How Artful Workplace Design Strengthens Your Brand Identity

Workplace design is no longer just about aesthetics. The most successful workplaces use murals, environmental graphics, signage and place-based storytelling to express their brand, strengthen culture and create memorable experiences for employees and visitors.

Discover how thoughtful workplace design and spatial storytelling can transform your workplace into one of your strongest brand assets.

Beyond The Mural - The Roles of Work Spaces

Recently, a client in Perth asked if I could help with mural ideas for two office spaces.

I'm based in Brisbane.

There was no site visit.

No sketches.

No mood board.

Just photographs, rough measurements and a conversation over email.

Their question was wonderfully simple.

"What ideas come to mind?"

The interesting thing is, I wasn't really looking at the walls. I was imagining how people would move through them. Before I think about murals, wallpaper or graphics, I ask a different question:

What role does this space play?

Every Workplace Tells A Story

Every workplace – and the rooms within it – tell a story, long before artwork or signage comes along.

A reception isn't the same as a meeting room.

A meeting room isn't the same as a boardroom.

A breakout space isn't the same as a training centre.

A quiet hallway isn't the same as a public entrance.

Every space has a unique purpose.

Different people use it, and they use them differently.

Different emotions arise there.

Different conversations happen there.

That's why I never begin by thinking,

"What should we put on the wall?"

Instead I think:

• Who uses this space?

• How would I like them to feel?

• Is this a moment of welcome?

• Is this assisting with wayfinding and legibilty throughout the building?

• Is there a message or statement this space needs to make?

• Should this space energise or calm?

• Should the artwork become the 'hero' – or quietly support the brand and architecture?

• Do we have a visual language already in use to adopt from?

Once those questions are answered, the concept usually reveals itself.

Designing a Welcome, Not Just A Wall

I'll walk you through my client's two spaces.

The first space was a hallway – a hidden gem. Since it was not visible from reception – and visible only once you pass through security – it felt like a space for people who had already been welcomed. This changed the mural’s purpose from selling the company to welcoming people in a warm, human way.

The marketing manager had attached an image multilingual "hello" mural as her inspiration, and I reassured her that this approach was perfect. A warm welcome to staff and guests that felt inclusive.

I had created something similar in a recent project, with an entry 'hello' wall marking the entrance to an early learning centre and the impact was evident.

Some walls simply need to say,

"You're welcome here."

Building a Visual Language Through Workplace Design

The second space presented a different challenge. With almost twenty meters of blank wall, the temptation is to create one large, eye-catching mural. Instead, I asked if the wall needed something quieter, something that could provide visual interest while allowing for a calming space amongst desks for focused work.

My initial idea was a honeycomb pattern, custom-designed to fit the company’s brand identity. This pattern was not just decoration; it was the idea for a building block for the company’s visual language. It could appear on wallpaper, as decals, signage, and even future offices in different locations which is perfect for companies with global offices.

This approach solves more than one wall. It creates a consistent visual thread that ties different spaces together. The pattern’s subtlety allows it to support the architecture without overpowering it. It also offers flexibility for future design needs.

Beyond wallpaper and signage, a pattern can be considered an asset for many uses across print and digital applications – everything from websites and social media to marketing brochures, magazines and stationery.

When a Workplace Needs More Than a Mural

One of the biggest misconceptions about workplace artwork is that every blank wall needs a feature mural.

Sometimes that's exactly the right solution.

But sometimes it's not.

Every workplace is made up of different spaces, each with its own purpose. A reception might call for a memorable first impression, while a quiet office needs something more subtle that supports concentration rather than competing for attention.

That's why I don't think in terms of products.

I think in terms of experience.

Sometimes the answer is an illustrated mural.

Sometimes it's a bespoke patterned wallpaper.

Sometimes it's hand lettering, environmental graphics or signage.

Sometimes it's fine art, hung beautifully.

I also think about the additional layers that create a memorable space:

• Lighting

• Sculpture

• Plants

• Furniture

• Scent

• Textures.

The very best spaces combine all of these together, cohesively. This is why I love working alongside interior designers and architects, to create a considered space.

The goal isn't to fill every wall.

It's to create a workplace that feels cohesive – where every element contributes to a larger story and every space feels like it belongs. Good workplace design isn't about making one wall memorable.

It's about making the entire workplace memorable.

Why I Love Designing Wallpaper for Workplaces

Wallpaper gives me the freedom to design an entire environment rather than a collection of individual graphics.

Unlike individual decals or signage, wallpaper lets me think about the entire architectural surface across walls and ceilings.

As an artist and designer, I can combine:

• Illustration.

• Pattern.

• Typography.

• Colour.

• Photography.

• Hand lettering.

• Environmental graphics.

All within one cohesive composition, skillfully blended and balanced with respect to the brand design guidelines.

Building a Spatial Brand Identity Through Wall Art

My client's project enquiry left me thinking about something much bigger than wallpaper or murals and I felt passionate to share my insights.

Every company invests in a logo and visual brand identity.

Many invest in typography, colour palettes and photography. But very few think about what their brand looks like in three dimensions.

That's where spatial brand identity creates something a logo alone never can.

There is an incredible opportunity to elevate branding and tell a greater story through spatial experience – and in my case, through art, illustration, pattern and texture. And this opportunity is open to any brands, not just corporate companies. From the cosy local coffee shop you can't wait to spend your Saturday mornings to a boutique art-filled hotel you never want to leave, spaces tell a story and draw us in through the layering of these elements.

Q&A

What is workplace branding?

Workplace branding is the way an office communicates a company's values, culture and identity through its physical environment, including artwork, signage, furniture, materials and spatial design.

Do murals improve workplace culture?

Well-designed murals can reinforce company values, create a stronger sense of identity and make workplaces more engaging for employees and visitors when they're integrated into the overall design strategy.

What are environmental graphics?

Environmental graphics combine artwork, typography, signage and wayfinding to communicate information while shaping how people experience a space.

When should artwork be considered in a workplace project?

Ideally during the early design stages, allowing artwork, branding and architecture to work together cohesively rather than treating art as decoration added after construction.

Why should artwork be considered early in a workplace design project?

When artwork is planned from the beginning, it can respond to the architecture, the people who use the space and the story of the place itself. Rather than filling an empty wall, it becomes part of the identity of the workplace, creating an environment that feels cohesive and memorable.

Which is more important in a workplace – aesthetics or function?

They're inseparable. A beautiful workplace that doesn't function well quickly becomes frustrating, while a purely functional workplace rarely inspires people to do their best work. That's why I believe artwork should be considered early, alongside the architecture and interiors, rather than as a finishing touch.

The most memorable spaces aren't remembered for one beautiful wall. They're remembered for how the whole place made people feel.

If this approach speaks to you, I'd be delighted to chat.

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