Environmental graphic design helps with branding an environment. This type of branding involves the use of graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and landscape. The retail industry and hospitality industry are the biggest users of environmental graphic design. It helps convey the brand values and gives the prospect a better idea about the brand.
Designing a work environment to make the employees feel more motivated and loyal has had very beneficial results. The workplace can be specially designed for keeping the brand in focus. The graphics on the walls can tell the brand story to all visitors. This type of designing is also called as visual branding. The prospects do not have to come into contact with any strangers to ask questions about the trade. Instead, they can get a brief idea and the concise history of the brand by looking at the walls. This awareness is required by the prospects to build a certain level of trust so they can go on ahead and make their next move as part of the purchasing process.
Most consumers do not put their money where they think it does not belong. People tend to avoid new brands unless their products are priced very low and will help their budget. This is why brands now prefer to give consumers a little insight into their brand using visual communications.
Many design houses are not experienced with designing space or entire buildings. Therefore if you need to make use of visual branding, it is a good idea to look for experienced environmental graphic design companies online. Those who design an environment for a brand need hybrid knowledge and understanding. The basic skills of a visual branding expert include:
• Experience in designing space
• Knowledge of graphic design
• Good command over branding principles
• In-depth knowledge about various materials and design processes
It is sometimes very complex for one design company to come up with a design and implement it so very often you will find a few companies that work in collaboration to get the job done according to the client’s requirements. Most often the clients do not dictate the designers; in fact, they take their input and advice. When a company takes on a new project it has consultation meetings with architects, building companies, marketing managers and facility managers.
How a building is designed and its main functions affect the project. For example, most retailers have a design that addresses the needs of customers. An office, on the other hand, is directed to the employees. Both spaces perform in a different manner and hence their designing is also different.
A retail environment is easy to brand and also more inexpensive to work on. Space gets makeover more often than the workplace. If we compare materials used for both environments there is a vast difference in cost. For retailers, the cheaper materials are more practical. They tend to opt to keep their economies in order and never overspend. For retailers, environmental designs depend on the changing trends of the market. Changes are made to design so space reflects the latest trends in consumer tastes.
While for an office the use of more expensive materials produces better results. Employees work in the office from 9-5. They get proud of their interiors and get motivated by the graphics and the materials used in the interior design of their workspace. Creating a work culture is very easy when you use visual communications. Another benefit of getting the workplace professionally designed is corporate culture. When employees work in an environment that reflects it well, their loyalties tend to grow. The corporation will have a low turnover rate as it will retain most employees for longer periods of time. Above all, environmental branding tends to improve the overall office design.
In banks, the use of visual branding is common. They focus more on the quality of materials rather than graphics. Their branding taste is understated as they wish to create an environment that does not seem risky for investors. More brands are in need of a space that reflects their brand culture. Businesses that sell garments, shoes, and cell phones and have many outlets are benefitting from visual branding the most.
The retail and workplace environments evolve fast with a well-experienced environmental graphic design firm. The leading brands are making architectural changes to offer a better experience to their prospects. Besides the traditional form of advertising and marketing, visual branding is also used to bring prospects closer to the brand. It is the effortless and affordable way of communicating a business message. It increases the level of engagement and allows the prospects to feel as if they are a part of the brand culture. Without buying a tangible product a consumer can switch loyalties easily.