Aligning your office design with your brand is sometimes referred to as the ‘branded environment’. The branded environment is a three-dimensional representation of the brand that can reinforce the company’s position, identity, culture, and experience.
When designing the branded environment, there are several important elements that play a part, including the architecture, layout, finishes, lighting, signage and décor. All of these elements work together to create a physical and sensory relationship with company employees and clients, and allows people to engage with your brand in the physical space.
The design of your office influences the perception of the business and therefore becomes an immediate proof point for the company’s brand promise. Consequently designing an office that reflects the company’s brand and values is important to ensure that this message is accurately projected to current and future clients, partners, and employees.
Upgrading your office design to accurately project the company’s brand promise does not need to be a difficult or expensive exercise. As long as there is a clear understanding of the company’s brand values, the office design can easily be reflected with colour palettes and physical items.
1. Understand and define your brand values
It is imperative to firstly understand what your company stands for so you can clearly define the brand values. Once there is a clear understanding of what the company’s brand values are, create a final list of these values as these will become the proof points for all office design elements.
For example, if innovation is a brand value then incorporating leading edge technology and resources across the office, to produce innovative ideas, is imperative to the office design. If collaboration is another brand value, then designing the office as an open plan space is a way to encourage collaboration among employees for open idea sharing and generation.
2. Colour palette
Utilising colours within the brand palette is essential when communicating the brand through office design. This colour palette should automatically align with your brand values if the company’s brand strategy is correct.
There are psychological meanings behind colours, so when designing the office, pick colours from the brand palette that reflect the essence of how you want people to feel. For example, blue is a calming colour while orange is the colour to inspire energy. Red can be used to resemble power while green can be used to create a fresh and serene environment.
These colours can be transcribed across various office areas, including walls, décor and furniture.
3. Include items that reflect your brand
Based on the defined values and colours chosen, choose items and furnishings that match the brand package. For example, if your company colours are black or white and your business is based around strategy and consultancy, then a chess board can become a nice feature piece in the office. If your business is an advertising agency, then utilise work created for displays around the office, and unique furniture for break out areas to assist with creative idea generation.
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