6 Reasons Why Suttle-Straus Advises Adding Environmental Graphics to Offices

In this post from Maeghan Nicholson, marketing manager at Suttle-Straus, in Waunakee, Wis., Nicholson highlights six examples of some cool environmental graphics for a visually attractive and inspiring workplace. 

The average person spends more than 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. The reality is we spend more waking hours at work during the week than we do anywhere else. Companies have started to realize the benefits of having a visually attractive and inspiring workplace. If your office is still grey walls and cubicles, here are six reasons you should consider adding some environmental graphics to your company’s workspaces:

1. Communicate Your Company’s History
A visual representation of where your company has come from can be a powerful training tool for new employees and instill confidence of your expertise when customers and prospects come to visit. At Suttle-Straus we have history wall wraps that showcase our 100+ years in business with some retro photos of employees and equipment of our past.

2. Reinforce Company Values

Values mean very little if they are just printed in an employee handbook that gets shoved in a desk drawer. Having your values prominently displayed where employees encounter them frequently can be a good way to reinforce their usage in everyday work.

3. Encourage Innovation and Creativity
In a recent survey by Capital One, 86% percent of millennials reported that “companies cannot encourage innovation unless their workplace and environment is innovative.” Use of artwork and imagery helps work environments to inspire creative thinking. We chose to feature inspiration words that describe people in various departments, highlighted with an energetic color and dimensionality.

4. Recruit Top Talent
Technology companies and start-ups have found value in designing creative workplaces to attract talented workers. For example, Epic Systems in Verona has become known for their unique hallway decorations and themed conference rooms. Similarly, UW Athletics has found value in updating the look of their sports facilities to attract the best young athletes to commit to join the team.

Having a pleasant work environment can improve employee productivity and satisfaction. Asking employees for their input in the design process to make the space their own can also help with engagement. Many companies try to bring a sense of nature and the outdoors to their interiors through biophilic design as it has been shown to improve employee health. Design elements can also help encourage healthy behaviors by making the stairs a more attractive option than an elevator.

6. Elevate the Customer Experience
If customer and prospect meetings happen at your office, then it needs to be considered a brand touchpoint from a marketing perspective. After a visit to your place of business, do you want people to say “Wow!” or “Ew..”? Use your front entrance to make a statement. If you offer tours, use design to highlight certain areas of the company you want people to remember.

To see more examples of our work on the walls, ceilings and floors around town, check out our Wide Format Pinterest Board.

Maeghan Nicholson is the marketing manager at Suttle-Straus. A journalist at heart, she has used her writing skills to develop corporate thought leadership campaigns designed to make business-to-business connections. In her role, she manages all aspects of marketing and advertising, from website updates and content creation to conferences and events.