Steven Cook

Interview 1: Steven Cook
Partner and Creative director
Edenspiekermann, Berlin

Long working hours are something that are taken for granted by many in the creative industry. Do you expect this to change in the future?
Actually yes, I think generations young and old are wanting to find that perfect “work and life blend.” That is balance between someone's job and life. So I really think it will become a demand and employers will have to give in.

Edenspiekermann has a reputation for a great responsible work ethic. Why is this important at the agency?
I think this comes from the idea that creativity is our only asset. As a client, you pay for a day, you get a day’s worth of work. It doesn’t mean we don’t put in the extra effort. It just means we believe in our value of our work.

How do you balance client needs while maintaining sustainable practices?
By working very closely with our clients. When we continually reframe and do regular check ups, it builds knowledge of the client’s goal for the project. This allows us to work more effectively — resulting that we might not have to always work late into the night.

With staff working ‘regular hours’, how do you ensure a high quality of work?
Pretty much the same efforts as I said above, but applying those ideas for internal perspective. The more knowledge and experience we gain the more focus and inspired we are when we approach our work. We want to build a creative culture

What are the main challenges of sustainable working methods in a creative workplace?
Having client buy into the way that you work. The biggest challenges are not becoming too dogmatic about methods or approaches. We have to try to remain flexible for the demands our of clients but still balance our employees well being.

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