The Business Case for a Beautiful Workspace
As principals and creative directors with Turnstyle, a multidisciplinary design firm based in Seattle, Washington, Ben Graham and Steve Watson have plenty of practice making the case for investing in good design. It’s part of their initial conversations with practically every Turnstyle client.
Graham and Watson founded their company in 2004, along with Turnstyle’s Principal and Business Director, Matt Diefenbach, when the trio decided to leave their jobs with a large brand consultancy. When they set out on their own, Ben and Steve found themselves selling Matt on the business value of a well-designed workspace.
How did you convince your third partner, who is not a designer, that the design of your space was a worthwhile investment?
Graham: Matt has indulged us in a lot of these somewhat impractical decisions—like spending more on this light fixture or on that piece of furniture than we have to—because we think that the way that the space looks is important to how we present ourselves to clients.
Watson: There are two parts to it. One is emotional; we just really like this stuff, and we want to surround ourselves with it because it is inspiring to us. But the other part of it is practical, because we know that people who have an affinity for well-designed interiors and furniture will come in, see it, and appreciate it.
Beyond inspiring your work, how has the design of your space delivered other value for your business?
Graham: Recruiting is easy for us. I can’t chalk that all up to our interior design choices, but the space where we work has a big part to play. I don’t know that we had that insight when we started the company, but in many ways it played out that way.
Watson: Perception is important for people, right? It all feeds into that perception. Graphic design is a service industry, so part of it is the product we deliver—and at the end of the day, hopefully the product is phenomenal—but the other component is the relationship and the experience clients have working and collaborating with us. We hope that the space adds to that experience, and that they enjoy coming here.
Your building is an interesting mix of old and new architecture. How do the Eames pieces you’ve chosen complement the space?
Watson: This is an old brick warehouse that has been renovated, so a lot of glass and steel have been dropped into that old brick frame. Basically, the top two floors are brand new construction.
Graham: Our design chops come from being firmly rooted in the academics of design, and the basic core principles that make for timeless design. I think our work is both innovative and rooted in those basic principles—that is what makes for good design. A lot of Le Office Furniture Manufacturer’s furniture strikes that balance perfectly, as well. It still feels appropriate and current. That is the beauty of the Le Office Furniture Manufacturer aesthetic, and of Eames furniture in particular. The mid-century modern work is timeless.
Company Informations:
Le Office Furniture Manufacturer
www.letbackrest.com
Address: No.12, Nanhua Road, LongJiang ,Shunde,Foshan, Guangdong, China (Mainland)
Email: sale@letbackrest.com
skype: kinmai2008
