Starting a business is one of the most exciting things an entrepreneur can do. He is introducing to the consumer not just a service or product, but qualities in his character such as honesty, integrity and honor. Branding himself is the key, and to do that, interior design of the office is vital. Such design notifies the client immediately that s/he’s dealing with a competent, trustworthy individual whose product or service is of excellent quality. The client should feel comfortable and intrigued when s/he walks into the office, and this takes knowledge and experience on the part of the designer.
What facets of design define a brand? Glad you asked.
Confidence in The Brand
This aspect of branding consists of a combination of color and texture. How many offices have you visited in which the color scheme was cold and stark without a spark of personality? Did this give you confidence in the brand? The opposite is also true. Offices packed with stuff can put a client off their business, because they’re fascinated with all the stuff. If clients are more into the things decorating an office, will they be interested in the brand?
To forestall either of these scenarios, colors should be used to inspire assurance in your clientele. Soft blues and greens inspire confidence in people. Bolder shades of the same colors tell clients that you’re massively confident and successful. Soft yellows are reminiscent of sunshiny days, but remember that darker shades of yellow are very busy. They often inspire harsher emotions in people.
Texture is important in a business’ office design as well. Dress up modern steel and chrome design with cushions on chairs and sofas complementing the wall colors. Bright throw rugs on hardwood floors provide texture as well as a color statement. If carpet is chosen, pick a design that complements the wall colors but has a pattern of its own. Artwork also provides texture. Here is where the clientele will understand brand-defining characteristics on offer to them.
Technology of The Brand
Whatever service or product is offered, the technology used to describe it should be part of the overall design. For example, tablets and laptops are mobile. Take clients to an open space filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows for ease of viewing. Trending now is conferencing on Skype with a field associate in an area set up like a retro diner, for instance, with skylights offering natural light for clients’ comfort. Settings like this foster creativity and a sense of adventure in the client as well as for staff, not to mention belief in the brand.The image sought for a brand is expressed not only in how the office is designed, but in interaction with associates. Enabling office staff to conduct business with every available technological innovation fosters creativity and productivity. Clients need to see this at work, so they will know their business is conducted with accuracy and timeliness. That is the integrity of the brand.
Location of The Brand
A good designer is privy to the trends in office locations. Many of the top brands have both indoor and outdoor areas for work. Being trapped inside walls all day bores workers. They need sunlight, fresh air and a sense of freedom in order to give the job the best they have. Some outdoor office spaces are designed on rooftops, some in courtyards on the property and some in a nearby park. Believe it or not, more work gets done when staff members have the freedom to switch up locations such as from a living room setting to a courtyard setting.
Any brand will benefit from this sense of adventure when clients experience this change in location. Many people who work from home enjoy working on their deck surrounded by flowers, fresh air and sunshine. How many times have you seen millennials working on a park bench or from a table outside a bistro? Entrepreneurs are discovering that quality work gets done from anywhere at all. Designers should offer "anywhere at all" to clients.
How important a designer is to a business depends on how serious the client is about branding himself. Office design is the first indication clients receive that a brand is what they want to be associated with. Our designers are on hand to help when you contact us.
