Colour, lighting and space, as any designer will tell you are the critical factors to designing any kind of space – personal or official. Boring offices are more often seen than not. So-called sober colours, proper looking furniture and cubbyhole workstations make up the décor there.
Design experts say the arrangement of space can bring a sea change into the mood and ambience of the place. A case in example is BMC. The software multinational sports an office, which is bright, trendy and exudes positive energy. For the creative team at DB&B, the challenge was to create a place that made a difference in terms of their corporate identity and workplace environment. They achieved both.
“The objective was to create a fun, lively and conducive environment that the staff will enjoy,” explains Michelle Goh, senior project director, DB&B. Shades of red, human graphics, and clever lighting are evident at key visible points in the office layout. As Goh tell us, “Our design direction was towards a lifestyle approach-through usage of sport and art graphic print. Being a people-oriented company, human graphics were strategically placed to bring out softer touches for the environment.”
They introduced bright, human graphics, and created pockets of space, like the pantry. About the key design elements, Goh mentions, “We tried to create a high-tech, out of the box approach through use of colour, graphic and space. Human graphics were used because of BMC is a people-oriented company,” and she adds, “Being a people-oriented company, human graphics were strategically placed to bring out the softer touches for the environment. A secondary bold colour, like red was introduced to create a bright and cheerful environment. Strong and bold design, with open ceiling to give the raw and openness feel, was introduced in BMC’s pantry/breakout area.”
Goh reminds us that developing the working culture and workflow efficiency were some major factors that they had kept in mind while designing the layout. The idea of a relaxing environment for the staff was also part of the plan, about which Goh adds, “New idea was created for the demo area as shown in the picture in the reception. Special, ‘let loose, rest and relax’ pantry was created for staff breakout.” As part of building a strong corporate culture, BMC briefed the DB&B team to create personal storage facilities for each member of the staff in the breakout cum resource area with vending machines and bistro/sofa seating, and workstation space.
Regarding the impact of such an ambience, Goh sums up, “The staff is proud to be part of such an ambience. They know that the management cares for their needs and welfare. Last but not least, such a place leaves a lasting and positive impression on all guests/business associates who visit their office.”
Source: HRM Singapore, 2005, Issue 5.4