Jeff Pelletier: The Space Should Reflect Who The Company Is (Image: Capital Pacific Office By Board And Vellum)
There’s a good reason why office designing ideas always change with the times. Your office tells a story about you and your brand to the people who visit it. You want it to be good, don’t you? No one wants their potential hire or top client to enter a workspace and think, 「Did I just travel back in time to my dad’s old cubicle farm?」
辦公室設計理念總是與時俱進，這是有充分理由的。你的辦公室向來訪者講述你和你的品牌的故事。你希望它是好的，不是嗎？沒有人想讓他們的潛在僱員或頂級客戶進入一個工作區，然後想，「我是不是回到了我爸爸以前的小農場？」
Implementing well-though-out office designing ideas can not only impress your partners and give your business credibility, it is also the key to improve employee morale and productivity. After all, good office design will always bring together form and functionality to make that aesthetically inviting environment where people feel comfortable working in.
實施好公司外的設計理念不僅能給你的合作夥伴留下深刻印象，提高你的商業信譽，也是提高員工士氣和工作效率的關鍵。畢竟，好的辦公室設計總是將形式和功能結合在一起，使人們感到舒適的工作環境美觀誘人。
But what if you feel like you are running out of those kick-ass office designing ideas? Don’t worry, you』ve come to the right place as we were lucky enough to catch up with 4 of the most talented voices in the A&D industry to discuss how to decorate that ideal workplace:
但是，如果你覺得你的辦公室設計理念已經過時了呢？別擔心，你來對地方了，因為我們有幸趕上了A&D行業最有才華的4個聲音，討論如何裝飾理想的工作場所：
-
Panos Voulgaris, the Creative Director and Partner at Malvi
Jeff Pelletier, the Principal and Architect at Board & Vellum
Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, the co-founder and Design Director for Bean Buro
Filippo Gabbiani, the co-founder of KOKAISTUDIOS
----
How would you describe a well-designed office space in 3 words?
你如何用三個字來形容一個設計精良的辦公空間？
Inviting. Uncluttered. Adaptable.
吸引人的。整潔。適應性強。
Adaptable. Customized. Dynamic.
適應性強。定製的。充滿活力。
Homey. Sociable. Playful.
家常。善於交際的。好玩。
Comfortable. Efficient. Welcome.
舒適。效率高。歡迎光臨。
In terms of office designing ideas, what are the modern office must-haves and must-do’s?
在辦公室設計理念上，現代辦公室必須具備什麼樣的條件，必須具備什麼樣的條件？
The modern office must guarantee a certain degree of flexibility. Meetings on the fly, one-on-one discussions, brainstorming sessions are all part of a typical day. The design and decoration must accommodate a variety of uses and be adaptable to everyday needs.
Εmployee areas aren’t an afterthought any more, they are a must-have. It’s been proven time and time again that spaces which reinforce team building relationships help create a healthy work environment and increase productivity overall. Comfortable and open break and lunch areas can have a big impact.
And, I can’t stress this enough, larger offices must have clear and comprehensive signage, they just mustn’t do without.
現代辦公室必須保證一定程度的靈活性。飛行會議，一對一的討論，頭腦風暴會議都是典型的一天的一部分。設計和裝飾必須適應各種用途，並適應日常需要。
員工區域不再是事後諸葛亮，而是必須具備的。事實一再證明，加強團隊建設關係的空間有助於創造健康的工作環境，提高整體生產力。舒適和開放的休息和午餐區可以產生很大的影響。
而且，我再怎麼強調也不為過，更大的辦公室必須有清晰和全面的標識，他們只是不能沒有。
The Must-Do is to understand the brand and culture of the company you are designing the office for. The space should reflect who they are, what they do and how they want to work.
The Must-Have…this really depends on the client. There is no one size fits all solution.
必須做的是了解你為之設計辦公室的公司的品牌和文化。空間應該反映他們是誰，他們做什麼，他們想如何工作。
必須有…這真的取決於客戶。沒有一刀切的解決方案。
The design must utilize a limited space for a variety of qualities; not only for work, but integrated with the employee’s lifestyles activities, social interactions, hospitality for visitors, showcasing of the company’s works, all in a comfortable and inspiring setting with unique flexible conditions that could be offered by a limited space — it is about quality, not quantity of space.
設計必須利用有限的空間來表現各種品質；不僅是工作，還必須與員工的生活方式、活動、社交互動、接待訪客、展示公司的作品相結合，所有這些都必須在一個舒適和鼓舞人心的環境中進行，有限的空間可以提供獨特的靈活條件-這關乎質量，而不是空間的數量。
Must have is definitely more space for collaboration and socialization. Must do should be a healthy working environment.
