Why Gramco and what now?

In this column, we have explored the topic of branding in depth through internal interviews. In this issue, we will adopt a different approach and share how Gramco's young employee actually works. We asked Wako Okamoto, a designer who has been with the company for five years, about her reasons for joining the company and what she finds rewarding about her work. We hope that those who are interested in working in the creative industry and are considering Gramco as a potential workplace will be able to get a glimpse of what it is like inside the company.

What brought you to the company?

-- Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. The main purpose of this column is to provide an opportunity for prospective employees to learn about Gramco's work. So first of all, can you tell us how you came to join the company?

Okamoto: I graduated from the Tama Art Univeristy, where the career office maintains a file of companies that have hired Tama Art graduates. I looked into that, and one of the three companies I received an offer from was Gramco. It ended up being my first choice, as I felt that advertising wasn't what I was looking for, and that an agency environment would not suit my temperament when it came to design work.

-- So you were able to join the company you wanted to work for. What was your most memorable experience during the entrance exam?

Okamoto: Before the interview, I had an impression of the company being quite rigid based on the website, but during the actual interview, I was surprised at how conversational and enjoyable it was. Since I joined the company, I feel that it maintains a healthy balance between maturity and playfulness.

Expertise as a student

-- Let's take a step back and talk about your school days. What was your student life like?

Okamoto: I have loved to draw ever since I can remember, and when I learned about art school in kindergarten, I knew I wanted to go. I stayed on the same path, even writing in my elementary school yearbook that my dream was to become a designer. When I was a junior in high school, I did a lot of research on art universities and found that Tama Art University had many famous graduates in the graphic arts field. When I visited the campus, I was impressed by the quality of students' work, which made me want to go there.

As a junior and senior I happened to take a seminar on branding, and for my graduation project, I focused on the branding of Kyoto Station in my home town. At the time, though, I had no idea that I would pursue branding as a career.

Current responsibilities

-- You joined us in April 2018, so it's been a full four years. Looking back, how do you like working at Gramco?

Okamoto: I belong to the design unit. As for the work flow, the planners work on the concept and naming, and the designers start full-scale operations after those are decided. We propose a VI, and once a decision is made, we create items, guidelines, brand books, and depending on the project, packaging, storefronts, and so forth. Personally, my illustration work has also increased recently. It has also been adopted for brand books.

-- Thank you very much. What are the most common operations?

Okamoto: In general, VI proposals. At Gramco, the person who develops a logo adopted by a client is also responsible for the design of subsequent items, regardless of the year, so it is a tough but very rewarding job. Of course, with the support of senior staff, we work to ensure that the quality of the design is such that it is not embarrassing to put it out there.

-- Moving on, can you tell us about how you go about your day? Of course, I'm sure it varies from day to day.

Okamoto: Gramco was one of the first companies to switch to remote work, which continues to this day, and this environment has made it much easier for me to work. But I just couldn't get up in the morning at all. Laughs, I would get up at about 9:00 a.m., get ready in a flash, and start work at 9:30 a.m.

-- In 30 minutes! I see. Speedy! (Laughs)

Okamoto: That's one way to put it. After that, I check mails. Unlike planners, my day is rarely filled with meetings throughout the day, so I work on aspects such as developing logo designs in preparation for proposals, for example. I eat lunch at around 1:00 p.m., finish quickly, and sometimes go for a walk in the evening. Ideally, I try to end work at around 7:00 pm by spacing out breaks and making good use of them. On Mondays, I get a rough idea of my schedule for the week, and then I try to make steady progress along the way.

-- Is there anything you do on weekdays to balance your work?

Okamoto: When I used to come to work every day, going out for a drink used to be a distraction, but now I am completely free. In the remote environment, I never go outside and I am extremely inactive.

Work so far that left an impression

-- Gramco has switched to a focus on remote work, and now that this has taken root, it is a good place to work in terms of work–life balance. After working here for about four years, what jobs have left a personal impression on you?

Okamoto: I'll refrain from naming specific companies, but projects such as those for aluminum manufacturers and business branding for a payment service, where the client enjoyed the collaboration and we worked together to bring the vision to life, left a lasting impression on me. When we receive positive feedback on our proposals, it is rewarding and motivates us to create even better ones.

What is Gramco like from a young employee's perspective?

-- Moving on, having worked at Gramco for four years, can you tell us what kind of impression do you have of the atmosphere within Gramco?

Okamoto: There are many serious people. Also, I think everyone is especially sharp. People certainly prioritize their work, but when we chat, everyone maintains a relaxed side as well, making it a really easy environment to work in.

-- I'm sure you hear from your classmates and friends who work for other companies; how does your experience compare? Do you ever talk to people who work for design companies, agencies, or other companies in a similar type of business?

Okamoto: Many people who work for design or publishing companies are extremely hardworking I wonder if they should be expected to do that much work in their first year, especially when they're left alone to do it. In comparison, Gramco has a decent support system, and every time I am assigned a project, I am asked how it's going, so it is a really easy and comfortable environment to work in. 

A few words for prospective employees

-- Thank you very much. Finally, please offer some words of advice or promotion to those who will be joining Gramco in the future.

Okamoto: Well, if my design is adopted, it will be used for a long time, five or ten years, and maybe even appear on a big building. It is very rewarding to have such exciting opportunities come around several times a year. If you are interested in moving people in a much shorter span of time, such as advertising or campaigns, this is not for you, but if you want to design deeply for the long run, we are looking forward to working with you.

-- Thank you very much. So there are opportunities for everyone, even in the early years of employment, and they are rewarding. That said, we have a full support system in place, and we look forward to working with new colleagues from a variety of backgrounds in the future. Thank you very much for your time today.