It’s a bit cliché, but have a look at most Studios instagram feeds, and it’s pretty much the above. We know, we tick many of those cliché boxes. In reality that table tennis table doesn’t see much action, and there's a competition to do the best phallic latte art. Here’s what our average day looks like…

9.00-10.00am

We have a slightly later start time than most, because the idea off sitting in rush hour traffic is pretty stupid. Our starting time is flexible, some days we have school run etc. We’ll aim to arrive in the studio around 9.15-9.30am, grab a coffee or a smoothie, and have an informal chat about life / work, until around 10am. During this time we’ll discuss what we’re all working on that day, and if parts of the day need to be collaborative. We’ll talk about any blockers that are slowing projects down and how to shift them. We’ll check in on emails, clear the decks, and aim to be sat down working by 10am.

On a Monday we’ll look at all the projects we have on that week and create plans / brief the team. On a Friday we’ll review and see how the week has progressed.

10.00am - 12.30pm

Every day’s a school day. Probably the best thing about our studio is the variety of work we undertake. We’re creative magpies, constantly searching for the next shiny thing to pique our interests. This means the learning curves are always intense, but learning new skills is what we love. No two days are the same, so we rarely feel fatigued or bored. We have however worked in these places, so be prepared! Large laborious projects like ‘design this 300 page catalogue’ are some designer’s idea of heaven, but not ours.

12.30pm - 1.30pm

We’ll tend to have lunch at the same, whilst everyone can take their lunch hour whenever they like, it’s nice to break off together and eat around the same table. We’ll often go out for lunch together, usually on a Friday. We fitted a full kitchen in our studio, so most days we opt for more than just microwave meals or triangular-shaped sandwiches. We’re a health-conscious team, so we like to promote sustainable, nutritious meals. Sharing recipes and cooking for each other are welcomed! We’ll always take a walk out at lunch, whether to walk the office dog, or simply to reset the brain for the afternoon.

1.30pm - 5.30pm

Our working atmosphere is fairly informal. There’s always a good playlist on, and taking breaks to chase the dog around / brew up / knock a football about, is encouraged. That being said, we know when it’s time to get our heads down and focus on the work. We’re a family-focussed team, and we know the value of switching off in the evenings, so we rarely work past 5.30pm. There are LOTS of studios where this is not the case. We’ve worked in many of them, so don’t be surprised if you’re being pressured to stay later than your contracted hours.

Unfortunately, the reason you’re staying late is much more to do with you managers bad planning, than it is a reflection of your work pace.

We’ve written an article about staying late, subtly slip it under your managers nose :)

5.30pm - Onwards

As we’ve mentioned, we actively encourage each other to go home on time. But some nights we’ll choose to stay in the studio to do a little side project or experiment with some materials we’ve never tried. Our mess room is fully stocked with all manner of tools/paints/stationery, like the illegitimate love child of Hobbycraft and Screwfix.

On these evenings, there’s nothing finer than ordering a pizza, having a few beers, and fucking about for a few hours. These acts of experimentation are what our studio has become known for. Even if the outcomes never leave those four walls, it’s all great learning for future projects.

→ How long will I get to complete a project?

→ Is design a good industry to be in?

→ What does design look like in a post-covid world?

→ How much does a junior graphic designer make?