Pluspunten
Very varied work, spanning technology, consumer experience and design in a way that's unusually tightly integrated. It's mostly early-stage ("front-end") innovation for big companies and well-known brands. The range is wide: from aerospace and diagnostics to snack food. Client teams are often senior people in international companies, so you can learn a lot and get plenty of travel. You'll love it if you're a fearless generalist with a science or engineering background, or a designer who enjoys working at the front end: consumer experience, exploring and visualising design concepts. There's a friendly and relaxed culture, supportive colleagues and a management that on the whole tries to treat its staff fairly and offer a good work-life balance. The company is cautiously managed which has meant job security while competitors have cut back in difficult times.
Minpunten
There's a flip side of the variation and breadth that comes with early-stage innovation. You'll be frustrated if you're a scientist that wants rigour and completeness in your work, or a designer that wants to see your products on the shelf soon. The management's background is in science and engineering, and this has made some design staff feel undervalued and constrained by a conservative culture (in part — but not only — a cost of the stability that comes from cautious management). Career development and training have been weak in the past and though there's been improvement, track record isn't established yet.