What’s included in Office Design Services

What makes up a good office design service?

 

A good office design service encompasses much more than just aesthetics. It’s about creating a functional, productive, and inspiring workspace. Here’s a breakdown of the key constituents:

1. Comprehensive Understanding and Design brief:

Workplace Consultancy:

1. This involves in-depth analysis of the company’s culture, workflows, and employee needs.
2. It includes understanding how employees work, collaborate, and communicate. Critical adjacencies are a feature of this step, modelling the interaction between teams and departments.
3. It also includes understanding future business needs, and how the space will need to adapt.

Space Planning and Optimization:

1. 1. Efficient use of available space to maximize functionality.
   2. Creating layouts that promote collaboration and individual focus.
   3. Considering factors like traffic flow, acoustics, and lighting that form the core of the office environment.
   4. Developing alternative layouts helps explore all the options. Considering every option ensures the client & design team have examined alternatives and can be reassured that the chosen layouts and designs really are the best solution.

Detailed Briefing:

• Clear communication and documentation of the client’s vision, goals, and budget.

Fit Out Survey:

• Any insight into the quirks and pitfalls of the office premises will be of tremendous help in supporting the understanding of constraints formed by the building. Planning around, or to resolve, problems in the base build can have a lasting impact on the functioning of the office, and on the effectiveness of the design scheme. Basics such as sun angles, HVAC performance or compliance with building regulations are prerequisites for a good office design service.

2. Creative and Functional Design:

Conceptual Design:

1. 1. Developing innovative and visually appealing design concepts.
   2. Creating 3D visualizations and floor plans to help clients visualize the space.

Interior Design Expertise:

1. 1. Selecting appropriate furniture, finishes, and materials.
   2. Creating a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing environment.
   3. Expertise in lighting design, to ensure proper working environments.

Ergonomic Considerations:

1. 1. Prioritizing employee comfort and well-being through ergonomic furniture and layouts.
   2. Addressing factors like posture, movement, and accessibility.

Branding:

• Company identity will often be a feature to add into the design mix.

Technology Integration:

• A good design service will integrate the tech requirements that are being developed by the client. Bringing the clients’ IT team into the design team will ensure the overall design makes the most of opportunities to blend tech into the office interior, or indeed use tech advances to inform the design scheme.

Sustainable Design Considerations:

• Incorporating sustainable materials and solutions at the design stage can lower the capex costs. It can ensure a greener office is easier to fit out and easier to operate over the lifespan of the interior and associated asset write-down.

3. Project Management and Execution:

Project Management:

1. 1. Overseeing all aspects of the project, from design to installation.
   2. Managing timelines, budgets, and contractors. Costs control and clear communication on cost changes are one of the most important parts of the design service. Its possible in a design & build format to design to a price. Equally its easy to plot cost implications of design alterations during the design development. Conveying these to the client informs the decision making process on design amendments.
   3. Ensuring smooth and efficient execution of the design scheme. This step includes portraying the design in visuals, finishes boards and elevation drawings to explain the details that become so important once the headline design scheme is frozen.
   4. Effective communication to bring all parties up to speed and awareness. Client management and staff, construction side teams, landlord and building admin, can all be included in the process.
   5. Compliance. The office design service has a statutory requirement to fulfil the ‘Principal Designers’ role set out in CDM regulations. The principal designer must envisage any health and safety hazards within the design scheme and spread awareness so that RAMS can be formulated to take account of possible safety hazards.

Technical Design and Documentation:

1. 1. Providing detailed technical drawings and specifications. These include drawings for sub contractors, landlord, other suppliers such as IT, and for record purposes as an accurate reflection of the As Built layouts for future reference.
   2. Ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations.
   3. Detailed costing and Procurement preparation. A good design service steers the detailed costing process and sets up the procurement once the scheme moves into the construction phase. Design & Build is a fast-paced process and having procurement set up ensures lead times dovetail with the on-site program. It can also work in reverse…designers can exclude any items with extended lead times during the design phase and replace with materials or suppliers who can fit in with the timelines.

Furniture Procurement and Installation:

• 1. Sourcing high-quality furniture and fixtures that spearhead new ways of working.
  2. Managing the delivery and installation process.

4. Client-Centric Design Approach:

Collaboration and Communication:

• 1. Maintaining open and transparent communication with the client throughout the project.
  2. Incorporating client feedback and preferences.

Flexibility and Adaptability:

• 1. Adapting to changing client needs and project requirements.
  2. Providing flexible solutions that can evolve with the company.

Well-being in the office:

• Creating a ‘well being’ office considers the individual and weaves this into the design approach.

Post-Occupancy Support:

• Offering ongoing support and maintenance after the project is completed.

In essence, a good office design service is a partnership that transforms a workspace into a strategic asset for a business.

Fusion Office Design take great pride in our office design service. Being your design and build partner and helping in the transformation of your organisation is the bedrock of our business. If you’re thinking about an office fit out and need office design services to start the process get in touch today. For more information on office design services click here.