FROM NETWORKS TO INDEPENDENCE: WHY MORE CREATIVES ARE MAKING THE LEAP

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

A growing number of creative professionals, driven by frustrations with bureaucracy and investor-focused priorities, are leaving traditional network agencies to establish independent studios. Former network employees describe how independence offers greater creative freedom, closer client relationships, and more meaningful work, all without the excessive layers of process. This migration reflects broader industry changes, including economic pressures, evolving client demands, and technology enabling remote collaboration, making independent studios increasingly viable alternatives to established networks.