We all understand why home design matters – but those tasked with designing a new office environment may not feel the same urgency to create a thoughtfully creative space. That is a mistake, however – workplace design characterizes the personality of your company, helps to convey your brand, supports your employee health and well-being, and much more. Whether you are an office manager or a building owner, the opportunity to renovate an office space holds a lot of potential for positive growth and innovation. Let’s take a closer look!

  1. Your office design showcases your brand: While office design may seem tangential at best to branding, it plays a significant role. Cohesive and comprehensive branding begins with your employees, and the environment in which they work should facilitate their mission. Think of it this way – if you are touting creative expertise to the outside world, your employees shouldn’t be working in a drab, windowless – and frankly uninspiring – office.
  2. Your office supports your employees’ productivity and morale: While many old-school corporate types don’t necessarily like it, the days of the 9-5, unbroken workday is a thing of the past. The most successful employers understand that if you want your talent to spend the majority of their waking hours at your location, you need to provide a place they love to be. Just how this is achieved is unique to each business – but could include comfortable “coffee shop” settings for brainstorming or a company gym to get the endorphins moving.
  3. Your clients notice the details: If you have an office that occasionally hosts clients and partners, be very aware of what they will encounter when they walk through your front doors. Do they find themselves in a cramped, sterile reception area? Does your office appear too casual – or too stuffy? Businesses have the unique opportunity to cultivate their visitors’s first impression – whether that means a lobby filled with company photos, a receptionist inviting them to the trendy coffee and snack bar, or an invitation to wait in a tech room that supports all of their devices. Smart companies design a client-facing space intentionally curated to provide a desired impression.
  4. Your office design should be influencer-ready: This tip represents a need that has evolved only in the last few years. In a media-saturated world, incorporating an attractive visual backdrop into your office design allows for social-savvy posts and videos. Any company that is not yet optimizing the power of social media for their marketing is losing market share – and by providing a curated and branded backdrop in the office, you can encourage employees to post “day-in-the-life” photos. A well-designed office offers a cohesive design throughout the office, allowing for even random and spur-of-the-moment posts to be correctly branded by your team.
  5. Your office should reflect our technical reality: Remote and hybrid work environments are no longer the exception but the rule – and in this current era of digital meetings and remote teams, your office needs to be wired for communication. While the entire office needs wifi and charging ports, the bulk of the technical equipment can be housed in a single hi-tech conference room. Be sure to assess the requirements for acoustics, create adjustable lighting levels, evaluate entry locations, and create branded backdrops. Additionally, companies should not skimp on the budget for an A/V system and the IT and technology needed for optimal communication. Don’t forget the aesthetic details of the room, and you’ll be sure to impress virtual clients and network attendees.
  6. Your office should facilitate departmental cross-pollination: There are many departments that comprise a company, but the days of compartmentalizing every task are long gone. Instead of creating distinct spaces for each department, get creative with ways to get employees talking – perhaps a central break area in the middle of a “pod” of departments. By creating areas where employees will naturally interact, you foster the idea of teamwork and pulling for the same goals. Increased employee engagement is known to bolster loyalty, and this simple design feature alone may help to prevent attrition while improving morale.

The renovation of contemporary office space goes well beyond choosing desks and wall art. Intelligent design of an office space can boost morale, encourage productivity, and facilitate new levels of collaboration.

Call JTL Architects today to learn more about designing a Sarasota office space that will not only attract and retain talent but also be the envy of partners, clients, and competitors.