Take Your Time, Do It Right: Adriano Esteves on Craft, Clients, and Creative Control

What does it take to build a design studio that’s small by choice, but world-class by reputation?

In this episode of the Better Mistakes podcast, Diogo sat down with Adriano Esteves, founder and creative director of Bürocratik, a studio known for its pixel-perfect websites, award-winning design, and zero tolerance for bad typography.

Adriano doesn’t just design brands and websites, he builds long-term creative systems by taking full ownership of the process, from brand strategy to typography to the final 3D-rendered button click. And he’s done it without project managers, bloated teams, or chasing every lead that comes through the door.

Here are 5 key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Ownership isn’t optional, it’s the starting point

If Bürocratik takes on a project, it’s because they have creative control. Period. Adriano made it clear: great design doesn’t happen when you’re negotiating every decision with 10 people. It happens when the team doing the work also has the authority to make the right calls.

The lesson? Before you worry about deliverables, make sure you’re aligned on decision-making power. If you don’t own the outcome, you’re just executing.

2. Stop pleasing, start leading

Adriano’s turning point came after a nightmare project where the client changed scope three times, for the same budget. That’s when he decided: never again. From then on, Bürocratik would guide the client, not the other way around.

This kind of shift is crucial for any agency or freelancer who wants to do their best work. Leading means setting boundaries. And sometimes, saying no is what unlocks the best yes.

3. No project managers, no fluff, no BS

With a team of 10, Bürocratik runs lean. No PMs. No account managers. Just designers, developers, and full transparency with clients. Everyone uses the same project board. Everyone sees the same messages.

It’s a bold model that challenges traditional agency ops, and it works because of extreme clarity, trust, and shared ownership. Less middle management, more making.

4. AI is changing the game, but not the craft

Yes, Bürocratik uses AI. They use it for content generation, voiceovers, storytelling concepts, and even full visual explorations. But none of it replaces the creative vision. Adriano calls it “art direction on drugs”, a powerful tool, but still a tool.

The takeaway? Use AI to enhance, not replace. Craft still matters. The best work comes from blending human taste with machine speed.

5. Awards aren’t the goal, they’re a filter

Bürocratik doesn’t design for awards. But they know that good work gets noticed and that awards attract the kind of clients they want to work with.

Adriano sees awards as the final step in the process, not the reason to start. “We don’t chase them,” he says, “but they bring the right people to us.” That’s a smart way to use recognition as a long-term growth strategy.

Why this episode matters

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who’s serious about doing high-quality, high-autonomy creative work. Whether you’re building an agency, leading a design team, or just trying to find better clients, Adriano’s approach offers a blueprint:

• Take ownership
• Set boundaries
• Stay small, but sharp
• Push the craft forward
• Make space for good work to happen

Listen to the full episode with Adriano Esteves → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd-T2KxBvaY&t=3s