A HOTBED OF INNOVATION - Anonymous employee RKS Design Employee Review

5.0
Jan 7, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The work is global and the deliverables are exceptional. While no one's ideas are accepted 100% of the time in any organization, ideas and innovation relevant to goals are embraced. You work directly with the founder and see first hand how a strategy/design firm works. You’ll contribute to industry firsts, sharpen your skills, and challenge and prove your ability. It is an entrepreneurial environment where, as with life, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. RKS hires some incredible people, and the collaboration improves the skill of nearly everyone they’ve brought on board. Those that stay grow. Those that don’t leave with more than they brought - there are some remarkable RKS alumni. It is a place with a heart, and I’ve rarely worked alongside a nicer group of people.

Cons

RKS clients are highly competitive corporate innovators and funded entrepreneurs who engage RKS because they know they can depend upon results. Innovation is a target that is ever moving, so you’ll feel the pressure of creating something new and exceptional where nothing currently exists - within budget and time parameters. The pace can be demanding, but with pressure comes achievement of the team you work with, and the reward of watching your work emerge in the market.

avatar
RKS Design Response
10y
Thank you for your comments. We absolutely embrace all ideas coming from our team as we contribute to start-ups to global giants and to the many contributions we are attempting to make for society and those who can benefit from design to rise above poverty or adversity.

Explore other reviews about RKS Design

5.0
May 31, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Co-workers are very friendly and knowledgable. People are willing to help you learn and grow.

Cons

I can't think of any.

2.0
Sep 22, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Interesting projects, good range of clients Other designers were generally kind and talented Some level of independence Can choose focus area Learn a lot quickly Owner is a good salesman and can be personable (But when things go wrong, he is very difficult, near impossible to deal with. See in cons below.) I had some fun times and connected with coworkers, but overall I had a difficult time mostly from the stress given to management, which trickled down.

Cons

Business preys on young designers' willingness to work hard: Low start salaries, very few bonuses given, if any Location is far from LA central. Thousand Oaks is a conservative suburb. Long hours. Did not respect need for work/life balance Lack of mentorship, due to short timelines Owner lied pretty frequently, changed things at whim, sometimes undermining work of his own team in front of clients Owner clearly prioritizes the money he makes over employees' wellbeing Experienced designers who started at RKS, quit fairly quickly. If you do decide to work here, do not stay longer than 2 years. Any more is unhealthy.

28
avatar
RKS Design Response
7y
On behalf of myself, and my team, I'm disappointed to see this type of baseless remark. RKS's contributions of Psycho-Aesthetics (P/A) as an advanced Design Thinking Methodology is endorsed by Harvard, Wharton, the U.S. state Department and taught at various universities regularly; SCAD, CSULB,Pepperdine, UCLA, USC in addition to being shared globally through the Harvard Case study, the Harvard Classroom exercise, our business book in publication for over 8 years; Predictable Magic and our Method Book ; P/A which we use for client workshops and teaching. We proudly work pro-bono for and support multiple charities and have applied P/A to the creation of the first of its kind crowd funding social commerce start-up, LoanGifting.com to help 45 million people get out from under the burden of student debt. With hundreds of awards and being named on hundreds of patents, and clients who have been with us for decades, we strive for our individual team member's growth and success by providing mentorship, opportunity, full benefits, flex work hours, opportunity and have provided stock options in LoanGifting and RKS for team members.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All