Treehouse: A co-working concept
An excerpt from my student Senior Portfolio demonstrating our design process.
Deliverables: Research Identifiable Users, Business System, Brand Applications, Co-Working Space Concept and Layout, Application Design.
Problem:
Many businesses lack resources and skills to update their workplaces to create a more cohesive work environment for younger Generation Y workers who have different needs and desires.
This leads to unnecessary stress on workers of all age groups which can have an adverse effect on the work environment and the workers themselves.
Solution:
Treehouse. An environment for workers of all ages to come together on their work projects and businesses related tasks while being in a relaxing, collaborative, productive, creative, and inspiring surrounding.
Users
The audience of the Treehouse experience spans many different age groups and aspirations. The primary users of this experience are the workers various businesses who choose to partner with Treehouse from the community.
Ryan Lewis
Age: 26
Occupation: Industrial Designer
Goals:
To become a good productive member
of the team as quick as possible.Wants to try and be promoted as quick
as possible within the company.
Younger Employee Insights:Gen Y workers may not be completely understood by upper management,
which may cause conflicts in the
work environment.Generation Y breaks out of the mold of past generations, they want to have control of their own schedule and to be their own boss.
Jasika Johnson
Age: 40
Occupation: Project Manager
Goals:
Finding better, new, and creative ways
to do things and implementing them
into her work life.
Older Employee Insights:Being later in life their priorities may have shifted from careers being their primary motivation to more of a focus on their families.
These people are important to work with as they have many years of experience, knowledge, and resources that younger employees can learn from.
Mike Froning
Age: 40
Occupation: Project Manager
Goals:
Mike wants to continue to develop Froning Furniture into a well known successful company with innovative new ideas from his employees.
To find a way he can to improve the productivity, creativity and innovation of his employees work.
Owner InsightsBusiness owners want the best for their companies, they want productive and successful workers who create new and quality products.
Business owners care about how their workers feel and want their workplace to be low stress environment.
Inspiration and Research
While creating the layouts and aesthetics of Treehouse, we looked at interesting, inspiring, unconventional, and healthier work spaces that are being created today for companies big and small.
Brand Guidelines
Colors & Texture:
Relaxing blues, greens, and a pop of orange were chosen for their inspiring vibrancy to bring the Treehouse environment to life.
Natural textures bring the outdoors inside and add visual interest to the Treehouse space. Natural lighting and relaxing environments and interesting textures help to add to the richness of the creative atmosphere.
Concept Layout & Planning
Using the interior design research we did, we came up with a floor plan for the Treehouse experience. Organic shapes and plants within the naturally lit environment help to create relaxing, friendly and creative spaces within the Treehouse environment.
An ideal workspace should read neither like an office nor like a home. The result is a hybrid space which offers a mix of work life, and playful components.
Brand System & Applications
Treehouse’s values and beliefs don’t stop when you exit the building; it’s something that you take with you. Advertisements and apparel help to spread Treehouse and raise brand awareness. Natural and environmentally‑friendly materials should be sourced for all apparel available from Treehouse. Treehouse likes to work with the local community to produce and provide enriching content and apparel.
App Connectivity
The Treehouse phone Application allows users who are signed up though Treehouse to book rooms, request supplies, view upcoming events, see kitchen menus, view open rooms on the map, pay for hours and Treehouse time as well as view hours and work statistics.