一定要有更大的合作和社交空間。必須做的應該是一個健康的工作環境。
The Design Must Utilize A Limited Space For A Variety Of Qualities; Not Only For Work, Says Bean Buro’s Kenny Kinugasi Tsui (Image: Warner Music Hong Kong Offices)
What are your top 3 tips when decorating an office?
裝修辦公室時，你最喜歡的三個小貼士是什麼？
– Don’t overdo it; people working in a space for the better part of a day need to be surrounded by a calm environment, not an overly decorated one.
– Think functional; if it works it’s good, if it works and it looks good at the same time, it’s perfect.
– Users first; cater to the needs of those who will be actually using the space (e.g. office areas need to be designed around the needs of those working there, waiting areas are client oriented and should probably be more extrovert).
–不要做得太過了；在一個空間裡工作一天大部分時間的人需要被一個平靜的環境包圍，而不是一個過度裝飾的環境。
–考慮功能性；如果它起作用，那就很好，如果它起作用，同時看起來很好，那就完美了。
–用戶至上；滿足實際使用空間的人的需求（例如，辦公區需要圍繞工作人員的需求進行設計，等候區以客戶為導向，可能更外向）。
– Make the space inviting to both the workers and any clients that may be coming in.
– Don’t underestimate the importance of lighting design. A well designed lighting plan for an office will increase productivity and overall morale.
– Don’t be afraid to be playful.
–使空間既能吸引工人，也能吸引任何可能進來的客戶。
–不要低估照明設計的重要性。一個設計良好的辦公室照明計劃將提高生產力和整體士氣。
–不要害怕開玩笑。
– Inject playfulness with materials, colours and objects.
– Create 『wow』 factors with spatial elements.
– Nurture a homey feeling with non-corporate furniture, personal items and living greens.
–用材料、顏色和物品注入趣味性。
–利用空間元素創造「驚喜」因素。
–使用非公司家具、私人物品和綠色生活用品，營造一種家的感覺。
– Using daylight in an efficient and sustainable way.
– Creating a flexible system (i.e. layout).
– Good branding. Have a deep understanding of the client and people who will use this office ( sometimes their needs are different).
–以高效和可持續的方式利用日光。
–創建靈活的系統（即布局）。
–良好的品牌。深入了解客戶和將使用此辦公室的人員（有時他們的需求不同）。
Can color impact workplace productivity and our mood in the office? How to choose the right color scheme for a specific business?
顏色會影響工作效率和我們在辦公室的心情嗎？如何為特定業務選擇合適的配色方案？
Colour is an important mood setter. It can trigger efficiency in the workplace or create a — usually much needed — meaningful connection to a company’s brand identity. Different color schemes can work in different scenarios, depending on location, lighting (both natural and artificial), brand guidelines and a variety of other factors, but for us there are a couple of important rules:
– Use it in moderation; only the most important aspects of a space deserve a lot of colour.
– Avoid excessive colours in the areas where people are doing the actual work; it can become irritating and tiring, especially when combined with the constant light source of a computer screen (maybe try using it as a backdrop instead).
– Combine it with small, colourful elements that will accentuate your main colours. Fabrics, furniture details, signage, all play an important role to bringing out your colour scheme, especially when used against more neutral backgrounds.
色彩是重要的情緒調節器。它可以激發工作場所的效率，或者與公司的品牌形象建立一種——通常是非常必要的——有意義的聯繫。不同的配色方案可以在不同的場景中發揮作用，這取決於位置、照明（自然和人工）、品牌指南和其他各種因素，但對我們來說，有兩個重要的規則：
–適度使用；只有空間最重要的方面才值得大量的色彩。
–避免在人們實際工作的區域使用過多的顏色；這會讓人感到惱火和疲勞，尤其是當與電腦屏幕的恆定光源結合使用時（可以嘗試將其用作背景）。
–將其與小而多彩的元素相結合，突出您的主色調。織物，家具細節，標牌，都發揮著重要的作用，使您的配色方案，尤其是當用於更中性的背景。
Yes, definitely. Colors should reflect the brand of the company and create the type of atmosphere their employees best work in.
是的，當然。顏色應該反映公司的品牌，營造員工最擅長的工作氛圍。
In a limited space, materials, colours and objects play an important role in providing comfort and excitement both visually and physically. When such elements are composed well, the result can be practical as well as beautiful. In our own practice Bean Buro, we have carefully developed a materials and colour palette that is threefold; the neutral materials of wood floor and furniture, together with the fresh colour tones of a gradient blue-turquoise wall, creates a tranquil calm working environment while relating to the company’s brand colours.
