Leveraging Design To Enhance Employee Experience

Experiential Design (XD), a powerful tool for culture

XD is the art of creating impressionable moments that allow people to live and experience your brand and culture. These moments are experienced not only in the physical work environment, but also at events, in presentations, and through printed or emailed collateral. Each example, among countless others, are opportunities to intentionally curate impressions of your brand and culture in an ongoing, holistic way. It’s no wonder that the very best office cultures exist in companies who have HR professionals and cultural influencers that understand the immense value of experiential design.
 

The “heartbeat” of organizations, they absorb the great, good, bad and ugly on a daily basis. These people are also the first to know what criteria prospective employees are looking for, just as they’re the first to know what isn’t working, causing valued staff to leave. Using XD, HR staff can equip their organizations with a strategic tool for retention and talent acquisition. People are going to have an impression of your space, and with XD, you have control over what that impression will be.

When your employees (and guests) live and feel your culture and message through their interaction with your brand, they’re more confident in speaking to others about it, too. What’s better than your people positively advertising your company to prospective employees and clients by word-of-mouth? 

More and more, companies are seeing the value in consistent brand experiences, be it branded swag, brochures, holiday and client events, presentations, wallcoverings, employee walls, interactive and dimensional elements, etc. We’re helping national and local clients such as White Castle, WBNS 10TV, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce create experiences that curate impressions in their workplaces and for their hosted events.

Historical timeline walls offer an opportunity for employees to become educated about the legacy of your organization, equipping them with information to utilize in conversation and presenting a physical conversation piece to utilize when hosting guests in your office space.

Another example, that offers the benefit of lower cost with high impact, are wall-coverings, illustrating the story that tells others about your company in ways words cannot. Research has proven that people remember 10% of what they hear and 60% of what they see. Make it a point to be memorable, making it possible through the use of XD.

At M+A, our Experiential Design team helps clients achieve a well-rounded brand experience by first collaborating with client team members who are most involved in the company culture. Together we discuss values, brand, messaging, goals, priorities and expectations. These collaborations form the design foundation and design intent. People will have an experience with your brand at every touchpoint, and curating a strategy and design to achieve an accurate, and on-brand, the experience is critical.

Chelsea Curry is Lead Experiential Designer at M+A Architects, Cincinnati. With a passion for thoughtful, clear, and inspired messaging through design, Chelsea creates experiences that leave an impression. She is a big believer in going the extra mile to make an impact, which often includes crafting a series of touchpoints that excites and engages.  Connect Chelsea Curry Visit www.ma-architects.com/

Alicia Huber is Lead Experiential Designer at M+A Architects, Columbus. She is an award-winning designer who combines her background in Advertising and Environmental Graphic Design to create multi-sensory experiences that communicate a brand in a space. She starts by collaborating with clients to understand their vision, culture and message, honing in on what sets them apart.  Connect Alicia Huber Follow @ma_architects