If 2020 is the year you plan to give your workspace a new identity, Leach’s client services director Suzie Pitcher urges businesses to think beyond the obvious four walls, when setting out their commercial interior vision…
“It’s the time of year when all eyes are on predicted trends for the year ahead, so even some simple Google searches can make for really interesting – and thought-provoking – reading.
Geaves Surfaces, for example, have published a great blog which looks at office and retail interior design must-knows for 2020, and it seems they’re plumping for biophilia, sustainability, functionality, experiential, curves and colours being big over the next 12 months.
That’s great news for us, given we:
- Have developed ‘eco’ versions of virtually all our large format graphic display products to reflect our own commitment to sustainability;
- Offer ultra-functional tri-purpose display products such as our Product Wall which integrates merchandise, LED illumination and impactful visuals into one installation;
- Continually provide our expert opinion and advice on the power of experiential environments
- Manufacture floor-standing and suspended curved lightboxes for that added wow factor
- Specialise in HD graphics which are the perfect vehicle to showcase the most vivid colours in all their glory.
There are far more trend-focused articles out there of course, and we’ve enjoyed reading and debating our own forecasts as we prepare to help the brands who will turn to us in the coming year.
But we’ve found one thing that is often overlooked when considering what’s going to be hot and what’s not – space. Thriving businesses often expand during times of growth, but success isn’t always evidenced by a booming headcount – nor is it reflected in the footprint of an office.
Sometimes, a firm’s commercial HQ may be relatively bijoux, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about creating a vibrant working environment for staff, or presenting the right first impression when a supplier, partner or client comes to visit.
So, a trend that we’d also like to see added to some of the 2020 commercial interiors predictions, is ensuring optimum use of the space, irrespective of size. In other words, making every square metre count.
It’s a change we’ve already witnessed within the retail sector, driven in many cases by brands’ consolidation of store chains. But it also reflects the desire to prioritise the customer experience, even in the face of spiralling costs.
Businesses can learn from this, when it comes to either completely transforming or subtly enhancing their workspaces. In this instance the employee is the customer, but budgets may have to be equally as capped, and square metres may be in short supply.
So where should firms begin?
This is not a sales pitch, but we are happy to talk through some of the solutions Leach can offer, from individual lightboxes and HD graphic displays up to complete wallcoverings that make the ultimate statement.
We’d also encourage people to think beyond solely the four walls of their office, especially if space is limited.
- Think about the ceiling and whether it could house an eye-catching graphic such as a baffle, which could have acoustic benefits too? Or would a suspended lightbox deliver a powerful brand statement without disrupting what already exists on the walls? The ceiling is a particularly important surface in heavily glazed office spaces or rooms with ready-mounted fixtures such as vertical radiators or storage.
- Next, consider the floor. Gone are the days when you could only have carpets, wood or tiling underfoot. A range of hard-wearing and slip resistant vinyls, stencils and resin-encapsulated flooring options are now available, which means you can engage people via the world at their feet!
- And as silly as it may sound in an already size-restricted office, consider whether the installation of enclosures and partitions could actually encourage a slightly different use of the space, particularly if dedicated meeting rooms are non-existent or in short supply.
Designing spaces for productivity, collaboration and engagement is arguably one of the biggest priorities in businesses right now, so thinking carefully about commercial interiors that really make a difference to the morale, motivation levels and performance of the people within them, should arguably be at the top of organisations’ agendas as 2020 unfolds. And it doesn’t have to break the bank in the process…”
For more information about our interior solutions, or to see how we could bring the wow-factor to your office environment contact our team today.
