Ambitious growth with a supportive, energetic culture - Anonymous employee Swan Studio Employee Review

There are some really nice people working here.

This is the most challenging workplace I have experienced, and unfortunately, not in a positive way. - Unsustainable workload: The volume of work is crazy. Many employees regularly work 50–60 hour weeks and still struggle to keep up. - Lack of processes and structure: There are no clear systems in place. Workflows are disorganised, timelines are unclear and completely unrealistic. - Poor client management: There is little boundary-setting with clients. Staff are frequently treated poorly, with minimal support or escalation from leadership. - Wellbeing concerns: The environment can be highly stressful, with employees often feeling overwhelmed. - No HR or clear direction: There is no formal HR support, limited strategic planning, and little visible effort to address ongoing issues. - Overloaded client roster: The focus appears to be on onboarding new clients rather than sustainably servicing existing ones, leading to dissatisfied clients and increased pressure on staff. - Reactive hiring and high turnover: Hiring decisions can feel rushed, and turnover is high.

Pros: - Tremendous opportunity for growth and learning - Incredibly smart, motivated and passionate team - Great office culture with fun vibes - Flexible work schedule - Founders deeply committed to excellence I had the opportunity to work with Swan Studio for a few months as a contractor, and I was genuinely impressed by the drive and ambition of the company. They are relentless in their pursuit of being the best in the industry and continuously invest in developing their skills as young leaders shaping an incredibly talented team. The culture is filled with people who are excited to create work that isn’t just creative, but truly impactful for clients. The team is eager to grow and deliver which fuels a high-performance environment and is reflected in the quality of their output.

Cons: - Fast-paced, small environment that comes with natural growing pains - Quick business pivots can feel intense, but this is typical of startups and small agencies Like any early-stage company, there are occasional hiccups, but it’s clear the founders genuinely want to build the best environment possible and are open to feedback on improving processes and ways of working. This pace might not be for everyone, so make sure you know what is expected of you in any role here.