Pros
They have some really good past projects and long-standing clients relationships, which they leverage for new work. The marketing team works really hard and they continue to win good projects. The firm puts a lot of money toward sustainability research and applying sustainable practices in projects. They also put money towards several nonprofit organizations every year, which employees help select.
Cons
Many of the managers are inexperienced—probably because they can’t retain staff long enough to warrant a senior position. Supervisors apparently don’t need to possess a background in their fields or have any management skills or training—as long as they have the right “attitude” and know the right people. There is a lack of accountability. Any time something goes wrong, it’s someone else’s fault (conveniently someone that is no longer an employee). The projects rely heavily on Pinterest and competitors’ work for “inspiration.” On many occasions, I was instructed to directly copy projects from other design firms. “Question the norm” is their slogan. The norm at HLW: unrealistic deadlines, poor communication, micromanagement, and high turnover rates. If you bring up any issues with management, you will likely be bullied, gaslit, or brushed off entirely. It’s not a great place to work if you have kids, pets, or loved ones that you are responsible for. Management simply doesn’t care.