What We Learned From The Bear
Lessons in communication, craft, and chaos from a kitchen that feels pretty familiar
Author: Zack Wilson
With the diverse team we’ve created at our design agency, we pride ourselves on taking inspiration from all kinds of places – whether that be other designers, the latest technology, urban parks and architecture … and, sometimes, a chaotic kitchen.
If you’ve seen The Bear, you know what we mean. The hit TV show follows Carmy – an award-winning chef – who returns to his family’s sandwich shop, The Beef, to try to turn it into something extraordinary. What makes The Bear so compelling for us isn’t just the food or the drama. It’s the way it explores themes around how we work and collaborate with others, while pursuing the highest quality in our work.
What follows are a couple of things we’ve learned – as a design agency – from The Bear.
Image credit: FX/Hulu.
1. Communication is Everything…
And it’s hard.
In The Bear, communication is the biggest challenge and the most critical ingredient for their success. The kitchen is loud, stressful, and messy – just like projects can feel when team members or stakeholders aren’t aligned. Orders get shouted, mistakes pile up, and tensions boil over. But when communication works – when everyone’s in sync, focused, listening – our work flows like a well-oiled machine.
We see the same in our client work. Moving between projects and teams, misunderstandings happen. Aligning on goals, keeping communication open, and ensuring everyone knows their role is essential to delivering the high-quality work we expect. And the challenge isn’t just sharing information – it’s doing so clearly, consistently, and at the right time.
The takeaway: Clear communication doesn’t just happen. You need the systems, the habits, and the culture that make it possible. Yes, chef.
Image credit: FX/Hulu.
2. The Value of Great Work
Over its 3 seasons, The Bear is a love letter to craft: taking pride in your work, even when no one is watching. Whether it’s Carmy – the Michelin-trained chef perfecting dishes into the early am-hours, or Richie (in Season 2’s brilliant Forks episode) polishing forks for hours, the message is clear: Doing something well has inherent value.
Forks is one of our favorite episodes, and Richie’s transformation is one of the show’s most powerful moments. He learns what excellence really means – that pride comes not just from the result, but from how you get there.
At Empatic, we live the same value. Whether we’re creating a prototype, running user interviews, or building a presentation, we strive to do it the right way. High-quality, user-centered work is never just about the output; it’s about the process, the care, and the thought that goes into it.
The takeaway: Great work is great because of the craft. Pride in your work is contagious, and the effort shows.
Image credit: FX/Hulu.
3. Relationships Make or Break You
The relationships in The Bear are messy. They’re tense, and complex – to be honest, often dysfunctional. But they’re also at the focus and heart of everything: the family, the team, their loyalty, and their trust.
The show is a potent reminder that strong relationships don’t just happen – they require care and effort. Within our design agency, and our team, building trust is a process of respecting each other, being honest (and kind!) with feedback, and working through challenges together. The same goes for our agency’s client relationships. The only way it is possible for us to deliver the quality of work we expect is to collaborate, to work together, and create something better than either could do alone.
The takeaway: Great teams (and great client partnerships) are built on trust, accountability, and care – especially when problems get difficult.
Image credit: FX/Hulu.
4. The Medium is the Message
One of the most striking things about The Bear is its cinematography. The fast cuts, tight close-ups, and relentless pacing make you feel the pressure of the kitchen. The visuals don’t just tell the story – they are the story.
As designers, this reminds us of the power of presentation. The way a project is delivered – whether it’s a presentation, a prototype, or a piece of content – can amplify its impact. A great idea can fall flat without the right delivery, while a carefully crafted presentation can bring a complex concept to life.
The takeaway: Presentation matters. The how of sharing an idea is sometimes just as important as the what of the idea itself.
Image Credit: FX/Hulu.
5. Growth Isn’t Linear (And That’s Fine!)
Finally, The Bear teaches us that growth is rarely a straight line. The team stumbles. They fight. They try things that fail, and they face constant setbacks. But they also learn, adapt, and get better.
In our work, we see the same. Some ideas work. Others don’t. Projects evolve. Teams adapt. Experimentation – and failure – is part of creating something great. What matters is the willingness to keep going, keep learning, and keep improving.
The takeaway: Progress isn’t perfect. And that’s part of the process.
Some Final Thoughts
The Bear isn’t just about the food. It’s about the people, craft, and what it takes to make something great. For us, it’s a reminder of why we love what we do: the messy, challenging, and rewarding process of creating something extraordinary, together.
And yes, we are still thinking about Richie polishing those forks. Time well spent.