Is Five Days a Week in the Studio the Future for a Graphic Design Agency?
The world of work has evolved dramatically over the last few years. Once bound by rigid schedules and office spaces, businesses and employees alike are reimagining the traditional work environment. Graphic design agencies, including Cosanostra Design, have not been immune to these changes. As a company specializing in brochure design, packaging design, and website design in Bedford, Milton Keynes, and London, we’ve witnessed firsthand the shifts in work patterns and the impact these have had on creativity, collaboration, and business success.
In this blog, we explore whether five days a week in the studio is the future for a graphic design agency. We’ll also dive into insights from Design Week’s blog, which has weighed in on this debate, and reflect on how these shifts affect both designers and the clients they serve.
The Rise of Hybrid and Remote Work
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a seismic shift in how businesses operate, with remote working becoming the norm almost overnight. For graphic designers, who often require a collaborative environment to brainstorm, critique, and execute ideas, the move to remote work was both an opportunity and a challenge. Remote work allowed greater flexibility and comfort but also created barriers to the spontaneous and serendipitous interactions that often fuel creativity.
Cosanostra Design, like many other agencies, adapted to this shift by implementing flexible working models, blending home and studio work. But as the world emerges from the pandemic, the big question remains: is five days a week in the studio necessary for the future of graphic design?
The Benefits of Studio-Based Work
There’s no denying the value of working in a shared physical space, particularly in a creative industry like graphic design. The studio provides an environment that fosters collaboration, real-time feedback, and a sense of team unity that can be difficult to replicate remotely.
Creative Collaboration: One of the most important aspects of graphic design is the ability to collaborate on ideas. In a studio setting, bouncing ideas off one another, sketching concepts on a whiteboard, and having informal discussions around the project can lead to breakthroughs that might not happen in isolation. At Cosanostra Design, whether we're working on a packaging design project in Bedford or a brochure design for a client in Milton Keynes, having everyone in the same room can speed up the creative process and bring different perspectives into the mix.
Immediate Feedback: In a studio environment, feedback is instant. Team members can quickly gather around a screen to critique and refine a design, saving time that might otherwise be spent waiting for email responses or virtual meeting availability. This immediacy is particularly valuable in an industry where time-sensitive projects are common.
Building a Strong Culture: Studios play a key role in shaping a company’s culture. The energy of a studio setting often reflects the agency’s brand and values. Creative agencies, including Cosanostra Design, have long thrived on the synergy that comes from working closely with others in a creative space. This culture is harder to maintain in a fully remote or hybrid environment, where team members may feel disconnected.
The Argument for Flexibility
While the benefits of studio-based work are clear, the case for flexibility is equally compelling. Many designers thrive in environments where they have the autonomy to structure their own workday, and the pandemic proved that creativity doesn’t have to be confined to the walls of a studio.
In an article published on Design Week, Matt Baxter, co-founder of Baxter & Bailey, discussed the future of work for creative agencies: “I think there’s a growing recognition that it’s not about a fixed number of days in the office, but the effectiveness of the work and how teams work together.” This sentiment is echoed by many in the industry, who believe that the future of design agencies may not lie in returning to a rigid five-day studio schedule, but in finding a balance between in-studio collaboration and remote work.
At Cosanostra Design, we’ve found that flexibility allows our team to strike a healthy work-life balance. The ability to work remotely has enabled some designers to work more productively, without the distractions of a bustling studio. It also gives team members the freedom to work from locations that inspire them, whether it’s from the comfort of their home office or a local coffee shop.
Diverse Work Environments Lead to Better Ideas: Creativity can flourish in different settings. Some designers work best in the structure of a studio, while others find inspiration in a more relaxed environment. By offering flexibility, agencies can cater to different working styles, allowing their teams to produce their best work, whether it’s in designing a website for a London-based client or creating a packaging design for a product in Milton Keynes.
Expanded Talent Pool: Flexibility also allows agencies to tap into a wider talent pool. With remote working options, agencies can hire designers from outside their immediate geographic area. This expands the pool of creative talent and enables agencies to hire the best people for the job, regardless of location. Cosanostra Design, for instance, has considered remote work as a way to attract talented designers from beyond Bedford and London.
Client Expectations and the Hybrid Model
While flexibility is appealing to designers, it’s important to consider client expectations. At Cosanostra Design, our clients expect high-quality, timely work, whether they’re commissioning a brochure design in Milton Keynes or a packaging design in London. For some clients, there may be a preference for face-to-face meetings and studio visits to see work in progress. For others, especially those accustomed to digital collaboration, remote communication is just as effective.
Many agencies have adopted a hybrid model, where employees split their time between working remotely and in the studio. This model offers the best of both worlds: designers can benefit from the collaborative atmosphere of the studio for key stages of a project, while also enjoying the flexibility to work remotely when needed.
In a recent Design Week blog, Gemma Butler, director of marketing at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, commented on the hybrid model: “The key is that you’re creating an environment where people want to come into the studio because they know there’s a benefit, but equally there’s no penalty for staying at home.” This balance is crucial in ensuring that designers feel supported and empowered to do their best work, regardless of where they are.
The Future of Cosanostra Design: A Balanced Approach
At Cosanostra Design, we believe that the future of graphic design agencies isn’t a strict return to five days a week in the studio. Instead, we envision a balanced approach that incorporates both studio time and flexibility. The creative process thrives on collaboration, but it also requires individual focus and the freedom to explore new ideas in different settings.
Here’s how we see the future shaping up:
1. Studio as a Creative Hub: The studio will remain a vital part of our process, serving as a space for brainstorming, collaboration, and presenting work to clients. We anticipate that designers will come into the studio for key stages of a project, such as initial concept development, team critiques, and client presentations. This ensures that we maintain the collaborative spirit that defines our agency, while also giving designers the flexibility to work remotely when it makes sense for them.
2. Flexible Work Patterns: Outside of key studio days, we’ll continue to offer flexible work options. This flexibility will not only support our designers in managing their work-life balance but also allow us to attract top talent from beyond Bedford, Milton Keynes, and London. Our team has thrived with this flexibility, and we believe it will continue to play an important role in our success moving forward.
3. Client-Centric Communication: Client needs are always at the heart of what we do. Whether a client prefers in-person meetings or is happy to collaborate virtually, we’ll continue to tailor our approach to ensure their experience is seamless. The hybrid model allows us to maintain the close client relationships that are key to our work in brochure design, packaging design, and website design.
4. Technological Investment: As remote work becomes more common, investing in the right technology is crucial. Collaboration tools, cloud-based design software, and secure file-sharing platforms have become essential to our workflow. Moving forward, we’ll continue to invest in technologies that support both in-studio and remote collaboration, ensuring that our team has everything they need to deliver exceptional work, no matter where they are.
Conclusion
The question of whether five days a week in the studio is the future of graphic design agencies is complex. While the benefits of studio-based work are undeniable, the shift towards flexibility has shown that creativity doesn’t always require a physical office. At Cosanostra Design, we believe that the future lies in a balanced approach: maintaining the collaborative benefits of the studio while offering the flexibility that allows our team to thrive.
As the design industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that agencies must adapt to the changing needs of both their designers and clients. By embracing a hybrid model, we’re confident that we can continue to deliver outstanding work for clients in Bedford, Milton Keynes, London, and beyond - whether that’s in brochure design, packaging design, or website design.
The future of work is flexible, and we’re excited to be part of the next chapter in the world of graphic design.
