Mumbrellacast Interview: Squarespace’s David Lee on why in-housing creative isn’t for everyone

Squarespace’s David Lee has turned the tech start-up’s creative team into one of the world’s most renowned in-house units since he joined from TBWA Worldwide in 2013 as chief creative officer.

Yet when speaking on the Mumbrellacast, he says that he doesn’t believe in-housing creative is the path most brands should be taking.

“The first thing I want to say to most people, and whoever’s listening out there, is I actually don’t think most brands should start an in-house agency,” says Lee. “From its founder and its ethos, [Squarespace is] a creatively driven company, and its mission is a creatively driven mission. We’re also a DIY product platform. We behave like a DIY company in everything we do. It makes sense for us to DIY our own creative and our own marketing.”