Although it can pose a number of different problems and challenges, an office redesign can be one of the biggest and most impactful changes you can make to your company. If you’ve been considering an office redesign, perhaps due to upscaling or new business goals, then regardless of whether the plan is a minor refresh or major refurbishment, there are a number of things to consider. Both careful planning and considered designs can create an office space that works for your business far beyond the aesthetics of the space. Let’s take a look at some important things you should consider when planning an office space redesign.
Consider Workplace Culture
The way in which your new office design will be defined falls largely on the type of company that you are currently, as well as the one you wish you be in the future. This, ultimately, comes down to your employees, who you should trust to be part of the refurbishment process from the outset in order to give suggestions and feedback.
Whilst a number of offices are embracing open workspaces, it may be that this design doesn’t fit your company, particularly if your employees prefer an individual approach to their workspace. Your employees may prefer a hybrid approach which combines both focused work spaces, as well as communal areas in order to improve their productivity.
Focus On Brand Identity
For many companies, their branding often stops with just digital and printed materials, but what a lot of business owners don’t realise is that it should be infused within each and every space where things happen in your business. It also needs to go further than just simply adding your company logo to the walls – it should reflect in every area of your space.
Google’s offices are a great example of continuous brand identity. Their workspaces are not only inspiring places to work, but to be creative and innovative, and part of this is down to the way in which their branding and identity are reflected. Bright colours, using the Google brand colours, can be found in almost every room, breakout spaces allow people to take a breath and think and each space provides something that an employee may need. It’s important to encapsulate your brand within your workspace and this can, and will be, the deciding factor as to how you are perceived. Remember, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
Provide Room For Growth
When you are starting to consult with commercial fit out companies and collect quotes, take some time to think about where exactly you want your company to be in 3-5 years’ time. Next, plan for how future employees will fit into your scope. Being able to adapt will not only increase the use of your workspace, but it can allow your office to expand as time goes on. You may wish to consider adding relocatable partitions and systems which allow freedom of space and movement within your office, allowing you to meet new demands over the years.