Gone the days of gloomy office cubicles.

With 51% per cent of employees being disengaged in the workplace, companies are aware they have to do better.

After all, the employees are the biggest asset they have.

The design trends of the office space are becoming increasingly human-centric. Productivity at the work spot is no longer forced – happier employees are more productive anyway.

Interior branding is something that may give employees – and clients! – a few more reasons to smile while interacting with your brand.

Read on to discover how interior branding is changing the employee experience while enabling you to promote the brand’s experience further on.

What are the key elements of interior branding?

The latest ATUS data suggests that people spend more time at work than they do at home – a vital information for all interior designers.

If we add the fact that the office space is often the most common touchpoint for customers, it’s obvious why you may need it. Telling your brand’s story with an authentic interior design that appeals to everyone might no longer be an option; it has become a necessity.

Here are the key elements of every successful environmental branding:

Design and develop a functional but yet pleasant environment to maximize productivity and minimize burnout.

Reinforce the visual identity of the brand with carefully chosen office features compatible with your brand’s mission, voice, and products.



Multi-sensory approach – consistently engage all of the five senses and promote wellbeing both for the employees and the visiting clients.



Create a memorable experience to increase the brand’s loyalty and make your company stand out from the crowd.

Read more:

Interior branding done right

Here’s a glimpse into the latest interior branding trends that might help you determine the next big move in your branding strategy.

Offices designed to improve the employee experience

With the brainpower being the leading force behind each successful company, happy employees can be up to 21% more productive. And the secret to making someone happy? Make them feel welcomed, comfortable – and they’re likely to stay.

Open space offices dominate the trends right now: vast, airy spaces with light that follows the natural circadian rhythm. Physical barriers no longer exist. Aesthetically-pleasing elements are there to serve a purpose but also, tell a story – and Google is the ultimate champion in the area.



Source: Glassdoor: Google Mountain View Office

But you don’t need billions to do the same.

Scent is the fastest way to make an emotional connection with someone – and form a bond that stays.

Designs that incorporate aroma, among other natural elements like plants and sunlight, have shown impressive results in improving the employee experience but also, boosting productivity on the spot.

A Japanese study found out that workers exposed to lemon scent made 54% fewer data entry errors, with other scents like orange or lavender decreasing stress and encouraging cooperation.

Tell a multi-sensory branding story

Environmental branding opens up another communication channel with customers that can strengthen the brand experience at different touchpoints.

For instance, the reception area is the most common area where customers interact with a brand for the first time. More often than not, this is the spot where they make – or break! – their first impression.

Everything plays an important role: from the colours you choose to use to the ambient music you play, engaging all of the five senses has never been more important. Olfactory branding may be the last, often-overlooked piece of the multi-sensory branding puzzle. Use scent to impact emotions, create memories, and make a long-lasting connection – both with customers and employees.

Encourage teamwork but offer solitude as well

A study found that the number of employees being unable to focus at their desk has increased by 16% from 2008. Open plan work areas excel at promoting teamwork but everyone who’s ever been part of them knows the importance of having a place to focus.

And designers recognize the need for purposeful solitude. Think phone booths, productivity nooks, and quiet pods as a way to offer employees some much-needed quiet time.

In 2018, it’s all about the balance between working in a team and embracing individual time as a way to maximize productivity.

Employees can be brand ambassadors too!

Actively engaged customers most often transition into brand ambassadors. But the same happens with employees who are proud to be part of the team.

A competitive compensation might not do the trick anymore. Employees seek a place where they feel valued. The motivation to want to do a job to the best of your abilities stems from within – and most often, is directly related to the level of employee’s satisfaction.

Giants like Southwest Airlines, Facebook, and Microsoft recognize the importance of company pride – which may be one of the secrets to their massive success.

Wellbeing is becoming a priority

The latest office design trends focus more than ever on the wellbeing of the employees rather than maximizing space use.

According to Willis Towers Watson survey, stress is one of the biggest productivity killers. More than half of the 22,347 survey participators who claimed to experience high levels of stress on their job stated they are disengaged on the work spot.

To promote a more relaxed working environment, companies are introducing various methods that might have seemed unconventional a few years ago but are doing the job now.

A greater flexibility regarding the way work is done – hello, standing desks! – and kitchens that double as conference halls are rapidly taking over modern office designs. There are the so-called fun rooms, the on-site gyms and pools. And then, there are the rosemary and lavender diffusers to help promote a healthier, calmer environment and improve the employee experience.

As you can see, the branding experience is evolving by the minute.

Are you interested in taking your interior branding and brand scent creation‌ to a whole other level?

Click here for inquiries or call us at +353 87 467 2159

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Olfactory Branding: How to Create Memorable Brand Experiences