Branding

The Origin of "Skunkworks"

Branding; First impressions make a big impact on how we think about things, especially in the corporate world. We assume we know how much money a person makes by the car they drive. We base how professional a person is on their wardrobe. Not surprisingly, the furniture you use also speaks volumes about your office.

Drab, dull offices with worn and old furniture project to clients that you do not take a lot of pride in your business. It can also make your business seem dated and behind the times. In contrast, an office with shiny, new, state-of-the-art equipment tells clients that your finger is always on the pulse of what's happening in the world. You might seem more capable of meeting their evolving needs and also in sync with their expectations.

The furniture, design and even the setup of your space also conveys to clients what sort of business you run. If someone were to walk into a law office that was set up like a call center they would certainly be confused. They would probably even immediately turn around and leave, assuming you couldn't provide them with the services they need.

Interior designers therefore "brand" the spaces they work on. A brand is more or less something that is recognized by a unique characteristic. Designers make sure that the offices they work on are recognizable for what they are (a bank, a law office, etc.). This is instrumental in a client's confidence in your company.

Banks are set up with a large reception area. It's important that the furniture in it is both durable and solid. With such a high flow of traffic, the furniture in bank lobbies must be able to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Tellers' counters and kiosks should be able to deal with constant contact with keys, belt buckles and shoes. They should be made of material that is easily cleaned. It's also crucial that they don't look like they are temporary. You don't want your clients thinking that your bank will be gone next week. Banks also often times have private areas set up for confidential conferences. It's important that these areas provide privacy-whether they are in separate rooms or are areas surrounded by panels that reduce noise.

Designers for banks generally use a lot of earth tones and natural materials. Solid wood desks and muted colors let clients know they are in a stable and safe environment. Comfort is also a major issue, as clients need to have the impression that you are happy doing business with them.

Law offices are both very similar and very different from banks in branding. They too often use muted colors and natural materials to convey a conservative atmosphere. However, reception areas in law offices are set up very differently than banks. That is, there is generally a big desk for the receptionist and no glass partition or stations set up for clients to fill out forms. Instead, there are few comfortable chairs and a table with magazines. In a law office, this area is set up similar to a doctor's waiting room, as opposed to a bank where the area is more like a workstation for clients. The waiting area is, however, less clinical looking than a doctor's office. In general, a law office looks more like a library than other offices do. This sort of intellectual environment helps convey to clients that you are very knowledgeable and capable of meeting their needs.

Call centers are set up very differently from banks and law offices. For one, there is a very limited number (if any) of clients that visit call centers. This makes the durability of the furniture much less important. It also makes it less important to have matching, cohesive work areas. While the comfort of your employees and the ease with which they can work should be important to you, the aesthetics of your space is less important when you don't have clients visiting it regularly. Call centers are also different in that they are often huge spaces filled with cubicles.

The office of an ad agency would be branded completely differently than all of the aforementioned spaces. The colors used would be much brighter and the furniture much more contemporary than the traditional pieces found in law offices and banks. This is because ad agencies should come across as hip and modern to their clients. It's important that they are up on new trends and pop culture. A more traditional looking aesthetic would make clients wonder if the company was capable of catering to their needs. It could even make them look dated.

The type of furniture you choose can make a huge impact on your clientele. For this reason, it is important to think very carefully about the image you want your company to convey. This image can easily be reflected in the furniture you choose to outfit your office. At MAiSPACE, we are ready to help your company design, furnish and install just the right furniture to make the statement you wish to make.