How to Choose the Right Office Interior Design Partner for Your Workspace
How to Choose an Interior Designer for Your Office
Office interior design is often more complex than residential interior design because of its focus on health and safety, multifunctionality and future growth. Office buildings are typically subject to more intensive regulations than residential properties. Both require extensive permitting. The sheer complexity of activities conducted and volume of persons served by a commercial property outweigh those of a residential space. As such, the skill set of a residential interior designer might not properly translate to an office design project. Residential interior designers are well-equipped to handle single family -- or even multigenerational -- homes. They develop storage and entertainment solutions for small spaces, create serene spa-like master suites and renovate kitchens. A residential interior designer might not be familiar with the unique needs of office spaces and their occupants. They also might be unfamiliar with the legal restrictions under which commercial spaces must operate. Hiring a practiced interior designer for your office space ensures a professional who is well-versed in building codes. They will also understand health and safety requirements and the functional needs of similar businesses. Follow below for five steps to choosing an interior designer for your office space.
Why Hire an Interior Designer for Your Office?
Investing in commercial interior design can improve both employee morale and retention.
In his article “5 Reasons Your Office Design Really Does Matter” for Inc.com, Zach Robbins explains the importance of office interior design. He writes that “office space aesthetics actually have an impact on companies and their people.” Robbins specifically points to client attraction and employee retention. He writes that “prospective employees will search for your company to get an idea of what it would be like to work there.” Similarly, potential clients will measure a company’s office space against “the promises [it has] made to both clients and partners.” Whether attracting new talent or clients, Robbins writes that it is essential a company’s corporate space matches its mission.
Effective Interiors Could Make Companies More Competitive
Furthermore, research conducted throughout the last several decades has indicated that offices affect emotional health. Layout, atmosphere and connection to nature significantly affect worker performance, health and attitude. A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health confirms this. The study found that “biophilic-designed site offices are linked to perceived social benefits.” They may also contribute to increased “cooperation and mentoring, and to positive psychological effects, such as improved work satisfaction and higher morale.”
In a post-pandemic world, the onus has shifted to employers to provide for worker health. This is not just in the form of insurance benefits but also in the form of supportive environments. In early 2021, workers have saved enough to delay reentering the workforce until their specifications have been met. As such, competition for top talent is especially fierce. From biophilic interiors to improved IAQ, workers reentering the labor force are expecting more habitable environments better equipped to support their wellbeing. Offering prospective employees a dynamic, inspiring workspace could provide companies with a much-needed competitive edge.
Five Steps to Choosing the Right Interior Designer for Your Office
#1 Determine the Aesthetic and Functional Needs of Your Space
Consider the needs of your employees and a style of design that meshes well with the ethos of your company before hiring an interior designer for your office. Photo above from Mammoth Projects’ Andela Offices project in Flatiron, NYC.
In our recent post “First Things First: developing a working budget,” we noted that business owners should “plan for [their] real team." They should focus on their "immediate growth.” While future growth is important, business owners and operators should avoid pouring excess cash into future needs of their employees. Instead, they should focus on the “here and now,” designing for their current company size, culture and mission. That said, business owners should allocate some portion of their budget to how their company might grow, prioritizing flexibility wherever possible. However, business owners should always keep in mind that the function of their current space and treatment of their current workforce is paramount.
How to Determine the Extent of Your Office Renovation
When settling on the aesthetic and functional needs of your new office space, first consider your company’s mission and branding. Next, consider the employee experience. In her article “How to Design a Workspace That Improves Productivity” for Business.com, Katharine Paljug explains. She writes that business owners should consider “individual desk setup [and] overall workspace design." They should prioritize "elements that impact employee well-being [and] company culture.” Make sure you send the right message to both clients and employees while creating a space that flows well and functions year-round. Consider how employees and clients will move throughout the space. Is a work space or storage space more important? How necessary is a lobby or greeting space? Are communal or private spaces more significant to your company’s culture? Last, determine the extent of your redesign.
#2 Figure Out a Maximum Budget
Be sure to figure out a maximum budget for your project before hiring an office interior designer. Photo above from Mammoth Projects’ ANOMALY project in Soho, NYC.
