employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

A Design Partnership

Is this your company?

A Design Partnership Reviews

2.9

31% would recommend to a friend

(6 total reviews)

Reviews by job title

6 reviews
1.0
20 Sept 2017

Do not. Just do not!

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are very few pros to working here. I would say the clients you will work for and your team-mates. Some of the best people I worked with, I met through this company.

Cons

You will work long hours. You will be micromanaged severely. You will experience ever-changing rules i.e. time off, vacation time, etc. You will most likely work through lunch and barely have time to use the restroom. Good luck to you and your paycheck if you have to go to a doctor during lunch (they will ask for a 2-week notice before you go to a doctor and duck your pay for those hours, regardless of your employment status) Communications are horrible, a lot of information that pertains to quality and delivery is not given at the right time by the right people. You will be told deadline is in 2 weeks and then all of a sudden that has moved up, you were not informed and yet they will make it your fault. Upper management is hired based on favoritism, not experience. Thus there is little to no vision, leadership or actual management. For the most part, you are just expected to complete your to-do list and not be tardy (yes, an actual term used to talk to you when you are late). Your job title will change at neck-breaking speed. But even if you are "promoted" in title and assigned more work/responsibility, your paycheck will not reflect that. Salaries range wildly and disproportionately. There are quarterly reviews...nothing that you propose or opinionate on will be taken seriously or implemented. Turnover is very high on both employee and client side.

avatar
A Design Partnership Response
4y
We’re sorry you didn’t have a great experience during your time here. We continuously look for ways to enhance employee satisfaction. When it comes to working long hours, we have some room to grow and have implemented a new structure to allow for a great work life balance in an industry that doesn't typically support these values. We recently rolled out a leadership strategy for upper management and all Directors to allow for regular check-ins with all team members and are continuously tracking each teams success. We appreciate the hard work, focus and dedication of our team. We value transparency and are focused on creating a great working environment to support and encourage our employees. Because of our team’s passion for PR and securing our clients’ press in the most prestigious domestic and national media, we have grown and our client’s have flourished. We wish you all the best in your career!
3.0
2 Aug 2025

Where Careers Go to Die

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

ADP offers flexibility in its remote setup, which is ideal for those who prefer a more relaxed pace and aren't particularly concerned with career advancement or compensation that reflects their contributions. The health benefits are surprisingly decent, though PTO policies seem to have been an afterthought.

Cons

This environment might suit someone looking to idle through their career gently rather than challenge themselves professionally. Advancement, both in terms of title and salary, appears to be more theoretical than actual — a concept, rarely discussed and brushed under the rug, but not experienced. Leadership is… present. While enthusiasm is there, a deep understanding of PR or design doesn’t seem to be a core strength, which is reflected in the rinse-and-repeat strategies and templated client work. Creativity isn’t so much encouraged as it is quietly avoided. The agency’s understanding of today’s media landscape feels reminiscent of a different era — one where “just getting by” was still enough. Signing clients without a clear plan beyond "profit first" has led to a revolving door of accounts and, most recently, staff, with teams often left scrambling to retrofit strategies that were never built to work in the first place. There’s also a slight disconnect between the press opportunities pitched during prospecting and what’s actually feasible. It’s unclear whether this is due to ambition, oversight, or something else entirely — but the promises of Architectural Digest and ELLE Decor placements rarely, if ever, materialize for the client base. Employees are encouraged to push client events, though the expectation of attending those events themselves is... minimal. Unless it’s High Point. Apparently, that’s the one exception. All in all, ADP may be perfect for those hoping to gently sunset their ambition in a comfortably stagnant environment. For everyone else — proceed with caution.

1.0
24 Sept 2023

Be aware

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The remote work lifestyle offers balance in theory

Cons

I regret to say that my experience with this company has been less than satisfactory. One of the major drawbacks is the complete absence of any discernible company culture. It feels as though employees are expected to show up, perform their tasks, and go home, without any sense of belonging or shared values. Transparency is another glaring issue. There's a lack of insight into how the business is run and operated. This opacity leaves employees feeling disconnected from the company's goals and decision-making processes. Professional growth is virtually non-existent here. There are no training processes in place, and opportunities for advancement are scarce. It's disheartening to see that lower-level employees are often required to work beyond their standard 8-hour days, with no recognition or compensation for their efforts. Furthermore, the organization and consistency within the company are severely lacking. The absence of clear procedures and guidelines results in a chaotic work environment. Leadership is also a letdown. As you climb the corporate ladder, your hours may be cut back to offset a higher hourly wage, leaving you feeling undervalued and unsupported. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this company is the toxic work environment, which is not created by the workers themselves but is a direct result of the company's structure and policies. It's clear that there is no genuine opportunity for growth or improvement in this organization. In summary, this company falls short in multiple critical areas, including company culture, transparency, growth opportunities, training processes, organization, and leadership. The toxic work environment is a testament to these issues, making it a place where professional development and satisfaction seem almost impossible to achieve.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 6 Reviews

Glassdoor has 9 A Design Partnership reviews submitted anonymously by A Design Partnership employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if A Design Partnership is right for you.