overall good - Architectural Designer ZGF Architects Employee Review

Great work culture, people and city and sense of belonging

Can't think of anything in terms of the internship experience

Strong design culture and reputation: The firm has a clear commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and high-quality work across project types and scales. Highly talented colleagues: The day-to-day experience of working with peers was a major strength. Many designers are thoughtful, skilled, and deeply engaged in the work. Meaningful project work: Opportunities to contribute to complex, high-quality architecture and urban design projects with strong design ambition. Supportive professional community: A generally strong sense of community and collaboration at the peer level, with opportunities to learn from experienced designers.

Inconsistent leadership communication: Direction and feedback from senior leadership could be unclear or vary significantly, which sometimes made expectations difficult to navigate. Highly variable leadership culture: Project experience was strongly dependent on individual leadership styles, which could lead to inconsistent team environments across different projects. Challenging team dynamics at the senior level: Some leadership behaviors contributed to high-stress working conditions and negatively affected team morale and continuity. Opaque advancement pathways: Career progression was not always clearly defined, and feedback did not consistently translate into transparent development or promotion criteria. Impact on retention and morale: Variability in leadership and project environments sometimes contributed to elevated turnover and reduced team stability