Employee preferences for WFH means workplaces need to utilise office spaces as a tool to connect with staff. In Better Workplaces, AdNews looks at how agencies use office design to entice staff to come in and create a company culture worth staying for.
A library inside a giant fluffy cube, hidden rooms, creative podcasts on speaker in the bathroom, a coffee machine ban and a reception with old airline chairs complete with oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling 'in case of emergency' - it's about everything you'd unexpectedly expect from Thinkerbell's Melbourne office.
The office colour code is pink and green, with the dominant aesthetic ‘complementary contradictions’; anything that doesn’t really go together is a great place to start.
Everything is designed to ensure people meet each other, talk, collaborate, have ideas and ideas are captured - flipcharts, smelly pens and post-it’s are all over the place to make sure ideas can be scribbled down.
Reception with old airline chairs.
Located across Richmond station, the independent full-service agency occupies two floors in the old Australian Knitting Mill. The reception is purposefully located at the very back of the office so people stand confused as they walk out of the lift.
Then following thing happens:
a) the person takes a few tentative steps forward,
b) someone asks them “are they being looked after”,
c) they are guided to reception.
This immediately creates a sense of informality and inclusiveness as the guest gets a random interaction with Thinkerbell, an unidentified Thinkerbell representative told AdNews.
"Designing things that facilitate this level of interactivity is central to what we are about," the representative said.
"From our work shopping spaces (it’s called the BX room, a place to co-design brand Xperiences) through to and our crazily long, well stocked pink resin bar (we have drinks with high booze, low booze and zero booze content)."
And as a homage to the building’s history and a nice example of the agency's motto ‘Measured Magic’, there's a knitted installation that weaves its way down the middle of the office.
Knitted installation which leads to reception.
Thinkerbell has also said no to coffee machines - if people want a coffee they go for a walk outside and support local retailers.
"Many agencies are still designed like a frat boys fantasy or a man-child’s man cave, with dominant use of black’s, grays and polished concrete," the representative said.
"They promote and we actively avoid pinball machines, pool tables and foosball. That said, in one corner of the office we have ‘The Dart Board’ a pink and green dart board that people can throw at to win a prize on their anniversary years at Thinkerbell."
On the 5 Year board you can win things like a return business class trip anywhere in the world, $10,000 to spend in 15 minutes, or a Cartier watch, but also a jellybean or a burger at Grill’d (no chips or drink).
Desks.
There are two main parts of the office - one is noisier, more chaotic and one is a bit more chilled so people can move around and work where best suits them at any given time.
The chilled space is located behind a hidden door, featuring a theater/edit suite, work benches and a big production space where things are made and broken.
Edit studio.
With about 100 staff in Melbourne with no segmentations of departments, everyone has a seat, stool or couch and everyone is encouraged to sit wherever they want to.
People move about the office throughout the day which creates incidental collisions leading to conversations, leading to ideas.
Desks.
"There are no departments and never will be. The unique way we work together and cross pollinate is a big part of our success over the years," the representative said.
"It’s really important that people actually like working and hanging out at the office. We put a lot of time and thought into our spaces and are constantly evolving the design and features too.
"However, if you’re a designer, get ready to sit next to a media person, who may have a producer on their left."
Zoom booths.
The office also features lots of little Zoom booths, a few meeting rooms and technology for online meetings and get-togethers, as well as privacy rooms that can be used for religious reasons, breast feeding or just to have a moment to yourself.
Library.
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