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Jun 13, 2019 Truspace

How to Design for your Startup Office

While the advantages at start-ups (nap rooms, dry-cleaning, free snacks, etc.) are known to be very enjoyable, the office interior must be equally as pleasant. As corporations challenge the traditional ways of doing business, they’re now opting for spaces that reflect the same free-thinking mindset. So, as you focus on ideas to make your start-up success, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of office design. This article will be your guide on how to avoid trapping your team in an unproductive workspace.

Understand your people

Your start-up workspace doesn’t just consist of furniture and facilities. It’s made up of people, and if you want your people to believe in what they do, then you have to understand their needs first! Any office design, no matter how beautiful, will fall flat if it doesn’t meet the needs of the individuals working in it. Some of your employees will work better in big, open spaces, while others will be more productive in quieter, more separate areas. A department whose primary focus is data analysis will be more efficient in an enclosed space with no distractions. On the other hand, sales and customer service teams will operate more effectively in an acoustically optimized space, where they can openly have teleconference calls or speak on the phone without the worry of disturbing nearby co-workers.

Portray your identity

The design of your start-up office should convey your vision for the company without any need for explanation. Customers walking into the reception area should get a sense of your company’s culture from the atmosphere alone. If your company’s values are ingrained in its design, it’s a daily reminder to all of your employees and customers as to why they’ve chosen your company instead of your competitors’.

With that said, you should proudly brand your office with your logo and choose colors that compliment your corporate visual identity. Truspace believes every business is unique. That is why we work closely with you to gain a deep understanding of your start-up; from its goals and needs to its people and culture. Design for the future! The design of your start-up’s workspace requires flexibility: a rapidly expanding business demands adaptable offices with room for growth. Planning a workspace that can evolve with your start-up from the outset is a much more practical option than relocating the whole business to a bigger space every time a new group of employees arrives.

Our Truspace method consists of identifying the different working behavioral patterns of your team and using these to design your new office space. We observe how your employees operate and the ways in which they use the different areas of your current workspace. This method helps us better understand your company’s actual and future needs, allowing us to make our design decisions accordingly.

Emphasis on common spaces

The days of cubicles and segregated work desks are over! Shared spaces have now become the essence of modern offices. You and your team are probably going to spend a lot of time together in these common working areas, particularly during the crucial early stages of your business. Common spaces allow employees to turn to each other for advice or assistance, without needing to knock on doors or schedule formal meetings.

The atmosphere in these shared areas generally creates an environment that stimulates creative thinking and increases productivity. Think outside the box If you’re looking for office design ideas, you can start by encouraging your employees to express their personalities in their own workspace. Let your team help define the space with personal objects and art; in doing so, this builds trust and promotes a feeling of community.

Other ideas for decoration include indoor gardens and plants to bring nature indoors, bright colors to enhance creativity, and lots of natural light to keep employees feeling energized. Spend your money wisely; the chances are that your start-up doesn’t have unlimited resources for office design. Instead of viewing this as a limitation, this could make for some interesting decisions on how to use the space available. For example, freestanding bookshelves, customizable partitions, plant walls, or even modular workstations that move around can help your office space remain fluid and usable in almost any situation.

Truspace will bring a cohesive look to your project and make decisions in alignment with your vision and budget. We aim to create that ‘dream workspace’ that is sure to impress and inspire clients, co-workers, and investors alike.

Published by Truspace June 13, 2019