We chat to our lead office designer and Creative Director, Linda Swanepoel to see what a typical day looks like in the Modern Concepts office.
How does commercial interior design differ to residential design?
Commercial interior design is actually very different to residential work. Commercial design has to really focus on the user experience and functional layouts as both relate directly to a company’s outputs.
Residential is more about creating comfortable, personal spaces where the focus is on liveability not productivity.
Commercial spaces, I find have much bigger expectations as functional office design is critical to how a business can perform, retain staff and grow into the future.
How do you start your day – with coffee or tea?
Oh my mind is always planning ahead so I definitely am not a coffee drinker – no more mental stimulation is required!
I love a Chai with skim milk which is a great ritual for starting my day while I work through my emails and respond to any project or supplier queries.
What are your go to sources for finding office design project inspiration?
Every project and client that we deal with is unique which is rewarding from a creative perspective. I get to exercise fresh creative concepts with every job. My inspiration always starts with the client first and foremost. What they want to achieve, their brand, their work culture – it all paints a picture for me creatively.
Beyond that we often turn to supplier source books and samples for other creative inspiration, and I am fond of a deep dive into Pinterest from time to time too!
What are your non-negotiable design features for commercial spaces?
A well-considered floor plan is the absolute foundation for planning commercial spaces. If your floor plan is wrong, it will impact productivity and will limit your company in terms of achieving your goals and future growth.
Workstation layouts are also important – you need to ensure that you plan for adequate circulation space and privacy around each desk to allow staff to have their own space and be able to focus while keeping the room’s acoustics under control.
Workstation size and ergonomics planning are also critical for ensuring employee comfort and productivity.
Making sure that the office features don’t block natural light and utilising materials that can withstand foot traffic and aid acoustics is also extremely important.
Of course ensuring that all materials are graded for commercial usage and that we meet all relevant building regulations and code is also essential!
What do you think makes a great office designer?
Having the ability to really connect and listen to your clients is just so important. Being able to take and shape their brief, foster their creative ideas and make those into a practical layout that actually works in terms of flow and function is a real art.
In commercial spaces it’s also the sign of a great designer to be able to capture the client’s brand and personality and weave that into their finished space.
Being on budget is also critical. It’s getting harder these days with materials and labour increases so it really requires lots of planning and ongoing project management but those are process we don’t compromise on – no client likes a blown budget!
Favourite projects or styles that you have worked on?
Every project is different, so I have a lot of favourites! For me though, I find working with particularly run down spaces a very rewarding process. Seeing something that is so unusable and unloved transformed into a beautiful, functional space is pretty satisfying.
My favourite time within the office fitout process is always the last week of the construction program. This is when walls are in and visually everything comes together. Seeing the client’s faces at this phase is always such a thrill as this is when they start to see how they will work within the space.
To consult with Linda on your next commercial project, please complete the form below.