daily life
a human-centered project
Our daily life means applying user-centered design to our own team. Flexible hours, shared decisions on which projects we take on, informal time (including our quarterly AKDays), ongoing training for 90% of the team over the last 6 months. What we recommend for your users, we also apply among ourselves.
How we run things
Akiani was created with the ambition of building a workplace where it's good to be: stimulating projects, the opportunity to keep learning, and the possibility to take part in every facet of company life.
An intrapreneurial approach
What was natural in a small team of four has, as we've grown, become an explicit stance: maintaining a fair and transparent framework where everyone can fulfill themselves and commit fully. The way we operate relies on distributed management that encourages intrapreneurship, where every voice counts on essential matters.
Decisions are generally made collectively, even if the partners keep a tie-breaking role when really needed.
Favoring co-construction
At Akiani we favor co-construction: the best decision is the one you can explain and defend in front of the team. That balance between caring communication and meaningful engagements is what keeps our quality of working life high.
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Social dimension
Embedded in our DNA, the social side of the agency has shown up in many ways since the very beginning. At the level of how we operate and with our team, it's part of our everyday. Whether or not we put ourselves forward on the various project opportunities throughout the year is subject to the team's approval. When we do, the scoping of each technical proposal is led in close collaboration with the operational team, who adjust the effort needed for each task right up to submission.
Finally, on the financial side, transparency is the rule: nothing is hidden, from the quotes we produce to the amounts invested, all the way to the company's bottom line and how it's distributed.
Environmental dimension
We're engaged in an internal effort to reflect on and continuously improve our practices, so they're more in line with the societal challenges connected with sustainability. In particular, we were supported throughout 2024 in preparing for B-Corp certification, which we ultimately declined to apply for on ethical grounds.
These actions, embedded in the agency's daily life, translate into how we practice our craft with our clients. They cover logistical aspects (promoting low-carbon transport, reducing printing), technical aspects (going fully digital across our engagement formats since COVID-19, embedding eco-design considerations into the design of products and services), and production aspects (digital deliverables, reduced file sizes).
Overheard at the office
Anecdotes
"I tried with the kitten, but I think I prefer the dinosaur."
Our rituals
We're careful not to fall into meeting overload, but we do keep a few regular touchpoints.
The weekly check-in
We run through the agency's activity (projects, prospects…). The goal is to centralize and share information.
Sharing our industry watch
Sharing what we find interesting here and there during a dedicated time, and centralizing all those finds
The twice-monthly projects review
Everyone presents their projects. It's a chance to talk and better understand what others are working on.
Design review and research review
The team shares its outputs (UX design, UX research, UI design) to gather constructive feedback that helps unblock or improve the work.
One-to-ones
A conversation with a partner to discuss personal topics or anything that doesn't fit into the other meetings.
AK events
We also try to get everyone together for specific occasions: AK Day for time to talk as a team, the UX Days, Christmas, etc.
The circles
Akiani's activity is also steered by what we call circles. Circles are groups of team members interested in a particular topic, working together to move things forward. There are currently 5 circles that frame our thinking, with certain topics (like strategic questions) handled cross-functionally.
Design (UX and UI)
Sharing best practices, growing an internal UX kit, testing new tools
Ergonomics and UX research
Moving our thinking on UX research practices forward, testing new tools, sharing reading and articles on the topic
Organization and agency life
Keeping the agency running smoothly: from cleaning the coffee machine to questions around CSR
Communication and events
Communicating about projects and the events we attend, and evolving our visual identity
Artificial intelligence
Exploring the uses of AI in our craft, experimenting with new tools and sharing what we learn
Want to learn more about us?
Our size means our support can adapt to the realities of your project rather than to an initial schedule. Drop us a line to discuss a topic, even one that's still rough around the edges. We take the time to understand before pricing anything, and we only count the work we actually do.
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