Avoid if you can - Creative DEPT Employee Review

1.0
Feb 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I've read a lot of reviews about how great the people are, which is true...but they omit how miserable those great people are and how that misery permeates the vibe and culture.

Cons

#1 salaries are way below market-value #2 way too many processes that are cumbersome and would easily be solved with AI or simply removing altogether #3 role expectations are incongruent with the experience level of employees we can hire (mostly due to low salary) and cause a lot of friction for senior level employees and managers #4 no opportunities for growth, training or education as the day is completely jammed with deadlines and meetings in an attempt to avoid work beyond working hours (likely an effort to avoid paying overtime or justify paying people more)

Explore other reviews about DEPT

5.0
Dec 11, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of individuals that make up many teams from design, copy, motion, production artists, and even full-time strategists.

Cons

I left right before a big merge, so I can't speak to how it is after the merge. This review may be outdated.

1.0
May 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The design team is very talented and kind.

Cons

Very boring agency to work at. They only claim the agency is not doing good, "we don't have money" so no raises, 1.2% merit increases this year. This doesn't even keep up with inflation rate. At this company you will just be a number on a spreadsheet, waiting to get laid off because they would rather use a million different AI than hire any entry level positions. They fail almost every pitch because the leadership is empty-headed, comes in and changes the entire concepts and decks. And they claim they are very transparent and B-corp but they discriminate against POC all the time and lie about your prospects at their company. It's really not worth your nerves to work for them.

3
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