Design Technique 8: The Office Wall
This might seem a bit cheeky but you would be amazed how many people just get hold of all these design artefacts and with a cursory grunt stuff them into a folder or wardrobe or other disappearing device. Trust me on this one - don’t do that. Its a basic thing called not wasting your time obtaining artefacts if you aren’t going to actually use them to their best potential.
So do you have a corkboard, stickytape, pins or home made glue? That mood board you had made needs to go on the wall and so does your roll of rich pictures. This might be more of a home office tip really - hardly a neat corporate solution. But give it a go and see if having everything there in your face doesn’t just work in your favour. I don’t doubt you’ll ignore it all for a while but one night you’ll wind up awake at 3am just having to get in there to get that idea down! The wall has done it’s work.
The office wall is also an environment where you should be looking to put art, design influences and interesting work. If you ever visit an artist’s studio you will rarely see blank walls. Creativity breeds more creativity and to design you probably should surround yourself with design artefacts. Not to emulate of course but to influence and cajole you towards your own ideas.
The office wall can be a lot more than the static yellow painted bland scenery of custardesque aftertaste. It should be as much a part of your workspace as your desk. Hey its way bigger.


