1. Startup Culture: Informal, Fast-Paced, Risk-Taking
Startups move loose and quick. Hierarchy is flat, communication is direct, and nobody waits for permission to try something.
What it feels like:
Decisions happen fast. Sometimes too fast. But waiting around kills momentum.
"Fail fast" is real here. You try things, learn what breaks, and move on without drama.
Designers aren't just executors. They're in the room when product strategy gets shaped.
It requires a certain kind of person. You need resilience, flexibility, and comfort with chaos.
The tradeoff: freedom comes with instability. You're building the plane while flying it.
2. Corporate Culture: Structured, Process-Oriented, Risk-Averse
Big companies run differently. There's more process, more layers, more checkboxes before anything ships.
What it feels like:
Roles are defined. Meetings have agendas. Approvals go through chains.
Documentation matters. Compliance matters. Governance isn't optional.
Design teams tend to specialize and sometimes get siloed from each other and from the wider org.
Innovation doesn't happen by accident here. Leaders have to carve out space for it deliberately.
The tradeoff: stability and resources, but also friction. Good ideas can die in committee if no one fights for them.
3. Remote and Distributed Culture: Intentional Communication and Autonomy
When the team is spread out, nothing happens by osmosis. You have to be deliberate about everything.
What it feels like:
Documentation becomes the backbone. If it's not written down, it doesn't exist.
Async communication isn't a backup plan. It's the primary way things move.
Tools and rituals matter more. Everyone needs to know how and when to connect.
Leadership shifts from presence to trust. You focus on outcomes, not hours logged. Your job is to clear blockers, not hover.
Culture takes work. Virtual hangouts, learning sessions, inclusive rituals. You have to build what used to happen naturally in an office.
The tradeoff: autonomy and flexibility, but isolation is a real risk. Connection doesn't happen on its own.