Date: As of August 24, 2026
Author: Hiroki Noma
This article is a personal account by Garden Eight's Founder / Managing Director, Hiroki Noma, outlining his own approach to hiring at Garden Eight.
The Purpose of Hiring
At Garden Eight, we run our hiring process alongside our daily creative work. Our hiring is not about growing headcount or scaling the business. It is about refining and maturing the organization. For example, when a junior designer joins the team, it creates an opportunity for our existing designers to be energized and to grow.
There is another intention behind our hiring. We want to welcome as many people as possible into the world of digital design. That is why we do not distinguish between new graduates and mid-career candidates, or between those with experience and those without. The foundation is a belief passed down to me by those who came before: "志は高く、敷居は低く." This may be close to what we see as our reason for existing within the industry.
Our Approach to the Selection Process
What follows is my own — Hiroki's — approach to selection. Please note that this does not necessarily reflect the perspective of each individual team member.
In selection, I place greater importance on compatibility with our current members than on expressive ability, technical skill, or track record. I look at whether a candidate is a good fit for each existing team member — across ability, personality, and values. Not being able to genuinely like the people you see and talk with every day is simply not conducive to good performance. So I approach interviews not with the question of "pass or fail," but with the question of "fit or not fit." Even candidates with impressive technical skills or credentials may be declined if I sense they might not get along with someone on the team, or if I judge that their presence would not have a positive effect on the organization as it stands.
Throughout the selection process, we arrange for candidates to meet every member of Garden Eight. We see this as an opportunity for each member to determine whether they can genuinely imagine working together.
Because our hiring is about raising the quality of the organization — not expanding the business — a candidate's understanding of Garden Eight itself is also an important factor. We would love for you to take some time to read about our approach, our values, and our body of work before reaching out.
Open Positions
Garden Eight is currently hiring for the following roles:
- Designer
- Developer
- Project Manager
The Selection Process
The process broadly follows these steps:
- Application
- Company Introduction
- Interviews (3–4 rounds)
- Confirmation Meeting
- Joining the Team
From application to joining, the process typically takes around two to three months.
About the Company Introduction
Everyone who applies will receive a direct company introduction from me.* This is not simply a walkthrough of figures and policies — it is an honest conversation about how we think about running our studio and approaching our creative work. Those who feel, after hearing from me, that Garden Eight might be a good fit for them are invited to proceed to the selection process.
*Depending on the applicant's preferred language, someone other than myself may be assigned to conduct the session.
About the First Interview
For those who wish to proceed, I conduct the first interview, which follows directly from the company introduction.* As described above, what I am looking for in this conversation is whether the candidate is a good match for our team members, and whether their presence would bring a healthy balance to the overall atmosphere of the studio.
*Depending on the applicant's preferred language, someone other than myself may be assigned to conduct the session.
About Subsequent Interviews
Interviews following the first round are left to the individual team members. We place great value on giving each member the chance to speak with candidates from their own perspective and position.
About the Confirmation Meeting
As the final stage of the process, we hold a confirmation meeting to align on the practical conditions of joining — compensation, start date, and other details that need to be settled before coming on board.
Garden Eight's hiring process is inefficient. Candidates are asked to invest a significant amount of time, and I am genuinely aware of that. At the same time, I believe that going through the process properly leads to a tenure that both sides can feel good about. I look forward to speaking with anyone who is drawn to design as a craft, and who feels a connection to what Garden Eight makes.
If this sounds like something you'd like to explore, please reach out at join@garden-eight.com
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*This article has been translated into English using AI.