Made at Eat Work Art. We recently sat down with residents across our studios who are doing groundbreaking work from within our spaces.

ON ROAD of Hackney Downs Studios gave insight into their trailblazing work with London’s underrepresented youth, helping global brands better reflect the people they are hoping to connect with.

ON ROAD is a research agency rooted in cultural insight, with a clear focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and communities across the globe. Since establishing their studio at Hackney Downs, their work has evolved beyond research into something more immersive. The physical space now reflects the values they advocate for. Having moved on from co-working, the team hosts free events for the very communities they research with, from CV workshops to open mic nights, and often hand over the keys so those communities can use the space on their own terms.

The work undertaken at ON ROAD blends cultural rigour with creative ambition. Having worked with Wieden+Kennedy’s award-winning campaign 'Nothing Beats A Londoner', their research helped reposition Nike within London youth culture. By revealing the city’s 'Relentless Optimism' and spotlighting real stories of perseverance, they helped establish a tone, aesthetic and voice that reconnected the brand with a generation. Similarly, their campaign for Depop redefined the way Black identity is represented on creative platforms. Through research, strategy and co-creation, they helped carve out digital space for the Black Depop community, challenging narrow narratives and supporting long-term visibility and equity.

A dedicated studio has been instrumental in shaping how ON ROAD approaches this kind of work. With the freedom to define their own systems and culture, the team is able to test and refine ideas as a collective. The studio is more than a base; it is a meeting point between research, creativity and community. Visitors encounter a space that reflects the people ON ROAD serves: collaborative, dynamic and generous. This sense of ownership and cultural purpose continues to push their practice forward, influencing how some of the world’s most visible brands engage with the real world.