When determining a budget for your office design project, first consider how existing materials might be reused. Also consider how the current layout serves your business. Your space might need an entire gutting remodel, or it might just need refreshed decor and optimized storage. In their article “What To Consider When Designing A Workplace That Inspires” for Forbes, Tamara Schwarting and Meggie Bailey offer a few tips. Schwarting and Bailey recommend business owners note down which “resources [they] already have within [their] space.” They should also think about what their “business surroundings communicate to potential employees and clients.” Ask the designer how he or she might incorporate existing equipment or upcycle current furnishings to help stay within budget.
Seek Advice from an Interior Designer When Unsure
Next, be prepared to skim the fat. Projects nearly always exceed the planned budget -- even when working with a practiced design-build firm. Shipping delays, unexpected weather delays and product damages are endemic to large-scale design projects -- particularly those for high-end spaces. As such, business owners should be prepared to make a few trade-offs. This is where business owners should lean heavily on their potential designer. They should ask how designers might shave off a few dollars or a couple of weeks off the project. For instance, the accounting department might need lockable storage, but your intern could likely go without. Ask your designer on what to skimp and what to splurge before committing to budgetary allocations.
#3 Ask Office Designers About Their Partners and Vendors
Get started by asking interior designers about their partners and vendors. This will ensure each partner’s products and services mesh well with your vision and will provide you with an understanding of the level at which each designer works. Photo above from Mammoth Projects’ Andela Offices project in Flatiron, NYC.
When determining which office interior designer to hire for your project, be sure to focus on compatibility. The vendors and partners they plan to work with should mesh well with your mission and aesthetic. Ask prospective office design hires if they work with sustainable suppliers. Question how they will work with vendors to keep the project on budget while capturing your vision. Be sure to ask about the designer’s existing relationships with local builders and product designers.
#4 Consider Each Designer’s Experience With Your Type of Space
Before hiring an interior designer for your office, consider how well-versed each designer is in your type of space. Photo above from Mammoth Projects’ ANOMALY project in Soho, NYC.
Before hiring an interior designer for your office, ask to see a portfolio of similar projects. Express your needs and desires upfront, explaining whether your office’s interior will be a traditional office or a hybrid workspace. Ask each designer about innovative approaches they may have to new types of spaces. Also ask about how they would approach specifics of your space. For instance, if you work in a lab, will the designer properly educate themselves on the safety requirements for your space?
#5 Allow the Designer to Lead the Consultation
Finally, allow the designer to lead the consultation rather than taking over as the client. Photo above from Mammoth Projects’ Andela Offices project in Flatiron, NYC.
Once you have whittled your search down to one or two interior designers for your office, you will likely schedule consultation with each. During the interior design consultation, try to follow the designer’s lead. Answer questions honestly and be open about your expectations. Explain the atmosphere you would like to create, how you hope to grow and how long you expect to be in this space. While the designer asks his or her questions, consider how they interact with you and with their partners. When you are able to ask questions, do so thoughtfully.
In her article “7 Questions to Ask an Interior Designer” for Architectural Digest, Ariel Okin recommends asking about the designer’s approach. After all, “the most important factor is whether it is a good personality fit,” followed closely by stylistic compatibility. Business owners should consider how involved they would like to be in the project before deciding. Okin writes that “some designers prefer consulting with a client every step of the process." On the other hand, some designers "prefer full creative control." As such, you want to "know ahead of time what to expect.”
Final Thoughts on Office Interior Design
Invest in your employees and your clients by hiring a practiced interior designer who can capture your vision while guiding the project from start to finish. Photos above from Mammoth Projects’ Andela Offices project in Flatiron, NYC.
Remodeling an office interior can be daunting -- clouded by regulations, complicated functions and an evolving workplace culture. Any public-facing space must properly exhibit the goals, tenets and style of the company that owns it. Hiring an interior designer to transform your office’s interior limits stress, protects the budget and operates on the timeline of any project. As long as business owners budget well, communicate honestly and consider expertise, they are sure to find the right partner.