For offices in creative industries, art is not optional. The walls can be a testament to how creative your company is. Even before an applicant joins the workplace, they already see the office during interviews, and this can ultimately make or break the decision for them.
These days, it’s not just employees who benefit when they get hired. You also benefit from their skills, especially if they are the best among the applicants. To increase the chances of them choosing your company, incorporate the following creative designs in your office:
Using Stackable Storage
One person may need more storage than another. But if they have the same rigid storage solution, the office will end up looking like a collection of individual boxes. Yes, it’s cohesive to get the same cubicles in Las Vegas, and it will also champion equality in the office. But when it comes to shelves and boxes, learn to appropriate them where they are needed.
The HR department might need more shelving for paperwork. Give them enough storage, and don’t forget to paint them in the company colors to make them as much a part of the office as the desks and chairs. Storage solutions should not be an afterthought, and they should be positioned strategically and intentionally.
Having an Out-of-this-world Break Room
Even if you’re in a creative field, your employees might still run out of creativity from time to time. This is when they need to use the break room. But when it’s fashioned after the rest of the office, it doesn’t feel relaxing, and it doesn’t kick-start employee creativity. Rather than designing a break room as a blank slate, have a fun and quirky design for this space.
Ask your artists to design the walls. Have a comfortable couch. If you have a bigger budget, get a sleeping pod. It’s okay to make this room less formal than your other rooms. After all, it’s supposed to give employees a break from all the tediousness in their respective jobs.
Playing the Classics
Do you have an unused TV set in the office? Use it to play iconic movies or short films that will help revive your employees’ creativity. This can help anyone who is looking for inspiration for their latest pitch, or someone who has been dealing with numbers and want to take a break from arithmetic for a couple of minutes. You don’t need to do this every day. Set a day of the week–and perhaps an hour–to play the classics and give the office a fresh twist.
If movies are too distracting, consider playing classic songs instead. The volume can easily be controlled to everyone’s comfort level, and you can swap playlists according to the mood you’re trying to create in the office. The ’80s and ’90s have come up with timeless classics, most of which will evoke nostalgia. They can also help your artists come up with vintage-inspired ideas, and connect your Gen Z employees to an era they have not experienced.
Your office is designed for work, but it should also help the people in it to be creative. A little bit of change here and there can help you turn the office into a work of art.