector projects.

The interview wasn't particularly difficult — it was relatively easy, partly because the interviewer's English proficiency wasn't very strong. During my time at the agency, I gained valuable experience working with government-related projects, as most of their clients are from the public sector — including ministries, municipalities, and even federal departments. However, the work environment was somewhat disorganized and quite toxic. There were frequent internal conflicts and tensions. I had an idea this might be the case from the start, especially after the long-time guy warned me about the toxic culture and shared several stories about fights and all the rage quits and unprofessional firing of employees. Kim, the agency owner, was not that bad at all but most of the glassdoor feedback from ex-employees about her were actually true. Communication can sometimes be an issue, as not all employees have strong English skills. The workplace is also quite unorganized, with a lack of clear structure or consistent processes. One of the more serious concerns is the frequent internal conflicts — loud arguments between team members are not uncommon, which contributes to a tense and sometimes uncomfortable atmosphere. Salary and benefits are meh.