Friday, September 26, 2008

Raise Productivity with Improved Office Design

By Steven Jones


The idea of office planning is a comparatively modern one. Since the invention of "the working day" and "the office", little thought has been focused on the way an office was planned. If any thought was considered, it was mostly restricted to the aesthetic appeal of an office and this has, sadly, remained the normal assumption when someone considers an office refurbishment. Whilst visual aesthetics remain a vital aspect of office planning, modern companies now view office design embodying the much wider idea of space management. Excellent office design not only produces a visually beautiful interior, it also attempts to create an efficient and practical working space.

Office design is necessary for a plethora of reasons, for both workers and the corporation as a whole. For the business, modern office design gives the opportunity to create a place of business that announces a strong corporate identity. It is here that visual aesthetics reach their most paramount function as they work to demonstrate to a visiting client about the business, what it values, what its priorities are and what it thinks of itself. First impressions matter and the visual appeal of the space that customers see first is most vital.

For employees, too, practical office refurbishment is incredibly important. Visually, a well-planned office will increase employees morale. An workplace should be an inspirational area to work and not just a "working space". Just as for clients, usingoffice design to brand an office with a strong corporate identity can encourage a positive work culture and motivate employees to work in a way relevant to the values of the business.

Excellent office design also has a more practical function as it takes into account how an office space will work and uses that knowledge to create a practical and useful space. It should also include elements that will work to support workers with unique needs, such as employees with disabilities. In this regard, office design works together with workplace health and safety in order to build a cohesive, practical and pleasing environment for all workers.

It is important to understand that office refurbishment is an ongoing practicality, rather than a one-off design occurrence. The office design must keep pace with the demands natural in a working space, where how an office is utilized is continuously evolving. New workplace and safety laws must also be considered. Finally, the evolving nature of a company's brand and corporate identity is an additional reason why it's crucial to keep office design modern.

There are two alternatives when deciding on office design software: whether it will be a new fit-out or whether it will be an office refurbishment. A new fit-out should be contemplated for existing premises, as well as new ones, as it allows a business the one-off ability to create a one-off design that works in conjunction with a businesses workplace requirements. The second choice is an office refurbishment, which is an good choice if the essential structure of the space is still adequate for workers requirements and gives the chance to update and modernize cost-effectively.

There are several aspects to think about in an office refurbishment. Priority should be given to thinking about how a office will be used. What are the traffic flows in the office? Where should meeting areas be situated? What are the unique requirements of employees who may have special needs? All of these questions must be met by the office design if a office is to work practically. Additionally, thought should be given to the storage requirements of an office, what equipment will be used and where it should be placed, where the power and data points are (or should be), what kind of light sources are in the office and where they are coming from and any sound or sound-proofing requirements. Visually, thought should be given to color schemes, logos and finishes that work together to build a pleasing effect that reinforces the corporate brand and identity.

When contemplating how to create and execute your office refurbishment, a business can hire a specialist design business. There are many corporations that concentrate on office design and a business can use this expertise to create a tailored plan with a minimum of worry. An alternative option is to use office design software. This is an option that has only become available to the general public relatively recently. It has the potential to let a business to economically redesign or refurbish their working place. Whichever option is chosen, however, it should be the option that will meet a businesses design aims within budget.

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