“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail" is a classic quote that has been attributed to many different people over the years, which just goes to show that it's a concept that is applicable in almost every aspect of life.
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail" is a classic quote that has been attributed to many different people over the years, which just goes to show that it's a concept that is applicable in almost every aspect of life.
In the office fit out world, good preparation is simply vital – without it, a project could run into numerous issues; anything from making the wrong design choices, right through to costs soaring because the budget wasn't properly considered. Being organised and aware of how each of your decisions will affect you going forwards will prepare you for every eventuality, undoubtedly saving much monetary cost and stress.
As a professional office design company, the team here at Oaktree Interiors has assisted a wide range of business types, all with different ideas of what they want from their ideal workplaces. As the size of our clients vary, so do the requirements that come with them; whether that's the demands of their buildings, their particular industry or the size of the budget that they have available. These different experiences have allowed us to build up a unique experience of what it takes to best prepare for such projects; which is why below, we've outlined some key points to consider when thinking about improving your own working environment.
Whilst seeking out an office design company to help you with any of these points will help greatly, you can provide the answers yourself. When evaluating each aspect of your office, the most important question to ask will be is *this* right for my business and the employees? Only you will know the answer to that question; so without further ado, here's how to prepare for an office fit out:
Planning what objectives you wish to achieve, and finding out what the Key Performance Indicators are for each of them, will provide you with all the information you need to gauge how successful you're being. When evaluating the current space, think about:
A massive part of any preparation process is looking at every aspect that the building project (may) entail. When planning an office fit out, you will need to analyse your company's goals, its people, culture and workflow to establish the best solution to your workplace requirements. This process may involve interviewing staff, undertaking surveys or looking at productivity rates (and what affects them); all of this will help you to become completely familiar with your working environment.
After making your initial findings, working with a professional office design company will not only help with understanding your workplace even better, but after gaining an understanding of the way you work, they will be able to put forward creative designs and solutions. Exceptionally practical and aesthetically outstanding,their ideas will revolve around how the space is to be used; the creation of closed rooms, open spaces, breakout areas and the incorporation of flexibility and functionality being great examples of what they can do.
Analysing your company, its workspaces and how it operates within them, will allow office designers to present a variety of creative, practical solutions with budget options for you to consider. This will also give them the means to include a schedule (taking into account planning requirements, the ordering of materials, laying out of electrical and data installations, the build times, etc).
With a solid understanding of the business and what it needs from an office fit out, office designers will be able to streamline the project, getting the most from your budget.
So, if you're looking to improve the effectiveness that your office design has on your employees, why not get in touch with the expert workplace designers here at Oaktree Interiors?
Throughout our time in the industry, we have assisted all manner of business operations; regardless of their own industry, the size of their company or the layout of their buildings. We have proven experience of adapting our designs to suit whatever their requirements dictate. Have a look at our dedicated case study section to see some great examples.
To learn more about how we can help you to create your ideal office fit out, please feel free to give us a call today on 0345 218695. You can also reach us by e-mail at hello@oaktreeoffice.com.
