What’s the biggest challenge of growing a business? Of course, you need to develop new and groundbreaking products that’ll attract a plethora of paying customers. Also, you have to handpick a team of loyal and dedicated employees who share your vision. You even have to promote your business across the right channels.
But all your efforts would end up being futile if your business fails to stand apart from its competitors. In other words, if you want your business to thrive, you must focus on building your brand identity.
From the website and social media profiles to product design and packaging – you can use various mediums to showcase your brand. Likewise, your office design also plays a key role in bolstering your brand image.
Think about it – you’re likely already meeting several clients in your office. Wouldn’t it be great if you could make a striking first impression with your brand messaging? It could even go a long way to help you earn the trust of prospective clients and close sales fasters.
Moreover, a workspace that echoes your brand’s vision and values can go a long way to keep your employees driven and motivated. It’ll attune them to your company culture and give them a glimpse of how their work contributes to the bigger picture. It’s particularly useful when you’re hiring new employees.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few effective techniques to help you incorporate your brand into your office design. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
1. Outline Your Brand Philosophy
As a business owner, you likely already have a clear idea of your company’s core values and vision. It is, however, necessary to understand that your brand is more than just your business objectives. If you want to build a strong and easily identifiable brand, you must have a deep understanding of your brand philosophy.
In simple terms, the brand philosophy is an extension of your business values and ethics. What’s your company’s take on sustainability and environmental friendliness? Do you want to build a brand that stands for social causes, such as women empowerment and inclusivity? Is your organization going to be vocal about political issues?
Your answers to these questions will help craft your brand philosophy. Once you’ve developed a fair idea, the next step is to ensure that your office design embraces this philosophy.
For instance, if your company is vocal about pollution and climate change on social media, your office infrastructure should reflect the same. This involves finding ways to minimize your energy consumption, focusing on renewable energy sources, eliminating plastic use in cafeterias, etc.
Likewise, if you want to build an accessibility-inclusive brand, make sure your office design is accessible to people with disabilities. From installing ramps and automatic doors to building disabled-friendly restrooms – there’s so much you can do to make the workspace more accessible.
2. Experiment with Your Layout
The days of dull and monotonous offices with lookalike cubicles are gone. The right office layout can go a long way to inspire and motivate your employees. When judiciously used, it’ll even help you create a lasting impression on new and prospective clients.
So, don’t be afraid to play around with the layout and design an office that lets your employees freely move and collaborate with each other. Instead of having them work in cubicles, you can opt for an open layout.
You could also consider segregating areas that are mean for clients and employees. This is because your employees’ perception of your brand would be different from that of your clients.
While you’re at it, you could even add a few spaces where your employees can relax between hectic team meetings and client pitches. From meditation and art therapy rooms to a mini video game arcade – there’s a lot you can do to create a comfortable and inviting work environment.
This is also a good time to pay attention to the key touchpoints that your employees and clients will come across while navigating the office. Strategically exhibiting your vision and philosophy at these touchpoints will help boost your brand image.
3. Choose the Right Office Furniture
From chairs and desks to storage cabinets and conference tables – your office needs a diverse array of furniture. Instead of filling the workspace with random tables and chairs, make sure you buy office furniture that echoes your branding.
In other words, the color, texture, size, and shape of your office furniture should resonate with your brand identity. If you’re trying to create a more dynamic and offbeat workspace, you could even throw in a few bean bags and vintage armchairs into the mix.
The type of office layout and work environment you create plays a key role in building your brand identity. Make sure you identify your brand philosophy and design a workspace to reflect these values. Also, use suitable office furniture that aligns with your brand image.
