Chronic turnover driven by poor leadership, unhealthy culture, and lack of operational integrity - Anonymous employee Lone Design Club Employee Review

This is an extremely difficult environment to work in largely due to poor leadership behaviour and the absence of any professional structure Senior leadership regularly engages in gossip about staff members, often speaking negatively about individuals to other employees. There is an unspoken pressure to align with these narratives which creates discomfort and a culture of mistrust. This does not create a psychologically safe environment for employees When employees raise concerns (even with the intention of improving systems, delivery, or commercial performance) they are frequently met with defensiveness. Those who challenge decisions or bring specialist expertise are often labelled as negative or difficult rather than listened to. Experienced hires are brought in for their skillset but not meaningfully empowered to use it There is also a pattern of narrative management. Issues are reframed, accountability is blurred, and feedback is personalised rather than addressed structurally. This can leave employees questioning themselves while the root causes remain unresolved Operationally the priority appears to be filling spaces and securing booking revenue- often at the expense of delivery standards and long term brand relationships. Brand complaints are not uncommon yet are frequently framed internally as brands being 'unreasonable' rather than viewed as recurring operational signals. The focus tends to be on containing reputational impact rather than improving systems Leadership lacks the depth of experience required for the scale of ambition being pursued. This results in reactive decision making constant firefighting and unclear direction. The pressure created at the top flows downwards without consistent accountability at leadership level Although culture is often referenced it is not underpinned by professional standards or psychological safety. Socialising and drinking are treated as culture building but trust, transparency, and leadership maturity are lacking Overall the environment is unstable, emotionally draining and unsustainable for professionals seeking a structured and well led organisation