Most business leaders seek to motivate and inspire their teams in every way possible, laboring over their speeches, creating mentorship programs, offering professional development opportunities, and much more. In my experience, however, they often underestimate the motivational and inspirational effect of their workplace’s physical design.
Workplaces that are designed to highlight their unique character can elevate an organization’s entire culture. This kind of design not only makes people feel welcome and special but also ignites their imagination, encourages innovation and promotes collaboration. One classic study has even associated inspiring interior design with improved productivity.
Breaking free of homogenous corporate design
First and foremost, designing a workplace to have character means making it noticeably different from other places.
In recent years, globalization has resulted in homogenized, dull business interiors. A slick, contemporary corporate aesthetic spread worldwide, depriving spaces of cultural reference points and attractiveness.
When you enter a building with this kind of corporate design, how do you feel? Chances are you might experience boredom or not even notice the interior design. Businesses in this sort of space miss an important opportunity to connect with people and elevate their cultures.
Prioritizing workplace character goes in the opposite direction.
Workplace character explained
Interior design that highlights workplace character immerses people in a distinctive environment that connects them to the organization’s specific local community, culture and values. This approach calls attention to the building’s purpose and imbues the space with meaning. It’s the uniqueness and quality of the space that matters.
When executed correctly, designs that highlight workplace character have an energizing effect. Staff feel proud of their surroundings, while visitors feel wonder and appreciation — perhaps even a touch of envy. These emotions can have a beneficial impact on job satisfaction and performance. They can also promote positive interactions, foster collaboration, and encourage creativity.
So, how can designers highlight a given site’s individual character? I like to think about workplace character in terms of telling a story.
Workplace character tells a story
Effective interior design that showcases workplace character goes far beyond a single first impression. It unfolds through different volumes of space, inviting people to situate themselves in a larger narrative about a given place.
Dramatic perspectives and visual interest can lift people’s spirits. Meanwhile, including historical elements or allusions can connect the organization to meaningful events and ideas from the past. A cohesive aesthetic can reinforce the brand image and philosophy.
For example, consider the Olderfleet building. This development had the unique challenge of combining a new 40-story skyscraper with three famous heritage buildings in downtown Melbourne. Designers leaned on the power of narrative to effectively knit the two divergent styles together.
The Olderfleet story
As visitors approach the Olderfleet building, they see the three famous facades that look untouched. The new tower stands far back from the heritage buildings, apparently on the same plane as other skyscrapers in the vicinity.
Entering the building’s primary entrance, visitors travel through a darkened tunnel until they step out into a 25-meter-high light-filled atrium where they can see the beautiful red-brick exteriors of the heritage buildings from the back. A stunning spherical sculpture radiates overhead.
By creating this sequence of experiences, the building itself tells a story, building suspense before providing a climax. As a result, visitors enjoy the sort of thrilling experience they won’t soon forget.
While designing with narrative in mind can provide an overarching strategy, there’s no single “right” way to design workplaces with tangible character. Everything depends on the project’s location, values, and goals, and many different tactics can be employed to evoke the desired effect.
Design that honors workplace character
Workplace character can be created through the use of local materials, the preservation of historic elements, and the use of art, decorative items, or lighting, among other things. Different volumes of space can be layered and given varying attributes to craft a rich and dynamic experience. Some can consciously promote a spirit of fun, humor, and play, cultivating serendipity and innovation. Ergonomics also matters.
Combined, these elements engage and inspire people. They almost work like magic.
For instance, consider the new development at 80 Ann Street in Brisbane, Australia. This innovative building preserves part of its facade from the site’s previous incarnation as a fruit and produce market. The interior design also celebrates Brisane’s subtropical climate with planters filled with greenery and both indoor and outdoor gardens. An enormous lighting display on the lobby ceiling resembles an aquarium, a nod to Brisbane’s location on Australia’s east coast.
In short, this renovation effectively brings the former building back to life.
Workplaces with character are the future
Designing spaces that reflect the values and stories of their inhabitants creates more engaging and authentic environments. This approach enriches the built landscape by celebrating sites’ diversity and promoting their individuality. In addition, it enables businesses to use space to boost their company cultures.
The time for homogeneous corporate design is over. Design that honors workplaces’ distinctive characters is the future.
Editor’s Note: Amanda Stanaway, global leader of user strategy at ERA-co, works with a broad portfolio of corporate clients worldwide. Providing cutting-edge strategy and interior design across the commercial, lifestyle, and public sectors, she has been instrumental in creating inspiring workplaces that deliver real business advantages and positive change. Prior to joining ERA-co, she was a principal at Woods Bagot Architecture.