TOPIC:
What do we think about our workplace?
Hear some voices from our Creative division talk about their experience working at ZenGroup.
What do you all do?
Tobias: I am currently responsible for overseeing the media production of ZenStudio, which is the creative agency of ZenGroup. I coordinate the production of commercials for ZenMarket and other services we offer. I also oversee the curation of short-form content such as Instagram Reels, product photoshoots, etc. Last, but definitely not least, I am also proactively involved with the production of our own podcast, Unpacking Japan.
My job is to ensure all deliverables are completed on time and meet the client’s expectations. At the same time, I focus on creating a comfortable and enjoyable work environment for my team, enabling them to work efficiently without becoming overwhelmed by the workload.
M: As team leader of ZenStudio’s Design Team, I coordinate projects with other departments and assign tasks within the team. My team members have a range of different skills, and there are always many different types of tasks happening at once, so deciding what tasks to assign to which team member to get everything done by the deadlines can be a little like a strategy puzzle.
I also work closely with the leader of the Content Team to make decisions about the systems and workflows for ZenStudio as a whole. Although ZenStudio is a department of ZenGroup, we are our own business unit, so we basically operate like an independent design agency. One of the challenges of this role is trying to lead our team to profitability.
My role is not purely managerial; since our team is still small, I also work on some design and coding tasks too.
Demi: I’m a web designer on the Design Team at ZenStudio, the creative agency for ZenGroup. My work spans various aspects of digital and web design, including banner and social media post design, website design and development, as well as occasional package design. We support all of ZenGroup’s services, including ZenMarket, our proxy shopping service, ZenPlus, our cross-border e-commerce platform, and more.
Andri: I have worked in the Content Unit for more than 2 years now, and I was pretty much the first person on the team. I’ve seen the team grow and evolve into the 10-people-strong creative agency that we are now. I mostly do camera-related work like filming ads and various YouTube videos as well as photography. Also, I do a lot of editing.
What’s the vibe like on your team?
Demi: Super fun! Well, I’m not just saying that because my team lead may see this, but we have a relaxed atmosphere in the team, with plenty of bonding activities. For example, we have weekly recap newsletters where we try to guess movie titles based on vague summaries. It’s a fun way to learn more about each other, but when it’s time to get to work, we’re very focused. The open environment makes it easy to ask for help and feedback, which really enhances the quality of our work.
Andri: On our team, everyone has expertise in something very specific, like some people know how to edit an engaging video for TikTok very well. Other people are very knowledgeable in HTML and CSS, and some people are really good with motion graphics, so we all combined make up a very professional creative entity that can bring to life very ambitious creative projects. Everyone complements each other’s skills and synergizes into a symphony of beautiful creativity.
What do you enjoy about your job?
M: I like that this position gives me a chance to work on a wide variety of different projects, from landing page coding, to banner design, to gif and icon creation, to illustration, to social media post templates. As a team leader, it’s rewarding to see my team take on new projects, make cool deliverables for our clients, and improve their skills.
Since we’re a small team that has been growing a lot over the last year, it’s exciting to be able to play an active role in helping ZenStudio establish itself as Osaka’s number-one multilingual creative agency.
Tobias: This position is great for someone interested in learning and growing with a young and dynamic media production team. We started making short-form content for the most part, and photos here and there, and we’ve now moved towards shooting small commercials, producing an amazing podcast, making animated videos, and more. The team’s been growing both in numbers and skills.
This has come with a fair amount of challenges, from balancing the project volume to making sure we are profitable, as well as trying to implement various workflows that make project execution easier. We’ve also had to learn how to do many of the projects that were requested to us while doing them. But that’s been quite a rewarding challenge to take on.
The biggest reward for me personally is seeing how everyone is coming together to really work as a team and help each other get better at their jobs step by step; whether it’s on the technical side of shooting, editing, or others. I’m very grateful to be part of this development of ZenStudio and look forward to pushing the team’s limits further to take on even more exciting projects in the future.
What is a memorable experience you’ve had with your team?
Tobias: There’s been plenty. The first time ZenStudio became profitable comes to mind, also our Unpacking Japan podcast has given me the opportunity to sit down with many influential foreigners living in Japan. We have also had many team lunches and after-work Japanese-style drinking parties (nomikai) and our days spent filming in the studio are always interesting! Lastly, we have so many inside jokes that I cannot share here but will create lasting memories.
M: When we were deciding on ZenStudio’s official logo and branding, we had a very chaotic Figma file that everyone was adding their ideas. Figma allows multiple people to edit the same file together in real-time, so it became a fun and collaborative chance for everyone to create new design iterations, throw in jokes and memes, and work together to create something cool.
Our most memorable experiences are centered around the silly chats we’ve had and custom emojis we’ve made for Slack. Our team lunches and after-work hangouts (which we try to do once every month or two) are always a fun time too!
Do you have any messages to potential applicants?
Andri: If you are young and ambitious, creative and open to new opportunities, ZenGroup is probably the best place in Osaka if not in Japan to work at. Great atmosphere, friendly people, helpful leadership and thoughtful CEOs make up for a really good company to work for. You don’t have to speak Japanese or English perfectly, the most important thing is your skills and whether you’re willing to grow professionally.
Demi: We’re always excited to welcome new people with fresh ideas. Given the diverse nature of ZenGroup, I believe being flexible and open to different perspectives is key to maintaining a collaborative and effective work environment. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, we’d love the opportunity to work together.
