6 Ways to Prevent Your Office Design from Becoming a Horror Show

1. Research

Prior to starting your workplace design and build journey, it’s important to read reviews, seek recommendations and schedule workplace tours, in order to get a firm understanding of what sort of space you need. Expert design and build teams will be able to help you discover the workplace of your dreams, but the more you know going into the process, the easier (and faster) it will be. Failing to do your research may result in generalised designs that aren’t specific to your needs, and potentially higher cost if you need to make revisions.

2. Listen

Your employees or prospective tenants are the ones who will be using the space. They’re also your most valuable source of input. Be sure to involve your people in the design of their future space by listening to what they want and need, conducting brainstorming sessions, sending out surveys and, if you’re a landlord, getting to know your target audience. There’s no way to design an effectively tailored space without first listening to what the occupants want. Neglecting to do so can lead to low retention rates, low talent attraction, and unhappy staff with lower productivity levels.

3. Understand

Listening is great, but there’s a difference between hearing what someone needs and truly understanding how to accommodate those needs. Workspaces should incorporate different types of working areas to support different working styles and personalities. It’s also important to understand how to promote the people in your space by designing to enhance their wellbeing. Office spaces that are too streamlined or barren will result in inefficient practices and a drop in employee satisfaction.

4. Get involved

From CEOs to executives, everyone should be involved in the design and build process, to ensure a space that truly reflects its people. Designs are only as successful as client engagement, making your participation in the process a crucial factor in how well your space supports you once you move in. Refusing to get involved will dramatically decrease your control and ownership of the end result, and increase the chances of something going wrong.

5. Budget

The more familiar you are with your budget, the better. Knowing how much you’re willing to spend for what you want will help you make decisions throughout your office build journey. Make sure to budget for unexpected extras and issues so that you have the resources to deal with them as they arise. Money isn’t the only thing you need to budget – be sure to understand your timeline and plan accordingly. Any unforeseen problems will cause delays, and improper budgeting can result in an overspend of time and money.

6. Design for growth

Change is accelerating, making the future harder to predict. Designing your space to accommodate change is essential for a workplace with any kind of longevity. Think about how to incorporate things like flex space and space-monitoring technology in order to fluctuate with change and keep up with space optimisation. New generations are entering the workforce with the number of Millennials increasing and Generation Z getting ready to flood the job market. Designing with the needs of new talent in mind will keep your workspace relevant. If you don’t design for growth, your office space will quickly become outdated, prompting another move or build, disrupting your company and costing money.

There’s a lot to consider while designing and building your new workplace. Knowing where to start and how to involve your team will guarantee a worthwhile journey – one that imbues your emerging space with the culture of your brand and the personality of your people.

Still wondering how to start your office re-vamp? Our professional teams are here to help. Let’s talk.