As has been mentioned by others in the past, the brand is more than just the logo or the ad campaign. The brand, in many ways, is the all-pervasive force that will come to define a business in the eyes of the consumer. As such, even the biggest and most established of corporate empires find that there is a need to let every aspect of the company adhere to the brand’s image and values. This includes not only making sure the Chicago design firm sticks to what the company wants, but in some cases, applies even to the actual office of the business.
While most companies can get away with never having to show its internal workings and office space to the consumer, this is not always the case. There are some industries where the customer is likely to want to see the inner workings of the company before making any decisions. The design of the office also comes into play when inviting potential business partners over to discuss things. If the appearance and design of the office area doesn’t reflect what the brand or corporate image suggests, many will take it as a sign that the image of the company is just that – an image.
Not all areas of the business need to adhere to the brand image, nor is it the only acceptable guideline. Production areas, by their nature, are not going to be the most aesthetically pleasing parts of any company. So long as the process runs smoothly and gets everything done on time, visiting business partners or potential buyers won’t really care much. However, the office areas will need to at least be free of unnecessary clutter and have adequate room for people to move around. A cluttered, messy office gives off the impression of being disorganized and chaotic.
Note that this isn’t always the case. There are some industries where a little chaos and a few “unprofessional” touches are perfectly acceptable. Businesses focused on creative pursuits, such as interior design or art, are given a significant amount of leeway. An artist with too organized a space is usually seen as lacking in creativity and skill, while one that has his area in a mess can convince people he’s working on several ideas that can appeal to clients.
