Expert to know: Dawid Legierski (Q&A Interview)

Dawid Legierski is the CEO at Riotters (based in Szczecin, Poland) listed on 50Pros as a top 50 firm in Web Design, Branding, and UX.

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In this Q&A, Dawid shares his in-depth perspective, unique background, robust experiences, and insightful tips.

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How did you get into your industry?

Way back when, like when I was just 14, I got this idea to make my website all about a music band I was crazy about. Remember, this was 2004, so things were a little different tech-wise. So, I started dabbling in some HTML and CSS basics, but, you know, I wanted more. Then, I stumbled on this trick where you could actually design a website in graphic software, slice it all up, and pop it into HTML/CSS. Long story short, that's how I got started.

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How do you manage work-life balance as an agency owner or executive?

I may not be the most qualified to answer this question, as I see my work and the company's growth as both a profession and a hobby. Of course, I try to incorporate various exercises or routines to refresh my mind, but to be frank, I'm often online and find myself responding to emails at rather unusual times. Well, perhaps not as frequently as in the past, but still.

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However, without certain rituals, I'd find it challenging. I know I need to engage in many physical activities to de-stress and rid myself of negative energy. I typically do CrossFit, and I enjoy cycling. I need excitement, so I also take downhill biking, continually pushing my courage further.

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On the other hand, sometimes I need tranquility. That's why I meditate from time to time, often using an acupressure mat.

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Can you share a situation where you had to make a tough business decision and the impact it had on your agency?

Tough decisions are part of running any business. One of my biggest strengths is that I can make decisions fast. One of my most significant weaknesses is that I sometimes make decisions too fast.

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Let me give you an example from a few months ago. I got word from my team that they were having more and more challenges with one person. I was surprised because this person had been with us for years, and helped me build one department.

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I didn't ignore my team's concerns and spent a few weeks digging into the issue. Sadly, I found everything the group said accurate and was shocked that such things were happening right under my nose. After all, I'm part of the company; I work here daily and talk to many people.

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I decided to let this person go, and even now, I can see how the team that this person was part of is flourishing and rediscovering their joy in work. This person wasn't just failing to help them; they were holding them back.

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That was one of the better decisions I've made in my career.

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When you first started, how did you get clients?

Back in the day, specialized internet forums were a thing. I remember one guy posted a job announcement there. I messaged him, showed him my portfolio, and that's how I landed my first project. I wasn't even legal yet, so the money for the project went into my parents' account, and they then had to withdraw it and hand it over to me (haha)!

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What is the biggest issue that your firm, or firms like yours, face?

Let's be honest; the market is packed with companies offering services similar to ours, so the competition for clients is huge. One of the reasons we win, and some clients stick with us for years, is that we throw ourselves into projects like regular client employees. For many of our clients, we're part of their teams, which helps us build long-term and stable partnerships. I'm curious about how AI will impact companies like ours, but it's still too early to say anything concrete. We utilize a lot of AI-related techs, and it's significantly streamlined our work, but so far, it's not replacing us.

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How do you stay updated on the latest technologies and tools relevant to your industry?

I read various articles, watch a lot of YouTube, and chat with different people in the industry and folks in my company. Nothing groundbreaking there. If something piques my interest, I try to talk to various people about it until I get the basic knowledge, and then I go looking for more.

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What changes have you seen occur since you got into this business?

From 2004 to 2023, everything... everything has changed. Let me give you one example. In 2006, when I was working on my first commercial project, it was designed for a 1024x768 resolution, and that was something new, as the previous (still popular) 800x600 resolution was slowly being phased out. Today, even lower-end phones have higher resolutions!

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If a company was looking to hire your firm, or a firm like yours, what questions should they ask themselves as a team before approaching you?

Will these people treat my project as their own?

Will they be able to put their ego aside if there's a difference of opinion?

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When a company is interested in hiring your firm, how should they approach you and how should they do business with you?

I'm a fan of direct conversation, discussing what we want to do, our goals, and how both sides envision the collaboration. Both parties need to get what they need. The client usually needs some service or product we deliver at a reasonable price and quality. We want to showcase our skills, attract more clients through the project, and not operate at a loss.

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Okay, I'm starting to ramble unnecessarily. If you're interested, email us at contact@riotters.com, or get in touch through the contact form on our website.

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If someone were thinking about starting their own agency in your industry, what advice would you give them?

Don't do it, become an influencer instead.