Best Office Design Companes
When you decide to redesign your office, there comes a point where you have to choose a company to create your new office design. This is a huge decision. Choosing the right designer won't guarantee a successful project, but it will help a lot. However, choosing the wrong designer will doom your project to failure before you've even started. It's one of the most important decisions you'll make all project, so you need to get it right.
When we speak to companies about their office design, they're often unsure how to choose an office designer, let alone who. In this article, we'll go through 9 of the most respected office designers in the UK - a mix of design studios, design & build firms, and architects. We'll then explain the 5 key criteria to consider when choosing your office designer, and help you apply them to your project.
While we're confident that our office design services are among the best in the industry, we appreciate we’re not the right fit for everyone. That's why we've compiled this list, to help you decide.
To take the next step, download our Definitive Office Design Guide. There, you'll get answers to all your questions about office design before you contact any designers. By the end, you’ll be ready to decide who to choose, and you'll know where and how to begin.
Specialist Designers
Interior designers specialise in producing workspace design packages, without providing other services such as construction or project management.
In some cases, these companies will also create a tender pack for you to send to building contractors. However, they will not offer any help with the build phase. This means you will need to manage the contractors yourself or appoint or employ a project manager.
Spacelab
Founded: 2002
Head Office: London, N1
About: Spacelab is a workspace and architectural design studio based in Hackney, London. They have worked on projects for some well-known brands including Warner Bros and ASOS.
MoreySmith
Founded: 1993
Head Office: London, SE1
About: MoreySmith is a RIBA chartered architecture and office design practice based in London. They offer a range of services, including interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, and change management.
Design & Build Firms
Design & build companies manage the entire project from start to finish. This includes strategy, design, and delivery.
Depending on their company structure, they may use in-house staff, a network of subcontractors, or (normally) a combination of both. This means you only have to deal with one company throughout the project. Because of this, they are much more accountable for the success of the overall project.
Oktra
Founded: 1995
Head Office: London, EC1N
About: Oktra is a London-based design and build firm operating across the UK. They are one of the largest UK design & build companies, with 200 staff across 4 offices.
Maris
Founded: 1997
Head Office: London SE1
About: Maris is one of the largest design & build companies in the UK. In the last 25 years, they’ve delivered over 10,000 projects ranging in size from 1,500 to 120,000 sq ft.
Peldon Rose
Founded: 1987
Head Office: London, EC1V
About: Peldon Rose has been delivering office fit out projects in London for over 30 years. With in-house specialists covering a wide range of disciplines, Peldon Rose offers the full suite of design and build services.
Morgan Lovell
Founded: 1977
Head Office: London, W1F
About: Originally an office design company, Morgan Lovell has expanded its service offering to include office fit-out and refurbishment. Morgan Lovell is part of the larger Morgan Sindall Group.
Workplace Interior Architects
Workplace architects offer a wide range of services, including workspace consultancy, exterior architecture, interior design, and project management.
They will not provide all the services necessary for your project, but they may manage other aspects such as construction. Typically, architects get involved in full building construction or very large interior projects.
M Moser
Founded: 1981
Head Office: Hong Kong
About: M Moser Associates has specialised in the design and delivery of workplace environments since 1981. With more than 750 staff across 15 global offices, M Moser offers a wide range of workplace architecture services.
Gensler
Founded: 1965
Head Office: San Francisco
About: Gensler is a global design firm offering a wide range of design services, from urban planning to brand design. Workplace design is one of the original services they have been offering since 1965.
Perkins & Will
Founded: 1935
Head Office: Chicago
About: Interdisciplinary research-based architecture and design firm Perkins & Will was founded in 1935 in Chicago. They have since expanded across North America and globally, including England and Ireland.
How to Choose the Best Office Designer
Now that you know some of the most respected and well-known companies in the industry, It's time to choose the right office design company for you. No single design company is 'the best'. Which is best for you depends on your priorities and constraints. In fact, the best company for you probably isn't on this list!
