Creative Office: Advertising Agency Havas Worldwide
Industrial looking. White walls. Tall ceilings…! Yep, if you have been following our creative office column here you might be aware that I am personally in favour of these type of offices. The tall ceilings allow me to breath and feel as if opportunities are endless; the white walls creates that blank canvas I crave while dreaming of new projects; and the industrial feel simply inspires my vision. Let’s here what Victoria thinks of it below… -Anna Caroline
Home to some of the most creative people around, the offices of advertising agencies need to be understandably inspiring. Design elements like layout, furniture, colours and décor should all work towards motivating staff members. They should help them boost their productivity by creating a place in which they love to work and which doesn’t cause distractions or boredom.
A creative office that does this to great effect is the Helsinki headquarters of Havas Worldwide, formerly known as Euro RSCG Worldwide. It was designed by Joanna Laajisto, an interior architect and designer who forged her career on the West Coast of the United States. She says of her company, Joanna Laajisto Creative Studio that, “Our philosophy is not to clutter this world with unnecessary things but to find the hidden beauty of each space and to enhance it by creative solutions. We believe that a successful design is a 360 degree experience.” It’s an ethos that she used to fantastic effect at the Havas Worldwide office.
Rather than creating a noisy colour scheme that risked making the space seem claustrophobic and overwhelming, Joanna designed the office to be nice and simple. Quirky focal points pop out against the blank canvas of white walls and white furnishings, making them all the more impactful. The star behind the front desk is particularly clever. It looks as if it’s been scribbled on by employees and mimics the rough process of brainstorming campaign ideas. Then there’s the green plant, bringing vitality into what could otherwise come across as quite a clinical interior.
Wall art breaks up the mostly white décor throughout the rest of the office too. The inspirational quote “If you listen carefully you might hear an idea being born” adorns one wall, motivating staff and reassuring clients and visitors that this is a company full of hardworking creatives. On another wall, a mish mash of deer antlers, artworks and a clock make the space seem more like an art gallery than the headquarters of an advertising agency. The black furniture, rug and window frame are a beautiful touch too, creating a monochrome colour palette that screams fashionable creative agency!
This monochrome theme continues into the co-working area, where designer Joanna has indeed found “the hidden beauty of the space.” What looks like an old warehouse has been transformed into a modern contemporary space for collaboration. Rows of black stool take centre stage and create the perfect place to host presentations, while the sides of the room are bordered by white, bench style desking where employees can work closely together. There are even more plants to break up the stark feel of the room too. This time they hang impressively upside down in window frames, saving on space and creating a focal point that never fails to make you smile.
Credit: Joanna Laajisto
The room still holds onto its industrial roots though, with the raw wooden look of the desks, hanging strip lights and room pillars harking back to factory days gone by. It’s an office interior design trend that doesn’t look to be slowing down, and is especially popular where creative agencies and advertising agencies like Havas Worldwide are concerned.
It’s clear to see what makes this workspace so inspirational. From the clean, refreshing atmosphere to the clever use of decorative elements, the place oozes creativity at every angle without being too full on. What do you think of Havas Worldwide’s office? Would you like to work there?
