Human NYC on turning ten, making very ‘human’ work, and acing design and development with equal ease

Human NYC, a brand-led digital studio, has carved a unique path in the industry by seamlessly blending design and development, forming a synergy that allows them to deliver exceptional results under one roof. Having celebrated a decade as a team, we caught up with founders Michael Ray, Pam Batstone and Rachael Yaeger, who reflect on the last ten years, delving deep into their innovative approach to design and development, their achievements over the years, and their unwavering commitment to creating meaningful and ‘human’ work. Beyond their portfolio, we discuss Human NYC’s studio culture, ethos and aspirations, and what we can expect from them in years to come. PT: Hey Human NYC, congratulations on your ten-year anniversary! How are you all feeling? H: We were just saying that after a weekend spent at our ‘outpost’ the Roscoe Motel, we had post holidays glow today. For quick context, serendipitously right before the pandemic, we acquired a late 1950s, 16-room roadside motel that caters to nature enthusiasts and fly fishers in the Catskills, now we have a small studio at 80 Bowery in Chinatown as well as an upstate spot for our team and clients to spend time at. This past weekend we (founders Michael, Pam and Rachael) did a ‘hackathon’ to get a stable version of our own site live. We have been shoemakers without shoes, so to speak, for the last ten years. All new business and clients have been coming in via word of mouth. We’re feeling proud of the body of work that we have been able to accomplish over the last 10 years, and also extremely grateful for our network of collaborators and employees that we have been working with and learning from. It also feels like a big inflexion point; to have arrived at our ten-year mark with a proven track record begs a lot of questions around what we want to do next, how can we really excel, how do we get the right clients that will allow for us to do our best work, and how can we stay small but continue to grow. We had some champagne and had a light feeling of looking forward to the next ten years!