Every now and then, we hear from someone who really gets us.
They’ve never met a single person here. Yet they get to the heart of Upstatement by looking at our work alone. Somehow they see our values shining through our portfolio. Nothing could make us happier.
While it’s easy to see the work do, it’s harder to see how we do it. For that, we turn to our values. They’re our bedrock, at the heart of everything we do. If you want to understand Upstatement, here’s a shortcut to seeing how we show up in the world: The seven core beliefs that guide us every day.
1. Good Ideas Come from Everywhere
Invite Everyone In
Diverse perspectives make the most innovative work. It’s science. And it’s more fun, too. That’s why we include everyone in the conversation: clients, vendors, juniors, seniors, designers, engineers, the whole team. After every win, you’ll hear “We did it!” instead of “I did it.”
Open Up
We might not have written the phrase “Good ideas come from everywhere,” but we embrace it. Far more important to recognize brilliance than to author it yourself. We always keep our eyes, ears, and minds open. When the right idea floats by, we’re ready to snag it with a butterfly net.
2. Hold the Highest Standard
Work with the Best
To do groundbreaking work, we can never settle. We expect the best of every individual and care about every last detail. We don’t beat around the bush. Regardless of role, we deliver thoughts directly, whether in a design critique or a personal situation. Everyone strives to be candid, kind, and open to feedback.
Make the World Better
Upstatement is an ethical company. We choose wisely when it comes to how, why, and where we apply our talents. We seek causes we believe in — like making America safe, greening the planet, and advancing truth & equality. If you don’t share our ethics, don’t worry: We won’t work together. Everyone here does the right thing, not the easy thing, regardless of consequence.
3. Find the Opportunity
Keep it Fresh
Some of our finest work springs from projects that, at first glance, don’t look very glamorous. So if you’re feeling stuck inside a box, try looking at things another way. Turn it upside down or inside out or into origami.
Reframe the Narrative
We all get to write our own story. Is the situation tragic or just a hurdle on the hero’s journey? You decide. It’s easy to see the difficulty in every opportunity. A good Upstatementer asks, “How might we find the opportunity in this difficulty?”
4. Interrogate the Premise
Use the “Why” as Your Guide
The problem you’re trying to solve is probably intertwined with many others. It’s our job to pull the thread and ask why — even if the whole sweater unravels. Dig deep until you get to the root cause. That’s the way to unearth new opportunities.
Just Make It Already
Asking “why” helps us refine our thinking and uncover systemic issues. But asking why too much makes us annoying. They killed Socrates for that. At some point we know enough — it’s time to make something.
5. Consider Every Part of the Experience
It All Matters
We share Captain Nemo’s motto: “mobilis in mobili,” which is Latin for “changing in the changes.” Our context constantly shifts shape: Technology never stops transforming, users are more sophisticated every second, clients always need something new. In stormy seas, we must stay sharp and chart the best course no matter the circumstance.
Practice Hospitality
Ever go out to eat at a nice restaurant and realize that your water glass is always full, even though you never noticed someone filling it? Upstatement is like that. We aspire to always be warm and friendly. We host a good party. We remember your birthday. To create great work from end-to-end, you have to anticipate needs and magically (sometimes invisibly) fulfill them.
6. Make Each Other Better
Show Your Work
Pssst. Here’s a secret. A little trick that makes good work great and unsticks you when you’re stuck: Just talk to someone. Shining light on our work only improves it (and everyone else’s). You’re lucky to be surrounded by the best and the brightest. Not to mention the kindest and most collaborative. They’ll help you get better. All you have to do is ask.
Share Responsibility
The success of the team ensures the success of the individual — not the other way around. So erase the imaginary fault lines between different jobs. Everyone sinks, swims, and sails together regardless of role. There are no heroes here. We share what we know and acknowledge what we don’t, always happy to be a teacher in our craft and a student in another.
7. Own It
Lead
If you’re not sure who’s in charge, it’s probably you. If you catch yourself saying “Someone should …” that someone should be you. Everyone at Upstatement is here to make it a better place. So steer the ship, captain. Soon you’ll see that others will follow and the entire organization has your back.
Reflect
Things don’t always turn out the way you planned: That’s okay. You’re not perfect: That’s all right, too. Self-awareness and reflection are the only requirements here. Before blaming outside factors, we take a look in the mirror and ask what we could have done better. There’s strength in saying, “sorry” because every failure is just an opportunity to try again.
So there you have it: Upstatement in a nutshell. A very large nutshell. Maybe even two nutshells. If this resonates and you want to learn more about working with us, well, we made a website for that. You can learn more about the studio and see if there’s a role that sounds right for you.
Special thanks to Alexis Wilkinson for her help, humor, rewrites, and re-edits.
