Great design is dictated by “Form follows Function”. One of the first questions that needs to be addressed in the design of a new office space or remodel is “what brand are you selling”? YOUR BRAND is created within the first 10 seconds of someone entering your retail space. So, ask yourself, “Are you creating your OWN BRAND or supporting someone else’s”?
(Example of a personally branded space – Northwest Vision Source, Ballard, WA)
It would be quite easy for us to simply focus on the retail portion of your business for this design blog, but the reality is that your practice is a blend of both retail and professional services. EACH aspect of your business must match the brand you are wanting to create. For example, a fancy retail space coupled with an older looking or less coordinated professional service area would not reinforce the brand image created as someone entered the space. Likewise, a very professional service area coupled with an outdated retail space would be a mixed message on your brand.
The scenarios listed above are quite simple to understand and to address such that the design intent will be to have both areas compliment each other. The other side of this is more specific to brand dilution. Imagine a beautiful clean, bright white office space with every brand you offer controlled by you regarding signage, location and method of display. The entire look is YOUR BRAND even though you are highlighting “product” from a branded supplier. The converse of this is when you add a glass and metal display in one area and then a wood display in another area and then a wall mounted display in yet another area. Each of these is strictly branded to the product supplied. Has your brand just been diluted? Is your brand more important or is the product more important? Most likely that same product can be purchased from a myriad of sources, but your services can only be provided at your space.
The most effective Interior Design will combine feature display, proper lighting, a well-planned transition from retail space to professional space and a unified theme to create the brand you are trying to achieve. To aid the designers you engage, it always helps to identify the market position you wish to put into the mind of the consumer as they enter your space. A well designed professional commercial space has typically provided great results for offices we have designed or offices we have reviewed.
