- Ask Everybody
The brand of a company isn’t just about its mission statement or logo – it is also about the people too. When designing a space, Claremont talks to various stakeholders from reception staff to department heads and even directors, to have a better understanding of their needs and how they work. If you were to do the same, you could end up getting a fully-rounded view of how the organization is seen by everyone. You can embrace those needs and views in the design process.
- Look at Your Website, Specifically the Job Listings
Here is a bit of real insider advice right here, one thing that Claremont looks to when looking to define the ‘brand’ of a company is in the wording the company uses to describe itself in job adverts. So, if you are having a difficult time coming up with good ideas, you should consider checking out your company’s career website.
- Take Advantage of Your Location
The location of your office can be an excellent source of design inspiration. For instance, when the new Genie offices were being revamped, the designers took inspiration from the company’s Cambridge location to come up with a head-turning mural, which was designed to be the view that you could see if the wall was not there.
- Take a Unique Approach to Staff and Client Spaces
Use your brand in a wise way. In reception and client spaces you may want for your brand to take center stage and really shine, but your needs are very different when it comes to your core workspace. Staff spaces should be subtle about vision, values, and behaviors. The last thing your employees want is to be bombarded with corporate messaging. A better idea would be to provide office graphics that create a comfortable space that supports how they work.
- Your Product Should Take Center Stage
If you are a company with an excellent product, then try finding ways to bring this to the fore in your office design. For instance, in John West’s Liverpool Headquarters, the testing kitchen is actually the central hub. What better way for a company that deals with food to showcase what it is all about?
- Set Aside Some Break-Out Space
Breakout spaces are incredibly popular since they allow staff to escape the pressures of work and get chatting to one another in a space where they are free to unwind. A good example of this is Claremont’s ‘Village Green’ at BDO’s Manchester Home. It is a collaborative working and breakout space that’s quickly becoming the most popular part of the office.
- Use It as the Opportunity to Think About How You Operate as a Company
A good office environment needs to ideally support how work is done. If you do a lot of project work, then you are likely to benefit from spaces that support teamwork and collaboration. Perhaps you are considering going open plan to maximize space and aid communication? Or perhaps you require more private spaces for confidential work? If you take time to consider your working spaces, you can end up creating a space that works incredibly well for both you and your brand.
- Avoid Getting Too Flashy
You must never go for style over substance. One excellent piece of advice would be to ensure that the space looks sufficiently professional and contemporary without it getting too glitzy since it is the shareholder’s money being spent, after all. You should always strive to get the balance right.
- Involve Everybody
Encourage all staff members to get involved when you are furnishing and decorating, including the painting, assembling the furniture, and even fetching an accessory to complete the new design. The great thing about this approach is that it makes the office feel a bit more like home once you are done. Furthermore, it is a lot of fun for everybody.
- Make the Most of It
Once you have achieved a space that you are really proud of; make use of it. Organize client events so that they can be suitably impressed. Start holding lunch activities in any community spaces and really embrace it.
