What are the Questions to Ask an Office Design Specialist?

Have you ever wondered about the sort of questions you should be asking an office design specialist? In many cases, office design can be a relatively complex process, but if you ask us, this shouldn’t have to stop you from creating the perfect space. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at some of the eight most crucial questions you should be asking of an office design specialist before allowing them to begin work on your premises; hopefully, this will help you find the perfect team for your business.

8 Crucial Questions You Should Ask an Office Design Specialist 

These days, it’s not enough to just purchase a whole load of desks and dump them in a room to create an office; as such, hiring an experienced architect can make a world of difference to the space. However, not all teams are necessarily created equal, which is why you should always check the following eight points before hiring a design specialist to ensure you’re getting the best possible service.

#1 What Is The Team’s Experience In The Design Field?

One of the first questions you should check before hiring any office design architects is simple: what is their experience, ideally with similar businesses to your own? Ideally, be sure to check factors such as how long they have worked in the office design field, the scale of projects they've worked on, and any other industry-specific expertise they may have garnered. 

#2 Does The Team Have a Portfolio Of Past Projects?

When hiring an office design specialist, the proof is in the pudding, as it were; as such, being able to evaluate a brand’s past work and projects can provide a clear insight into their design style. In turn, this can help you understand how their service might work for your brand.

When checking a team’s portfolio, try to keep diversity in mind; looking at the different styles employed can help demonstrate the brand’s ability to tailor the office design to the business’s specific needs, giving a more tailored service accordingly.

#3 What is the brand’s design process? 

Every design team works differently, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, before you hire a team, checking how they work can help you decide whether they’ll be able to create a space that works for your business. As part of this, try to check how the architects look at factors such as design and draft approval and ensure that factors such as space utilisation, employee collaboration, accessibility, and privacy needs are all accounted for during this process. 

#4 How Do You Address The Balance Between Aesthetics and Practicality In Office Design?

Achieving a harmonious balance between aesthetics and practicality is an art, and this is one of the biggest hurdles for many businesses. In accordance with this goal, asking your chosen brand how they approach this task can help give you additional confidence that your new office space will simultaneously be functional and enjoyable for staff. 

Ideally, ask for examples from the brand of how they have successfully integrated design elements to enhance the workspace's aesthetics while contributing to overall efficiency in previous projects. This can help back up any claims the brand makes in terms of balance.

#5 How Do You Incorporate Employee Input Into The Design Process?

Office design is crucial to help employees work at their best in a comfortable, rewarding environment; thus, their feedback is integral in creating a workspace that resonates with users. As such, a specialist designer should be willing to engage with your brand’s employees through a collaborative approach, valuing employee input and incorporating it into the final design.

#6 What’s The Price For The Office Design?

At the end of the day, no business has a bottomless pit of money for office design; as such, asking about the budget is crucial when hiring a specialist office designer. Additionally, look for a team that can work flexibly within budget constraints without sacrificing design quality. Discuss the brand’s approach to cost-effective solutions and value engineering to ensure that the final design meets both aesthetic and practical expectations and financial constraints.

#7 What Are The Timelines For The Design? 

Every design team works differently, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, before you hire a team, checking how they work can help you decide whether they’ll be able to create a space that works for your business. As part of this, try to check how the architects look at factors such as design and draft approval and ensure that factors such as space utilisation, employee collaboration, accessibility, and privacy needs are all accounted for during this process. 

#8 How Can The Team Create a Space That Aligns With Your Company?

As a final check, it’s crucial that your chosen brand understands your business's unique needs and industry. As such, checking that the team understands your company's ethos before hiring them is vital.

Of course, don’t expect the design team to have complete knowledge of your business at the outset; however, they should have a clear overview of your core motives, should conduct thorough research throughout the process, and must be able to engage with key stakeholders to integrate the company's culture and values seamlessly into the design. This ensures the workspace offers a true reflection of your organisation, promoting a more cohesive and positive environment that resonates with employees.

Don’t Compromise on Your Office Desgin Space

At the end of the day, creating the perfect environment is essential to ensure your brand is making the most of your office space. After all, an uncomfortable office can be a severe drag on workers’ productivity, leading to higher stress levels accordingly. Thus, the importance of creating a stunning, relaxing, and productive workplace cannot be said highly enough, and we have outlined some of the main things you need to know to help with this.