在有限的空間裡，材料、顏色和物體在視覺和生理上都起著重要的作用。當這些元素組合好後，結果既實用又美觀。在我們自己的實踐中，我們精心開發了三重材質和調色板；木地板和家具的中性材料，加上漸變藍綠松石牆的清新色調，在與公司品牌色彩相關聯的同時，創造了一個寧靜平靜的工作環境。
Definitely, color is very important in design. Different colors drive different moods. As a designer, I need to consider various aspects, colors, materials etc. It can’t be explained simply, so I guess it’s my secret.
當然，色彩在設計中是非常重要的。不同的顏色會產生不同的情緒。作為一個設計師，我需要考慮各個方面，顏色，材料等等，這不能簡單的解釋，所以我想這是我的秘密。
Filippo Gabbiani: Color Plays A Crucial Part In Workplace Design (Image: WTC Nanjing Offices By KOKAISTUDIO)
What’s the importance of plants in interior decorating and why should businesses want to incorporate some greenery into their offices?
植物在室內裝飾中的重要性是什麼？企業為什麼要在辦公室裡種植一些綠色植物？
I’m not going to lie, we’re not huge fans of indoor plants, mostly because they usually require an overwhelming amount of attention, that most businesses don’t really care for (low maintenance in an office space is key). Apart from that, they can become a very creative element which can play an important part in the design of a space. A green wall, for example, can easily become a central theme around which an exciting space can be built. It can help produce a calming effect and its ever-changing appearance is an interesting alternative to traditional materials.
我不會撒謊，我們不是室內植物的超級粉絲，主要是因為它們通常需要大量的關注，而大多數企業並不真正關心（辦公場所的低維護是關鍵）。除此之外，他們可以成為一個非常有創意的元素，可以發揮一個空間設計的重要組成部分。例如，一堵綠色的牆很容易成為一個中心主題，圍繞它可以建造一個令人興奮的空間。它有助於產生一種鎮靜的效果，其不斷變化的外觀是一個有趣的替代傳統材料。
Plants can have an extremely positive effect on mood and having a feeling of vitality in an office. However, it is important that if they are incorporated into a space that they are well maintained. A dead plant is worse than no plants.
在辦公室裡，植物可以對情緒產生極其積極的影響，給人一種充滿活力的感覺。但是，重要的是，如果它們被合併到一個空間中，它們會得到很好的維護。死了的植物比沒有植物更糟。
Studies over the years have shown that introducing planting into an interior of the workplace increases wellbeing and makes employees happier. Plants increase air quality by reducing carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds, and the visual stimulation of gazing around the office releases stress and increase productivity. These theories have become common practice, however, it is easier said than done.
Simply placing lots of potted plants around the office do not work, because they can lead to visual cluttering, and increase maintenance issues. Plants must be carefully curated, integrated into the designs intrinsic to the composition of partitions, surfaces and volumes — Not too dissimilar from designing a well thought out garden.
多年來的研究表明，在工作場所內部種植植物可以增加幸福感，讓員工更快樂。植物通過減少二氧化碳和揮發性有機化合物來提高空氣品質，而注視辦公室周圍的視覺刺激可以釋放壓力並提高生產力。這些理論已經成為慣例，然而，說起來容易做起來難。
僅僅在辦公室周圍擺放大量盆栽是行不通的，因為它們會導致視覺混亂，增加維護問題。植物必須精心策劃，融入到分區、表面和體積組成的設計中——與精心設計的花園沒有太大區別。
Plants create empathy. Greenery can make people feel relaxed and it also has a sense of sustainability. They’re important both inside the office space and in the environment where the office is located. There are two ways to incorporate some greenery into their offices. One is by intentionally designing, for example build a green wall; the second way is by facilitating possibilities for people who are using the space to insert greenery as they like.
植物能產生共鳴。綠色能讓人感到放鬆，也有可持續性的感覺。無論是在辦公室內部還是在辦公室所在的環境中，它們都很重要。有兩種方法可以把一些綠色植物融入他們的辦公室。一種是通過有意設計，例如建造一堵綠色牆；第二種方法是為那些使用空間的人提供可能，讓他們可以隨心所欲地插入綠色植物。
Could you tell our readers about the challenges of designing for clients with tastes different than your own?
