The office lobby is the first—and sometimes last—impression a company can make on a client, employee or vendor. An office lobby acts as both a measuring stick for that company’s professionalism and quality, as well as a barometer for their atmosphere, culture, and goals. Thus, it’s crucial to design according to the values and goals of the company. After all, you only get one shot at a first impression so make it GREAT!
Design Is A Language
Many people underestimate the impact design can have on people. There is a language spoken through design that conveys many things. Whether it’s a font that evokes a certain emotion or a style of furniture that sets the feel of the room, there is a language of design that people innately interrupt. Even when people aren’t classically trained in design, they pick up on these cues. For example, most people can identify “traditional,” “mid-century,” or “modern” design from the furniture art and space layout.
These terms mean one thing to an individual and but a whole other thing to those creating an office or business environment. Design for a large businesses or established enterprises have more traditional aesthetics. These companies aim to reflect tasteful, traditional, and comforting interiors and use design to convey an air of professionalism and success.
Other businesses, for example those in a creative industry, can find success with contemporary, creative, and offbeat themes in the design of their space. This design language reflects a break from the norm and is more likely to appeal to customers, clients, and businesses that embrace this view.
No matter what a business is trying to convey or which design language they put forth, the office lobby will set the stage for what to expect. It is important to select the correct design language and using specific design cues as a guide. When in place the office lobby can portray the traditions and values of a business as soon as someone walks through the door.
Brand and Design Go Hand-In-Hand
Brand is a word that’s thrown around a lot these days but has important connotations in the language of design. Whether someone can recognize it or not, they expect a certain consistency in branding and design from a company. They have specific expectations when walking into a building or a lobby, and those can color our reaction to any situation. For example, people don’t expect to walk into Google or Apple’s headquarters and see a traditional space that resembles a library or law office. These expectations come from branding and design. For example, Apple products are modern and industrial, on would expect their space, particularly their lobby, would reflect that clean sleek design. From the furniture, to the color choice, to the space layout, each element of the lobby should reflect the business so much so that just simply experiencing the lobby evokes instant brand recognition.
Cultural Impact Based on Visual Cue
Whether you’ve been in business for 100 years or just one, your customers’ impressions matter. The idea of a bulletproof reputation is less common in the days of Google Reviews, Yelp, or Amazon feedback, but it certainly matters just the same. Just like an interviewer might judge an applicant or interviewee for their choice of clothing, a customer selects the place they do business with on the same instant visual judgment.
If a potential employee or buyer enters your building for a meeting to outdated, mismatched furnishings or poorly placed items, they will automatically believe that your business operates with those principles. The same care and thought you place on presentations or business processes should be given to your interior lobby space.
If you would like help in designing the lobby that you’ve always imagined for your business, contact us at King Business Interiors today to find out how we can help.
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