“Working at Artspace offered some positives, particularly the opportunity to work on creative design projects. However, several significant challenges made the experience difficult.
One of the biggest issues was the pay, which was far below industry standards, leaving employees feeling undervalued. Promises of a formal pay scale were never fulfilled, and salary adjustments were left entirely at the discretion of the Managing Director (MD) Kate Letteriello. Employees often had to repeatedly request performance reviews or pay increases, which were ignored or indefinitely delayed. As a result, many talented designers left for competitors offering fairer compensation, leaving the team heavily junior and inexperienced.
This lack of investment in staff has impacted the quality of work. Increasingly, designs created by former employees are being recycled with minor tweaks, resulting in a “copy-and-paste” approach that stifles innovation and creativity. Even the company’s social media frequently showcases repurposed designs, highlighting a noticeable decline in originality and quality.
The work culture also had significant flaws. Personal commitments, such as family matters or medical appointments, were often disregarded, with employees pressured to prioritise work at all costs. Concerns raised with management were met with dismissive attitudes, and Kate Letteriello often referred to employees facing mental health struggles as “snowflakes” or “bad apples,” creating a toxic and unprofessional environment.
The absence of an HR department meant there was no proper channel to address issues, leaving many colleagues to struggle with anxiety or burnout. A pervasive blame culture added to the stress, making the workplace feel hostile rather than supportive.
The team structure was imbalanced, relying on part-time senior staff and inexperienced full-time juniors, which placed undue pressure on the entire team, especially with demanding, high-budget clients. Workloads were overwhelming, with last-minute design changes and limited constructive feedback often requiring late nights and causing frequent burnout.
Additionally, the company did not offer flexible working options, such as remote work, which is now standard in the industry. Site visits and travel responsibilities were unevenly distributed, further burdening certain employees.
Management also lacked impartiality, with key roles filled by friends of Kate Letteriello. This resulted in unfair decision-making and exacerbated the company’s organisational challenges.
While Artspace offers opportunities to work on interesting projects, the poor pay, mismanagement, toxic work environment, and lack of innovation make it difficult for employees to thrive. These ongoing issues have driven away much of the company’s talent, leaving it struggling to retain and support its remaining team.”
