Equator Studio
3d8 were appointed in January 2009 to design the new studio space for Equator, one of the UK's leading digital agencies. The studio is approximately 6500 sq ft and has to accommodate a team of up to 70 staff. The brief was to create a 'studio' as opposed to an office; a space that encourages staff to express their creativity and exchange ideas, one that caters for the sociable style of the company.
To maintain the open plan nature of the studio we proposed dividing the space using a series of freestanding self contained structures, these structures were to accommodate the directors offices, the meeting rooms and the kitchen. At the core of the space was the social area, which had a laid-back look and feel with comfortable furniture, a gaming area, a large canteen style meeting/lunch table and a canteen style bar and servery hatch. Large scale graphics were utilised within the space to add pattern and texture, in particular the reception area where a 4x10m magnetic wall announced one's arrival to the space. The magnetic wall displays either the logo or an alternative pattern/design and it can be changed easily or updated as required.
To encourage open discussion and communication between team members, each of the meeting rooms were designed with wall-to-wall whiteboard, similarly in the studio, large felt board panels lined the perimeter walls to encourage staff to share their ideas and inspirations. Architecturally, the space is both clean and simple, however, combined with bold pattern, colour, graphics, textured and tactile materials the outcome is somewhat interesting and eclectic.
