To quote Steve Jobs: “Design is a funny word. Some people
think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really
how it works.”
Office design and office culture are so inextricably bound
up that it’s almost remarkable that an office would be designed before a
business moves into it. It’s no coincidence that memorable companies also have
memorable premises (think of Google and you think of Google HQ, think of
Innocent and you think of Fruit Towers). An organisation’s culture does and
should impact office design and its culture should manifest itself through
design.
But this culture doesn’t have to mean a super-trendy tech
start-up manifesto or a beards-for-all philosophy. The notion of culture
encompasses everything from processes to work practices and flows and
interactions between teams. The crucial thing is that how a company works is reflected
in where it works. If your teams constantly communicate, work with each other
and there is a constant interaction, it makes no sense to have tiny cupboards
separating everyone. Similarly, if your organisation is carefully and
deliberately siloed, then you don’t want a large, open-plan space where nobody
can get a moment’s peace or there is no privacy. If you have a workspace that
just about fits your staff and their desks but you have to leave the premises
to do the work you’re renowned for, then that culture gets eroded.
Hi Design knows this and works hard to understand the
culture and objectives of our clients before the design process has begun. In
many cases, our workplace consultants will gain a deep understanding of your
business, from its needs and goals, to its people, culture, existing systems,
policies and technology. We monitor how your current space is being used as this helps us to fully understand the needs of the
business and also reveals important data about how much and why a particular
space is being used.
In-depth interviews with key stakeholders determine a
company’s needs from the perspective of its leaders. These conversations, along
with staff surveys, help build a picture of what employees want from an office
and how they work. This also builds an accurate picture of future needs and
overall vision, crucial for effective office design. Putting employees at the
centre of workplace design means the space will inevitably work better for
them.
It may seem obvious but it’s surprising how many companies
don’t bear this in mind when choosing a new workplace for their staff. Of
course, cost is a factor but designing a workplace based just on affordability
can have enormous repercussions in the long term. We know that the work
environment can affect employee wellbeing and also staff retention, we know
that workplace design affects staff satisfaction and we know that staff
satisfaction affects profits. Designing your workplace to reflect company
culture, company vision and staff behaviour will not only make your life easier
but will boost your bottom line.
