Is your office filled with plain white walls? If so, then you might want to consider office branding. It makes the space your own, creates visual interest, and it helps staff feel like they’re meaningfully part of a team. Visiting clients are sure to appreciate it too!
This ultimate guide will help you come up with an office branding strategy that boosts morale and leaves a lasting impression. We’ll also offer creative ideas, so you have a good place to start from.
What is office branding?
Office branding is when a business applies its unique colours, logos, messaging and designs to the workspace. The brand identity becomes part of the environment, sometimes through office wall graphics, window stickers, flooring, and 3D signs. The most effective office branding tends to be consistent and easy to understand, even for someone who knows nothing about the business.
You can get everything you need for your project in our online store. All products can be customised in seconds, either by uploading your own artwork or by using the free templates in the design tool.
What are the benefits of office branding?
A good office branding strategy can work wonders for your business. Here are the 3 main benefits:
Better employee morale - No one wants to sit in a dull room all day. That’s why a branded office space can help staff morale. A more vibrant workplace will be more interesting to look at, and it might inspire staff to be more creative. Remember; a positive environment usually means more positive people.
Increased brand visibility - A branded office will help visitors remember you, as they’ll associate the imagery with their experience. Office branding can also be a backdrop for social posts and videos, especially if you go for office wall graphics. If you have company vans parked outside, then vinyl vehicle wrapping is the very best way to take your branding on the road.
Trust and professionalism - Branded workplaces look more professional than unbranded ones. You’ll seem more confident in what you do, and that’s encouraging for potential clients and new hires – and that’s why it’s so important to claim the space with your company branding.
How to perfect your office branding strategy
A branded office doesn’t just appear overnight. First, you’ll need to consider how your brand identity translates into assets that can be placed into the environment. At the end of this process, you’ll have more assets than ever for your marketing collateral.
1. Check your logo and brand assets
Every office branding project starts with a good logo. Is yours up to date and in the proper colours? Is it in a high resolution, ready for printing in large format? It’s also worth thinking about your brand’s place in the modern market. You don’t want to brand your office, only to have to have to change it a year or so down the line.
2. Select a bold colour palette
Your logo likely features one or two colours, but you probably don’t want your office branding, such as stickers, posters or wall art, to be quite so limited. That’s why it’s good to have some extra colours that pair well together. You can then use these consistently across your office space, along with marketing channels and digital platforms.
3. Create a powerful message
Do you have a tagline or company message? What about your brand’s core values? Office branding is about more than just a few colours and a logo. A powerful message or story can work wonders for your brand, and it can even remind staff why they joined in the first place. Check out these tips on signage design for advice on getting your message seen.
4. Design according to layout
A branded office space should put its people first. That means planning each area based on department size, collaboration needs, and workflow. Once that’s decided, you’ll know how to use each space effectively. You can then add the design elements, from coloured walls and signage to branded furniture and accessories. If you need inspiration, scroll down or check out these office decorating ideas.
5. Put your branding front and centre
Office branding is most effective in certain areas. Your reception is a hotspot, so it’s prime retail estate for your company branding. You could also brand breakout spaces and meeting rooms, depending on how much they’re used. The best places to brand have high foot traffic and are visible to potential customers. See our guide on how to showcase your brand for more info.
Office branding design ideas
Here are some cost-effective ideas to help you get started. If you like what you see, the Raccoon team can handle every facet of the project, from design and print to the finished installation.
Install branded wall art
Office wall graphics can be customised to align with your company’s vision. You could create a large, visually striking mural for a brick wall, display a motivational strapline, or display an inspirational image of a forest or mountainside.
Whatever you have in mind, vinyl wall graphics are easy to put up and quick to take down. You can learn more about them in our printed graphics vs painted mural comparison.
Theme office zones
You can also ‘zone’ areas to reflect your company’s values. For instance, you could place calming blue artwork in the lunch area, create a vibrant meeting room with frosted window graphics (which also adds some privacy), and outfit the reception with abstract prints.
Creative floor graphics, window films, wall graphics, posters and rigid media like re-board can all be used to zone your office spaces.
Play on nature and green practices
If you’re a fan of sustainability, then you can align your office branding design with eco-friendly practices. Living walls represent growth and love for the natural world, adding a natural vibe to any communal space. You can then combine this display with energy-efficient LED lighting and printed artwork made from recycled materials.
Green practices matter more than ever, and by using sustainable products in your office branding strategy, you show staff and clients that you align with your values.
Ready to brand your office space?
Now you’ve had some tips and ideas, it’s time to make your ideal, branded office space a reality! You can either visit our online branding store to view the options, or check out our brand activation and production services. More than just a large format printing studio, we can produce any bespoke artwork you need and fully install it at your location.
Click below to see our brand production services for yourself.
