Pros
+ Some exceptionally creative, innovative work (not always, but often enough). + Many thoughtful, interesting, smart, talented people in all three offices (Chicago, LA, Seattle). + Nice studio environments (again, all three offices) + Playful culture and fun perks, parties, treats, lunches, happy hours, games, outings, events. + Top clients/brands and a variety of types of projects and engagements. + Good faith efforts to improve communications and collaborations between the three offices.
Cons
- Seemingly in a perpetual state of meandering change with huge business shifts piling on each other (mergers, acquisitions, relocations, key leadership changes, losses of major accounts) that are only communicated to staff in a vague, sugarcoated manner if at all: "Everything is amazing, this is the most creative agency in the world, don't worry about a thing, we will get back to everyone next month with more details*..." (*never happens) - No central brand mission or values are articulated anywhere that I could find, so nothing to rally around internally: ask 25 people what DK does and you will 25 different answers. - Creative is king, and sometimes a capricious one: there is a deep-rooted, irrational fear that any business process improvement will stifle the sacred creative. So, basically it's a free-for-all scramble managing projects, teams, budgets, etc. - Strategy is often an afterthought, developed to rationalize the creative ideas they leapt to in the first brainstorm session. - Senior leadership has a Mad Men-like "boys club" mentality; women who try to move up or take charge are stifled. - Certainly not unique to DK, but worth mentioning: There are a few obnoxious prima donnas with power that need to be handled with care (and, predictably, they aren't really that talented, just the loudest voices in the room).
