How does branding influence an office design?

Ask any marketer about design and they will tell you about the importance of visual brand guidelines.
There’s a set of principles on everything from fonts to colours and photography to tone of voice, all designed to ensure the brand message is communicated consistently and synergy is created. So, how does a business’s visual brand identity influence an office design?

Following the competition of our project for Stack Exchange, where branding was key, we sat down with designer Ruth Hartley Hoad to discuss.

”Like any other young tech company, Stack Exchange needed their space to represent their dynamic and fresh approach. They wanted their visual brand to shine through, so it played a big part in the new office design. For example, were very enthusiastic about our suggestion of including four phone booths for informal meeting between two people, each of which have a different theme and highlight a different aspect of their business.

Instead of creating quirky interiors with little relevance to the business, it was decided each would have significance to Stack Exchange. Two represent their global offices in New York (a classic NY Subway with NYPD cop) and Denver (complete with mountain range), one pays homage to their old office in Southwark, and the most eccentric features numerous unicorns (that’s kind of their mascot)!

Together, these meeting rooms represent the Stack Exchange brand and history, without the logo plastered all over them; showing their fun side and representing who they are. To further highlight Stack Exchange’s brand within the design, colours were chosen to reflect their logo mixed with oranges from their sister company Stack Overflow for their tea point. A subtle representation of their brand.

The beauty of design is that it allows for freedom, innovation, and creativity. So don’t see adhering to your company’s brand guidelines as a blinker, but more of a platform to create a truly personalised and meaningful design.