Koto on why physical space is still critical to creative culture

For Koto, culture is built in the room, which is why studio spaces still sit at the heart of how the company works. The global creative company has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin and Sydney, and has moved into larger New York and Los Angeles spaces as it continues to grow. This conversation, with Co-founder & CCO Jowey Roden, New York’s Managing Director Alex Monger and Executive Creative Director Arthur Foliard, and Los Angeles’ Managing Director Chris Letourneau and Creative Director Caroline Fox, explores why a four-day-in, one-day-out model works, how you design a studio around culture rather than headcount, and how culture holds at a growing company of more than 160 people. TBI: Why does a physical studio still matter to a creative business? JR: COVID really clarified just how important being together is for us. There are lots of ways to build businesses and cultures, but for a creative culture, physical space is critical. It’s where learning happens, where relationships are built and where you develop an understanding of how people are really doing.