Very weird mix of good and bad - Anonymous employee Olson Kundig Employee Review

2.0
Apr 18, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are certainly some brilliant designers, and many exciting projects in all corners of the world, but lots of local connections as well. Jim Olson is a treasure. Kegerator was a plus.

Cons

Pretty toxic, elitist snobbery in some corners of the office. Lots of big ego designs. Plenty of 1% clients, projects that leave you feeling dirty and like a sellout, like part of the problem, not the solution. Ridiculous hiring/firing decisions, full of passive-aggressive, back-stabbing and rampant rumor-milling.

Explore other reviews about Olson Kundig

5.0
Sep 11, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very professional, friendly, and talented group of people to work with. Everyone in the office, at all levels, is very approachable and collaborative.

Cons

Nothing, aside from occasional late nights.

2.0
Mar 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

NY office team is amazing - very friendly, knowledgeable, talented and overall pleasant environment. Office projects/clients are superb!

Cons

The Interior Design department is a complete mess. Sadly, it is very secondary within the overall office and in the contributions made to projects. It is seriously disorganized, employees are stretched very thin, and there is a lack of true design leadership, they are horrible micromanagers. The Seattle interiors team has a toxic and dysfunctional dynamic among them. The vast majority live under significant stress and in toxic competition with each other, very gossipy and overall demoralizing. Several "retreats" had to be organized to bring the team together and fix the dynamic because it was so damaged. The retreats did not fix anything. As for the design, super limited and restrained to “Olson Kundig” DNA interiors which is quite limiting and honestly boring after a while. If you want to grow as a professional, this is NOT your place. If you want to be in secretive fights within your team and constantly have to claw your way to the top, then go ahead!

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All