Gretel
About
Studio Size
Medium (6-20)
Year founded
2005
Borough
Manhattan
Studio Bio/Philosophy
Gretel is a modern design studio founded in 2005. Our focus is to create memorable work across a variety of mediums. We are designers, photographers, directors, illustrators, typographers, writers and 3D artists. We create work for screens and print in and out of home. Most importantly we create striking images fueled by smart creative thinking.
The Team
Gretel has 12 people. Of those, 3 are studio heads and 4 are managerial.
24% of studios are medium-sized (6-20 people).
Gender Breakdown
58% male
42% female
Average height
5’4”-5’6”
Shortest: 5’2”
Tallest: 6’5”
Average age
30-35
Youngest: 25
Oldest: 44
Number of freelancers/year
26-50
1-5 are long-term freelancers
Number of interns/year
1-2
Average: 1-2
Studio Disciplines
Breakdown of Work
Number of studio projects
51–75
Pro-bono projects
1–5
Strategy/Execution
50% Strategy
50% Execution
Primary Specialties
- Brand Strategy (42)
- Branding & Identity (77)
- Broadcast Graphics (18)
- Editorial/Publication Design (51)
- Experience Design (33)
- Illustration (45)
- Motion (29)
- Print (75)
Clients’ Industries
- Advertising (22)
- Fashion (45)
- Finance & Investment (26)
- Media & Publishing (58)
- Products (32)
- Retail (43)
- Sports (22)
- Technology (37)
- The Arts/Cultural Institutions (71)
- TV (17)
Biggest Competition
Any great work we see
Sister Studio
Zut Alors!
Gretel’s Clients
- Citibank (3)
- Coach
- CoverGirl
- Google (14)
- HBO (2)
- Museum of Modern Art (6)
- NBC Universal
- New York Magazine (5)
- Vanity Fair
- Verizon
- Viacom (Nick, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, TVLand) (2)
- Yahoo!
Greg Hahn, Principal, ECD
Demographics
Age 44, Male, from New York, New York, United States, now lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. Formal education is some college/university, primary design education is self-taught.
What’s been the biggest influence on your design career?
I was 8 when the Citicorp building was built. It introduced me to modernism. Not only the building, but the street lights, signage and subway entrances were totally unique in the city. I'd never seen anything quite like it and it stuck with me.
Years in Design Industry
20 years
Average: 17 years
Previous Design Employment
Board Member on Professional Design Organizations
- AIGA — 2 years
Time spent designing
10% actual
30% desired
Nicole Stevens, Executive Producer
Demographics
Female, from Edina, MN, USA, now lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York. Formal education is undergraduate degree, primary design education is school (Hofstra University).
Previous Design Employment
- Superfad
- Charlex
Ryan Moore, Creative Director
Demographics
Age 34, Male, from Tiffin, OH, USA, now lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY. Formal education is undergraduate degree, primary design education is school (University of Cincinnati).
What’s been the biggest influence on your design career?
I remember being mesmerized by logo animations as a kid. United Artists was my favorite, this big, dramatically lit 3D monolith that rotated and aligned into a perfect 2D logo. I loved the WGBH red-laser too. Even the Netscape Navigator logo, that GIF with the comets? Good stuff. I had no idea that was a job, animating logos. I now have that job.
Years in Design Industry
12 years
Previous Design Employment
- Leroy & Clarkson
Teaching Design
- School of Visual Arts — 4 years
Time spent designing
30% actual
50% desired
Location
The Space
The studio is about 5000 square feet. It’s rented and they’ve been there for 3 years.
Approximately 385 square feet/person. The average is 210 square feet/person.
37% of studios share a space.
Number of times moved
1
Total people in space
13
Gretel: 12, Other: 1
Amenities
- 3D printer (3)
- Bike storage (26)
- Cleaning service (44)
- Coffee maker (53)
- Dishwasher (24)
- Edit room (4)
- Elevator (54)
- Free booze (28)
- Free drinks (27)
- Free snacks (27)
- Freezer (43)
- Large format printer (19)
- Library/book collection (67)
- Photo/video equipment (45)
- Pin-up board (43)
- Private bathrooms (34)
- Waiting area / reception (26)
Number of conference rooms
2
Client meetings held in studio: Less than half
Number of plants
16-20
Type of chair
Eames aluminum group
Decorations
Process materials for ongoing projects
Desk Policy
To each their own: some keep their desks tidy, while others like it messier.
Space Satisfaction
We like it, but plan to make some changes to the space
Working Days
Working week
The work week is 40-49 hours/week, core hours are 10:00-7:00, with the first in at 9:30am and the last out at 8:00pm.
50% of studios work 40-49 hours/week.
The average is 40-49 hours/week.
Paid Vacation
21-25 days
3% of studios in this range
Paid Holidays
6 days
Average: 7
Take Summer Fridays?
No
Busiest Time of day?
Afternoon
Culture
Music
Plays music for 30% of the day at an average volume.
Side Projects
top secret
42% of studios have side projects.
Biking to work
4
127 bikers across all studios
Pick your poison
Beer
Overall Noise Level
Average
59% of studios are average
Working groups
Internal studio meetings
Once a week
Lunch Habits
Eats in small groups
Favorite delivery/take-out: Num Pang, Spoon, Pizza Paradise, Manna Express