The Emperor Has No Clothes - Anonymous employee Innocean Employee Review

1.0
4 Jan 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits, barista on staff & gorgeous views. Below the upper management level, the people who work here are generally nice and easy to work with.

Cons

If you ever wondered what it was like to have a amnesiac lead your creative department, send Innocean your book. Eric Springer is the the creative equivalent of a cat chasing a laser pointer across the floor. Ideas that were valid at 10am are sitting on the discard pile by 4pm. Want an explanation? Too bad. Eric didn't know why he liked it in the first place, so there's no way for him to tell you why it is now invalid. Want clarification on what the creative vision is for any given assignment? Good luck. Pull back the curtain and there's nothing there. Eric's idea of inspiring his employees is recalling his five favorite campaigns from the eighties and nineties and telling you why they worked. I'm pretty sure that's about the time he stopped forming new memories. Want to walk into an edit bay and have the CCO who's reviewed a project every step of the way act like he's seeing the entire concept for the first time? Again, send Innocean your book. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how often this actually happens. On the plus side, my fake laugh has gotten really good over the past year. Did I mentioned that Eric is also incredibly thin-skinned and tries to fire anyone who voices any criticism (constructive or otherwise) on his creative decisions?

Explore other reviews about Innocean

5.0
14 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I’ve had a really positive experience working with the UX team at Innocean. It’s a collaborative, thoughtful team that genuinely cares about the quality of the work and about supporting each other. One of the biggest strengths of the team is the leadership. The UX Director sets a clear vision for user-centered design, process, standards, while also creating a supportive environment where UX designers can grow, experiment, and have a voice in the process. There’s a strong emphasis on collaboration within the group which makes the work feel impactful and connected. The UX team is talented, kind, hard working, and highly engaged. People are willing to help each other, share knowledge, and step in when needed. There’s also a healthy balance between strategic thinking and execution — designers aren’t just pushing pixels; they’re involved in problem framing, research, and shaping solutions. Another standout is the scale of the work. You get to work on high-visibility digital experiences, and there’s continuous improvements in design systems, processes, and research. Like any agency environment, priorities can shift quickly, but the UX team does a great job staying focused on delivering thoughtful, user-driven solutions. Overall, it’s a great place to grow as a UX designer and to work alongside smart, collaborative people who care about the craft and a manager that cares about people. Pros: Supportive UX leadership and clear vision, process, expectations Collaborative team culture Meaningful, high-impact work Opportunity to grow skills across research, strategy, and systems

Cons

Cons: Agency pace can be fast at times, but the team works hard to support each other

1.0
20 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A nice office they are leaving in a year to move to El Segundo.

Cons

Where to start? They fired the entire Project Management team my 4th week there, as well as my CD and ECD. The few projects I had were incredible low-budget and not creative. I would not trust a freelance contract. I was offered a FT role, then while I waited for my paperwork, they came back with a lower salary. I agreed because the industry is tough right now. Then they came back and offered me a contract with a promise to convert FT. Then they said no one was converting FT. I left before my contract ended.

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