An Opinion on “Culture Fit” at Work

In creative industries like art and graphic design, the phrase “you have to be a good fit” is heard on the daily. But as a disabled artist navigating an industry that thrives on diversity and innovation, but tends to gatekeep and be judgmental. I’ve come to realize that “culture fit” is code for conformity.

It is a demand that authenticity be sacrificed to fit predefined molds.

An interview experience recently revealed red flags that anyone guarding their energy and creative integrity should recognize.

Reading Red Flags: Insights From An Interview Experience

The warning signs were woven through the process, hinting that the company’s culture might demand more than I was willing to give.

Red Flag 1: The interviewer’s hesitation to discuss how feedback was delivered was palpable. Although the company had training on giving and receiving feedback, the team was reportedly stressed and struggled with it.

For creatives, feedback is a constant and is fuel for growth and refinement. When feedback systems are dysfunctional, it breeds unclear expectations and emotional exhaustion. It makes it impossible for me to do good work.

Red Flag 2: The direct supervisor insisted that the role’s tasks were “reasonable and fair,” yet the job description included numerous responsibilities outside my design skill set, combined with low pay and expectations of 40+ hour work weeks.

Overburdening roles with unrealistic demands cloak exploitation in industry jargon.

Red Flag 3: The hiring process was repetitive and draining. I faced the same skill questions multiple time, even after completing a paid test project. This showed me that there was significant organizational dysfunction or, worse, a deliberate attempt to test endurance.

Creative energy is precious; wasting it on redundant tasks to test boundaries signals how a company values (or doesn’t) its contributors.

These warning signs told me I wouldn’t thrive or fit. More than style or personality, this was about systems and a culture unwilling to accommodate difference or sustain energy levels.

What “Culture Fit” Really Means and What It Costs Disabled Creatives

For many companies, especially in creative fields, “culture fit” is a euphemism for expecting employees to fit into existing norms. These norms are often shaped by neurotypical, not disabled, cisgender, white majority perspectives.

For disabled artists and designers, this means contorting ourselves to fit a culture that neither respects nor supports our unique workflows and needs.

Think about it: creative work often requires deep focus, unconventional processes, and varied energy patterns. Again and again, disabled creators must mask their needs, hide sensory sensitivities, and push past exhaustion to appear “professional.”

A forced and unneeded performance of conformity which hinders workflow. It never helps it.

When companies expect unconditional conformity framed as “fit,” they risk draining the very creativity they seek to harness. Worse, it perpetuates workplace cultures that foster burnout, invisibility, and exclusion.

How to Spot If a Creative Workplace Honors Your Energy

The interview process is your earliest chance to assess if a company respects your authentic self and creative process:

Observe feedback culture. Effective, clear, compassionate feedback isn’t just helpful, it’s a necessity. Hesitation or defensiveness signals troubled communication patterns ahead. Especially when people do not know how to give actual feedback and result to emotional pleas or insults.

Evaluate role demands. Are the job tasks aligned with your skills and capacity? Are expectations for overtime or extra responsibilities realistic for someone managing their disabilities and mental health needs? Companies that exploit passion with impossible workloads aren’t sustainable employers.

Notice interview redundancy. If the process feels exhausting and disorganized, imagine what day-to-day chaos might be like. Your creative energy is a resource, not a test subject.

Seek brands and studios committed to:

• Visible commitment to inclusive hiring and retention
• Adaptive workflows honoring different processing styles
• Physical environments accommodating sensory needs
• Communication that is delivered with clarity and kindness

The next time someone mentions “culture fit,” hear it for what it often is: a gatekeeping mechanism masking unfair and exhausting workplace cultures. The real fit is where your art, identity, and energy align and are celebrated.

You matter and your energy matters. Companies show you who they are, you just have to be looking. 

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