Sunday, October 5, 2008

Contemporary Office Design Made Simple

By Fredrick Simmons

The theory of office design is a comparatively modern one. Since the beginning of "the working day" and "the office", little thought has been focused on the way an office was planned. If any planning was considered, it was mostly restricted to the aesthetic appeal of an office and this has, sadly, remained the usual assumption when someone considers an office design. Whilst visual aesthetics stay as a vital aspect of office design, modern staff now see office design embodying the much broader concept of space management. Cutting-edge office design software not only produces a visually beautiful interior, it also endeavours to create an efficient and practical working space.

Office design is necessary for a plethora of reasons, for both workers and the company as a whole. For the company, modern office design software gives the opportunity to create a place of business that proclaims a strong corporate identity. It is here that visual aesthetics reach their most important function as they serve to demonstrate to a visiting associate about the business, what it values, what its priorities are and what it thinks of itself. First impressions count and the visual appeal of the area that customers see initially is particularly vital.

For staff, too, good office design is incredibly important. Visually, a well-designed 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 software to brand a workplace with a strong corporate identity can encourage a positive work culture and encourage staff to work in a way relevant to the values of the business.

Exceptional office refurbishment also has a more practical function as it takes into account how an office space will be used and applies that information to design a practical and useful space. It should also include elements that will help to support employees with special needs, such as staff with disabilities. In this regard, office design works together with workplace health and safety in order to make a cohesive, practical and pleasing environment for all employees.

It is necessary to know that office design is an continuing practicality, rather than a one-off design occurrence. The office design software must keep pace with the demands natural in a working space, where how an office is utilized is continuously changing. New workplace and safety laws must also be adhered to. Finally, the changing nature of a company's logo and corporate identity is an extra reason why it's vital to keep office design modern.

There are two options when deciding on an office design: whether it will be a new fit-out or whether it will be an office refurbishment. A new fit-out should be evaluated for current premises, as well as new ones, as it allows a company the special chance to create a tailor-made plan that works in perfect harmony with a corporation's workplace requirements. The other choice is an office refurbishment, which is an good choice if the basic structure of the space is still relevant for staff requirements and gives the opportunity to update and modernize economically.

There are several aspects to contemplate in an office refurbishment. Priority should be given to thinking about how a workplace will be used. What are the traffic flows in the space? Where should meeting spaces be situated? What are the specific needs of staff who may have disabilities? All of these questions must be addressed by the office design software if a workplace is to work practically. Additionally, consideration should be given to the storage needs of an space, what equipment will be used and where it should be located, where the power and data points are (or should be), what kind of light sources are in the space and where they are coming from and any sound or sound-proofing requirements. Visually, consideration should be given to color schemes, brands and finishes that work together to build a contemporary effect that strengthens the corporate brand and identity.

When thinking about how to develop and execute your office design, a business can hire a specialist design business. There are many businesses that work in corporate design and a business can draw on this expertise to develop a unique plan with a minimum of fuss. Another choice is to use office design software. This is an choice that has only become available to the general public relatively recently. It has the potential to allow a business to economically redesign or refurbish their working space. Whichever option is chosen, however, it should be the choice that will meet a businesses design ideas within budget.

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