When you look around your office, what do you see? At a glance, is it the kind of place you’ve always wanted to work? What about if you were someone coming in to find the solution you’ve been looking for? Would one look around the space tell you you’ve hit the jackpot?
These are the kind of questions to consider when thinking about how immersive your workspace is.
When the office looks good, it’s going to feel good to work in. No one wants to clock into work each morning and be welcomed by an empty, echoey, and uncomfortable shell! People want to walk into a space that’s been designed with care, to be comfortable, and is clearly run by someone proud of the business they’re building.
And when it comes to setting the right impression with any guests, a well decorated and well branded office always comes out on top. People need to know they’re in the right place even before they walk through the door. But once they have, they should feel like they’ve booked a meeting with a professional, legitimate, and trustworthy company who knows what they’re doing.
That’s what immersive, in person branding does. For both employees and guests alike, you can pull them into your sphere with some clever design tricks. Pick up new clients, appeal to investors, and boost your employee morale by making your office just as conversion-capable as your online marketing.
Think About Your Front Door
What does it need to say when people are just walking up to it? This is your chance to make people feel welcome before they’ve even come through and checked in at reception.
You can create a great flow from the outside inwards, using color, shapes, and lighting. Make it easy for someone to get into the right headspace, whether they’re coming in for a day of work or looking to discuss their marketing needs.
You can also use the front door as a stopgap between the atmosphere of the world they’ve come from and the one they’ve just stepped into. For example, if your office is located in quite a noisy, thriving downtown area, make sure you screen this noise out and create a calm space right inside the door.
A difference like this can help you make someone feel like they’ve just stepped in from the confusion of the market. Where it was once chaotic, it’s now peaceful; clearly, they’ve found exactly the right company to make it all make sense.
Make Important Information Stand Out with Interactive Displays
One of the biggest parts of in person branding is making the best of your message stand out, as and where it really needs to. If you want someone to know exactly what you’re about or where you’ve come from the instant they step foot inside your office, make sure the display calls to them.
That’s usually best done with an interactive display, which is made possible via the use of digital signage software around the office. Pop up a sign that’s more dynamic, well lit, and can even incorporate audio levels into the mix too. Then, you can allow any guests you have a much more hands-on visit.
This can make you stick out from your competitors in the market, whether you’re trying to attract new talent or simply sign on a new retainer client. You’re more interactive, more eye-catching, and your office space makes it more than obvious the kind of quality you’re going to bring to a project.
Focused on Sustainability? Sprinkle Greenery Around Your Space
Sometimes, the things we say and the things we do don’t quite align. You’re going to need to close the gap between these two areas of life by ensuring your branding messages come across in the decor choices you’ve made.
Aside from using the right colors, and placing your messaging strategically around the office, make sure your ‘cozy’ decor elements have the same branding behind them too. And seeing as most businesses have a focus on sustainability these days, that’s the kind of thing you should focus on within this.
It’s not unusual to see plants in an office, but what can you do to ensure the plants you’ve placed are both good for the environment and well taken care of? If someone steps into your office and sees brown tips on all the leaves, and only a few smaller plants around the reception desk, it’s not going to convince them of your drive to be eco-friendly.
Don’t Overcrowd the Space
A healthy use of negative space can be very good for interior office design. At the very least, you need to make way for a clear and spacious traffic flow through all sections of your office. You can’t be leaving things on the floor, or allowing your interior decor elements to jut out and inconvenience people.
Even if your design borders on the maximalist side, try not to overcrowd the space you’re working with. You want to get your brand’s identity across, and firmly cement it in the minds of both your guests and employees, but you don’t want them to leave feeling uncomfortable and annoyed either.
If someone exits your office after a full day of bumping into things, constantly needing to move out of the way, and feeling like they stick out like a sore thumb, it’s going to leave a bad taste in their mouth.
Brand Your Office Immersively for Success
Immersive branding throughout your office will tie your physical presence in with the message you’re trying to broadcast. Put this to good use within your own design to impress and encourage both your employees and any guests you’re aiming to work with.
Remember, the better your brand stands out within a space that’s entirely yours, the more confidently you’ll be able to broadcast on the global stage. Use your own space as a way to practice, and ensure you’ve locked down a decor that truly feels authentic.