你能告訴我們的讀者，為品味不同於你自己的客戶設計的挑戰嗎？
We start off the creative process of designing a new space by extensively interviewing both our client and their employees in order to be able to identify their needs and get a firm grasp of where their taste lies. When we’re both confident with the direction (which has been confirmed by questionnaires, reference research, etc), we then proceed to design for the client, creating a communication loop with clear milestones and continuous feedback.
We therefore have tried to eliminate any friction that might occur from miscommunication. Our own taste (which mostly has to do with our internal set of rules) serves as the client’s fail safe mechanism, steering them towards the right direction, while trying to translate their personal taste in the final outcome. Of course their own taste might differ from their brand’s actual needs, which is essentially our job to remind them of.
我們從設計新空間的創意過程開始，廣泛採訪我們的客戶及其員工，以便能夠確定他們的需求，並牢牢把握他們的品味所在。當我們都對方向有信心時（這已經被問卷調查、參考研究等證實），我們就開始為客戶設計，建立一個有明確裡程碑和持續反饋的溝通循環。
因此，我們努力消除因溝通失誤而產生的摩擦。我們自己的品味（主要與我們內部的一套規則有關）充當客戶的防故障機制，引導他們朝著正確的方向前進，同時嘗試在最終結果中轉換他們的個人品味。當然，他們自己的品味可能不同於他們品牌的實際需求，這基本上是我們的工作來提醒他們。
Well that is the challenge. But a good Designer can easily take any aesthetic and create a beautiful work environment.
這就是挑戰。但是一個好的設計師很容易接受任何美學，創造一個美麗的工作環境。
It’s not so much about tastes. The first main challenge is to understand the full spectrum of activities that might be needed for a workplace to function well, but also other types of non-prescribed spaces that are less defined and more intuitive. The second main challenge is the budgetary concerns that many companies would have. The third main challenge may be the most important and challenging of all: to ensure a workspace, even though space may be tight, to still feel great and inspiring for staff as well as visitors.
與其說是品味的問題。第一個主要挑戰是要了解工作場所正常運轉所需的全部活動，但也要了解其他類型的非規定空間，這些空間定義較少，更直觀。第二個主要挑戰是許多公司可能面臨的預算問題。第三個主要挑戰可能是所有挑戰中最重要和最具挑戰性的：確保一個工作空間，即使空間可能很緊，仍然讓員工和訪客感到很棒和鼓舞人心。
I guess that’s the nature of our job. Designer should try to understand their clients as accurately as possible and offer best options. The ideal situation is designers can design something they like that also fit the needs of clients.
我想這就是我們工作的本質。設計師應該儘可能準確地了解客戶，並提供最佳選擇。理想的情況是，設計師可以設計出他們喜歡的東西，也適合客戶的需求。
Panos Voulgaris: Think Functional; If It Works It’s Good, If It Works And It Looks Good At The Same Time, It’s Perfect. (Image: Astor Greece HQ By Malvi)
Sometimes those office designing ideas might seem endless. What are the best ways to ensure you are not overstyling an office? How should one know you are done designing
有時候，那些辦公室設計的想法似乎沒完沒了。什麼是最好的方法，以確保你沒有過度辦公室？你怎麼知道你已經設計完了？?
Set your goals early, and stick to them. If it feels a bit much, then it probably is. Avoid over-cluttering the space; people are going to need to work in an office space and visual clutter is one of the most common mistakes in workplace design. A desk is usually already filled with visual noise on its own (papers, post-it notes, all sorts of stuff), not to mention your virtual desktop, so you want to be able to provide a more ordered and serene environment when you turn your head away from your workstation.
儘早設定你的目標，並堅持下去。如果它感覺有點多，那麼它可能是。避免空間過於雜亂；人們需要在辦公空間工作，視覺雜亂是工作場所設計中最常見的錯誤之一。辦公桌本身通常已經充滿了視覺噪音（紙張、便箋、各種各樣的東西），更不用說你的虛擬桌面了，所以當你把頭從工作站移開時，你希望能夠提供一個更加有序和寧靜的環境。
It’s good to get second opinions from co-workers to make sure you are editing correctly and your ideas are being well articulated. While it seems silly to say that you know you are done when you are out of fee, it is a reality that creativity often has to have boundaries and budget can be a great line in the sand.
從同事那裡獲得第二意見是很好的，這樣可以確保你的編輯是正確的，並且你的想法是清晰的。雖然說你知道你已經完成了你的收費似乎很愚蠢，但現實是，創意往往必須有界限，預算可能是一條很好的底線。
A workplace design is never 『done』, it must constantly evolve to nurture culture and inspire creativity continuously. Elements must have the flexibility to be moved or renewed to accommodate change.
