Interior engagement

Both the exterior and interior are set up to make people feel at ease. By making people feel at ease, psychologically they feel safer, and this builds trust, which in turn makes them more inclined to engage.

If the outside catches people’s attention, a laid-back, open interior will help build on that good first impression. The goal is to freshen things while still staying true to the Aled Ellis & Co Ltd brand, giving it a little update that reflects the company’s core values: professional, focused, friendly, and supportive.

We’ve gone for a “resimercial” design approach, which basically means mixing homely design touches into workspaces to make it feel more relaxed and welcoming to staff and clients alike. The idea is to create an interior that everyone can enjoy, where both employees and visitors feel comfortable.

Happy staff are proud staff, and proud staff provide great customer service, which ultimately drives success.

To break up the space visually, we’ve used the new brand colours on the walls but still gave a nod to the old look. The flooring is grey carpet here, with a mix of vinyl and carpet on the next page, both of which help make the office feel bigger.

When you’re online, images do the heavy lifting, and brand colours can be more subtle. But in the office, a statement wall with the Aled Ellis & Co Ltd name front and centre is a great way to make the brand stand out. Plus, it replaces the big logo on the window, freeing up space so potential clients (and competitors) can see inside.

When it comes to the office layout, we’ve taken a bit of a feng-shui approach. The desks are arranged in a way that breaks down physical and mental barriers. They face the main feature wall and the door, giving staff a sense of control and a view of the whole room. It also creates more personal/private workspaces and opens the flow and energy in the office. This reconfiguration allows clients to move around more freely, helping to create a more relaxed, informal atmosphere.

At the front, there is a comfy, laid-back meeting/waiting area with some durable leather chairs that age well and are easy to clean. There’s also a small desk for a laptop and brochures, which is just far enough from the agent desks to give a bit of separation.

For the work area, research shows that it’s better to keep seating at a slight angle, so everyone can naturally break eye contact. Another feng-shui trick we’ve used, is to position the desks so they get natural light without it being directly in the line of sight, which reduces distractions and stress. We’ve also added more plants to break up the space, brighten the room, and improve air quality. Plus, they help with staff wellness, especially if they’re fragrant varieties like lavender or jasmine.

When it comes to office hardware, sit/stand desks are great for health and productivity. In terms of decluttering, if desktop PCs are preferred over laptops, big (32”/34”) monitors like the Dell Ultrasharp’s are perfect for productivity, image display and presentations, and if used with monitor arms, can free up valuable desk space. Matching the colour of big office hardware, like printers and filing cabinets to the walls helps them blend in, making for a more appealing aesthetic. Finally, adding an internal wall-mounted interactive display gives potential clients the option to check listings without having to engage right away.

Both the exterior and interior are designed to make people feel at ease. When people feel comfortable, they feel safer, and that builds trust, making them more likely to engage.