When designing branded elements, the first thing that often comes to mind is colour choice. Indeed, matching the interior with the brand colours seems like an easy fix. And you can do it in so many ways. The brand colour can be a base or an accent; sometimes, designers go as far as creating a monochrome interior.
When designing the KLM Crown Lounge in Schiphol, concrete used various shades of blue on the floor and in furniture upholstery linking to the brand identity of the airline.
When people notice a brand colour in a certain environment, it evokes an immediate association with the company. This is a definite plus, but it also comes with a downside. Some people may interpret such branding technique as too obvious and even surface-level. When colour is the one and only element you use to create branded spaces, at some point, you will start repeating yourself. And that’s not an impression you want to make on visitors.
The interior of Google Campus in Madrid was inspired by the striking brand identity of the tech giant. The frames of LJ 1 chairs were customised in the colours of the logo. Staying in contrast with the neutral grey shell, the frames create an accent and link to the visual identity of Google.
Another benefit of custom furniture is that you can often choose the materials yourself. Since many brands have a strong material language, it might be a wise decision to implement it into the interior. If you design for a textile company, you would naturally want to use plenty of fabrics and tactile elements. If your client is a heavy industry giant, the material choice will be completely different.
Think of a certain look you want to create. It might be natural, industrial, futuristic - you name it. In furniture design, you can create this look with different materials, like wood, metal or glass.
The building of the Grace Farms Foundation is nested into the surrounding natural landscape. The open structure with many glass walls allows visitors to connect with the environment. The architects created a custom design of Wood Me chairs in wood veneer to make a complete nature-inspired look.
Also, the material choice can tell a lot about the values of a brand. For instance, sustainable interior design is another way of saying that you care about the environment. And there are more and more brands doing it. Custom-made furniture from reused or recycled materials is gaining popularity for numerous reasons. Not only as a branding element but also as a talent attraction tool. As much as 40% of US millennials indicate that they have chosen a job because of the company’s sustainability values. That’s why green offices have all chances to become the norm in the nearest future - some would argue that they already are. And all these spaces require special furniture solutions.
While custom-made interior products have numerous advantages, some people are still hesitant about using them. And it is understandable since, in commercial design, the word ‘custom’ had a different reputation in the past. For years, it was associated with a tedious ordering procedure, long lead time and high price. But the times are changing, and so do the furniture brands. With the rising demand for custom solutions, they have become more and more accessible.
Now, there are many tools allowing you to design furniture in no time. One of them is online configurator by De Vorm. It contains a wide range of commercial design products, each of which is fully customisable. In just a few clicks, you can create your perfect chair or table, download the 3D files and use them in your design.