Challenging and fast paced but interesting and rewarding - Software Engineer Avant Arte Employee Review

It used to be genuinely fun and exciting a few years back, when creativity actually mattered. Talented and genuine people still pass through, which says more about the industry than the company itself. The brand looks creative from the outside.

There is a severe lack of creativity at the top. Leadership talks about innovation, but decisions are driven almost entirely by numbers, efficiency, and output. The crippling obsession with efficiency and metrics has completely killed creativity. Everything is reduced to OKRs, turnaround times, and volume, leaving no room for experimentation or craft. What was once energetic and ambitious has become bland, safe, and boring. The work now feels formulaic and risk-averse. When management decides they want you gone, the environment turns toxic and cutthroat. Support evaporates, communication shuts down, and people are quietly pushed out rather than managed with any integrity. Morale suffers because people are treated as replaceable units of output, not creative contributors.

Avant Arte really prioritises culture fit when hiring, which shows in the strength of working relationships across the company. Leadership is highly respected but never demands authority—offering support and advice instead. The CEO and founders are super approachable, and the company genuinely listens to and values your ideas, so even as a “small fish” you feel heard. They actively help build paths toward career goals without micromanaging, giving you space to flourish and learn from both successes and failures. Flexible working arrangements (two days in the office) strike a great balance, and the dog-friendly office makes it a wholesome, welcoming space to work from. The location is also fantastic, with endless lunch options nearby—altogether, it’s an inspiring and supportive environment to be part of.

Although Avant Arte is an established company, it still operates very much like a start-up. If you’re coming from a large, highly structured organisation and prefer routine roles, it may not be the best fit. The environment requires an adaptive, problem-solving mindset and an “all hands on deck” approach to meet deadlines and consistently deliver high-quality content and campaigns. For me, that’s exciting—no two days are the same, which is particularly unique in a CRM role.