First, choose which type of designer is best for you. This will depend on the size of your project, as well as your project brief and project management expertise. To learn more about which type of designer you should choose, read Design & Build v Designer v Architect: Which Should I Choose?
When considering which contractor to use for your office fit out or office refurbishment, it's important to consider your requirements first. By defining what you need to achieve, you can then select a design partner most suitable for your entire project. While every design company has different strengths and weaknesses, there are 5 key aspects to consider when selecting your design partner.
Expertise
The first consideration is the expertise of the firm. This does not necessarily mean they have done it in the past, but do they have the ability to deliver on your project? Do they have the right resources, competencies, and qualifications to complete your project on scope, on time, and on budget? Your fit out partner should be able to prove all these things through certifications and detailed plans.
It’s especially important to think about what is unusual or unique about your project compared to others. If you are relocating to facilitate a move to hybrid working, it’s important your contractor is an expert in hybrid working. If you can’t move out of your office during your refurbishment, you will need a contractor with the ability to deliver phased and out-of-hours programmes.
Portfolio
It’s easy to get carried away by stunning portfolio galleries. However, you need to consider how that portfolio is relevant to your project. Track record is often confused with expertise, but just because they used to be able to do it, it doesn’t mean they are able to do it now. Expert staff may have moved on, or the supply chain situation might have changed.
If your fit out company has a good portfolio, they’ll be happy to take you around previous workspaces they’ve delivered that are similar to yours. References are also more useful than testimonials. They can give unvarnished feedback about what went well and what could have been better. With this knowledge, you can reduce the likelihood of their weaknesses derailing your project.
Design
Design is almost always the first thing companies think about when planning an office project, but this is a mistake. Without the foundation of an initial brief, you are setting yourself up for failure. Once you have this, you can speak with 2 or 3 different fit out companies to see which suits you best. It’s essential to consider the thinking behind the design. It’s not all about the moss walls and pool tables. They may make your office look great, but if they aren’t helping your people to perform better, what’s the point?
A great fit out company will ask lots of questions to fully understand your needs. They will then develop a design that meets those needs, not one that follows the latest trends or the criteria for an upcoming award. Remember, the best design is the best design for your needs, not the most eye-catching.
Pricing
You should set an initial budget before you speak to office fit out companies. This, along with the goals of your project will help to give them a better idea of your requirements. That budget will probably change as the design progresses. However, it will help you and your fit out company set expectations. There are 5 key factors that will control the cost of your fit out project: size, specification, services, state, and setting. To learn more, check out our office fit out costs 2023 guide.
However, the initial cost is not the entire story. The construction industry is notorious for hidden and delayed costs. It's important that you examine the way they have quoted on the design. Is it transparent and reasonable? Do the design and the quote match up? At Zentura, we have a fixed cost policy that means you pay what you expect to, with no hidden extras.
Customer Care
Before you commit to signing the contract, you need to understand what their customer care package is like. Some firms will quickly lose interest and de-prioritise you as soon as the contract is signed or the project is completed. You need to consider what your wholistic experience will be like during the project. This is a big investment for your company, and it may come with a lot of disruption and change. You need someone caring and professional to guide you through this process – especially if you are inexperienced.
At Zentura, our one contact policy gives you a management level “go to” contact that is responsible for your project and is always there for you. Our 3-year post-contract Zencare® care programme guarantees your total peace of mind long after we have finished your project.
Choosing Your Office Designer
Choosing an office designer is crucial to the overall success of your project. The right decision will be the best designer for your own project and your specific needs. This is not necessarily the cheapest, or the one with the most impressive portfolio. To ensure you make the best decision, consider what type of office designer is most suitable for your project. You should then decide what track record and qualifications they should have. This will help ensure you make the best decision for your company.
Now you know how to choose the best office designer for your project, you need to know how to manage them to make sure your overall project is successful as possible. To help you with this, read the 10 Things You Need To Know About Working With An Office Designer.
To take the next step, download our Definitive Office Design Guide. There, you'll get Answers to all your questions about office design before you contact any designers. By the end, you’ll be ready to decide who to choose, and you'll know where and how to begin.
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