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Can any comparison be drawn between the way design studios function and a rugby team plays?

The most obvious is team-work, of course; it is essential that everyone plays their own part well in the team for a functioning whole that moves together, and training, to build up “muscles” in order to perform when and where it matters.

Design is laborious work, which rugby also obviously is. You have to be dedicated and to really enjoy it more than a job to commit all the sweat and tears to become a designer.

Both are considered professionals, and there is a certain level of “talent” involved. Not just anyone can become a designer, there are certain artistic and logical pre-sets you need to possess in order to excel in this field.

What do you see as the main advantages and main drawbacks of working in a large or medium-sized design studio?

The advantages of larger studios are their resources such as available projects and clientele, but also suppliers and employees. It isn’t just external resources but internal resources, too; the fewer the people in a company means less brain-power to use, as practices such as knowledge-share are great for growth in the workplace.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of larger firms are the politics involved; that is an inevitable by-product of any organisation with multiple people, where structure becomes a necessity. With structure comes power, and with power, competition and internal relationships to navigate. With smaller firms, it is vital to work as a tight-knit family, because you cannot survive otherwise.
It has been an on-going discussion alongside other similar-sized firms as to whether we can, and how we can, level that playing field by creating a network of smaller firms, a league if you will. The possibility would be intriguing.