一個工作場所的設計從來都不是「完成」的，它必須不斷地進化，不斷地培育文化，不斷地激發創造力。元素必須具有移動或更新的靈活性，以適應變化。
My advice is simple, just try to be flexible whenever it’s possible and always leave some freedom to people who work there.
我的建議很簡單，只要有可能就儘量靈活，給在那裡工作的人留點自由。
What are your best strategies for avoiding office designing trends that come and go?
你最好的策略是什麼來避免辦公室設計的趨勢來來去去去？
Trends are easily identifiable: if everyone’s doing it, then stay clear. It’s a sure way to make your office look dated, really soon.
In order to shut out trends, a good knowledge of the available materials is a good place to start. A good study of past references is also important, because it helps you distinguish trends from good, timeless design. And it is imperative to draw your inspiration from as many different and diverse fields as possible; look to art, graphic design, music and literature for your references. A space should trigger feelings, it should help the user make connections, it doesn’t provide any added value if it is self-referential.
趨勢很容易識別：如果每個人都這麼做，那就保持清醒。很快就會讓你的辦公室看起來過時。
為了排除趨勢，對現有材料的充分了解是一個很好的起點。一個好的研究過去的參考資料也很重要，因為它可以幫助你區分好的，永恆的設計趨勢。從儘可能多的不同領域中汲取靈感是非常必要的；你可以從藝術、平面設計、音樂和文學中獲得參考。一個空間應該觸發情感，它應該幫助用戶建立聯繫，如果它是自我參照的，它不會提供任何附加值。
While it is easy to default to classic, timeless design, this is a solution that is not necessarily appropriate depending on the project. It is best to acknowledge current trends strategically, with pieces that can be switched out or altered. The needs of a company evolve over time, and the design should be able to evolve with them.
雖然很容易默認為經典的、永恆的設計，但根據項目的不同，這是一種不一定合適的解決方案。最好是從戰略上認識到當前的趨勢，用可以調出或改變的部分。一個公司的需求會隨著時間的推移而變化，設計也應該能夠隨之變化。
Always make sure to ensure the design is well thought out, functions well and always feels good. Because this is timeless.
始終確保設計考慮周全，功能良好，感覺良好。因為這是永恆的。
First of all, don’t just close your eyes and copy. Do extensive research of the site, the surrounding and the project. Study the history, the brand essence and the composition. Even for fashion retail store or offices, the structure and the spirit should be timeless.
首先，不要只是閉上眼睛照搬。對現場、周圍環境和項目進行廣泛的研究。研究歷史、品牌本質和構成。即使是時裝零售店或辦公室，結構和精神應該是永恆的。
Jeff Pelletier Says That Modern Office Should Be Adaptable, Customized And Dynamic. (Image: Adas Office Design By Board And Vellum)
TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, WE SHOULD FEEL HAPPY AT WORK
為了使事情發生，我們應該在工作中感到快樂
A wise man once said, 「They can make a person leave his home every morning, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t create a sense of home, away from home.」 Okay, to be honest no one ever said that, but it’s true nonetheless. Of course, an office is a place where we are supposed to concentrate and make stuff happen. But it doesn’t mean that we have to do it in a dull environment that makes us grab our laptop and run as far as we can when the clock strikes five, right?
In an ideal office, everything from the lightning, furniture, air conditioning and even smallest things such as how your office equipment you use everyday are positioned, everything adds up in creating a place where we are happy to come back every morning. A place that we sometimes even call (without that sarcastic smile on the face) our second home. So whether you’re setting up a new office space or trying to breathe life into the existing one, try applying some of the office designing ideas that you think should work. There’s a big chance you』ll be surprised by the outcome!
一位智者曾經說過，「他們可以讓一個人每天早上離開家，但這並不意味著他們不能創造一種家的感覺，遠離家。」好吧，老實說，從來沒有人說過，但這是真的。當然，辦公室是我們應該集中精力讓事情發生的地方。但這並不意味著我們必須在一個枯燥的環境中做這件事，那會讓我們抓起筆記本電腦，在時鐘敲五點的時候儘可能地跑，對吧？
在一個理想的辦公室裡，從閃電、家具、空調，甚至最小的東西，比如你每天使用的辦公設備的位置，所有的東西加起來都創造了一個我們每天早上都很高興回來的地方。一個我們有時甚至稱之為（臉上沒有諷刺的微笑）我們的第二個家的地方。因此，無論你是在建立一個新的辦公空間，還是在試圖給現有的辦公空間注入活力，都可以嘗試運用一些你認為可行的辦公設計理念。你很有可能會對結果感到驚訝！