1. What was the brief from the client? And how did you achieve the same intertwining of your style?
It was a collaborative process from the get-go. Dissecting the client brief to arrive at a design narrative for the office was an intense yet fun process. ‘Have no fear, make mistakes, think, create, imagine, discuss, debate, and design’ – these were the guiding principles for the brief.
With the vision shared by the clients and the assistance of a strong graphic design team, we led an exploration into a design realm that was bold, spirited, highly interactive and constantly evolving, much like the AI today.
2. Any technical aspects that were considered while designing this project?
Arcgate is a young and dynamic company passionate about data and technology. Being a tech-based organization, the majority of the planning and design was done with regard to its functions and included studying the business profile, the work patterns, tech requirements, and so on. Function-based spaces that include workstations, training rooms, and interactive video conferencing rooms were the areas where technical aspects were considered.
3. How did you bring the best of AI in this project?
While the concept of the project stems from artificial intelligence, on which the company’s profile is based, however, the focus is given to bringing practicality to its functions. Apart from the executive areas, where automation has been used extensively, the rest of the areas were purely function-based.
4. Can you give us insights on the selection of furniture and finishes of the project?
Based on the intended use of the space and in accordance with the project’s concept, the furniture and finishes were carefully selected.
The bold A of Arcgate on a black back-painted glass wall greets the visitor on the Ground floor Lobby – the entrance to the East Wing. A black and white dotted graphic wall reflecting the company’s history forms a very different and exciting backdrop to the lobby. The Executive area on the ground floor is called Himalayas and is planned to be more formal. A solid material palette of white and grey with oak veneer color palette is decided for the space. The Director’s lounge combines a sense of the formal with a funky painted graphic wall and ceiling merging into one and reflected in a mirror wall, becoming the highlight of the space. The conference room is a very formal space, defined by a grey leather and metal panelled wall with a large felt textured orange A embossed on it. A rich-grained wood ceiling over a wood table completes the space.
The main director’s cabin is a large space, with spartan furniture. Metal framed olive-green leather panels on an oak veneer wall are juxtaposed with large dark grey Fiandre walls on a white statuario Fiandre floor. A library unit in textured wood shutters and leather panels forms the backdrop to the secondary seating of three yellow armchairs.
5. What were the difficulties, or first setbacks encountered?​
The major difficulty that occurred during the process was the fact that the company was operating while the design was being executed. Due to this, there was a lack of free movement for the workers. On the other hand, the company was growing at a rapid pace in terms of the number of its employees leading to space constraints. The design also had to be planned according to the type of employees, which are young in the age group of 18-28 years. Nonetheless, this provided the designers an opportunity to explore options that align with the current needs of youngsters.
6. If you had to name the design style used, what would it be?
The design is modern with glimpses of pop art that include various emotions and energy attached to it.
7. What were the inspirations and key concepts for the development of the project?
With a vision of taking the client’s work philosophy to another level– a visual and verbal rendering of ideas was created akin to a school design project- where thoughts, words, collages, and materials, were worked and reworked through a repository of dynamic, forward-looking vocabulary and imagery to evolve at the Acrostics of the project – what we call as
The ABC’s of Arcgate.
Accelerate Build Collaborate …
This became the guiding factor and essence of the design process.
The spatial and graphic interventions at Arcgate were designed keeping in mind the end user who spends over 8 hours each day on campus – the Arcgatian – the average age of whom is about 23. We wanted the average Arcgatian to love coming into work every day and lending the campus, a vibrant, fun and fearless vibe made for a natural transition with the philosophy and the Arcgatian at its core.
8. What is your favourite element of design in the project?
The concept of the design, i.e., the acrostics of Arcgate, ABC, allowed us to create a cohesive design narrative. So, the project revolves around this idea, whether it is in the executive areas, the staff areas, the laboratory, the courtyards, or the installations; it makes it a focal element. The ABC’s of the company are:
Accelerate Build Collaborate Dream Explore Flourish Galvanize Harmonize Ignite Jump Kindle Learn Measure Nourish Observe Play Question Reach Sculpt Teach Unite Visualize Widen Zoom.
9. If you had to describe the project in 2-3 words what would it be?
The design takes control to create a variety of lively compositions without worrying about overwhelming the space. These Big Ideas are bold, eye-catching, and uniquely individualistic in every way, while still taking into consideration all the practical considerations and the comfort of the end users.
10. Explain the use of colours and/or other details to add value to the design.
A collage of striking Forms, Colors, Graphics, Patterns and Textures is what defines the space. The wayfinding and signage really come to life with different color codes for each hall. The central pods are laid out as a set of colored hexagonal glass cubes, on a striking black and white striped floor. The ceiling- a series of colored strips, overlapping each other runs along the whole mass of the space. Perforated colored metal sheets disguise the large columns in the space juxtaposed with the ceiling textures. The walls are adorned with graphics evolved from the ABC’s of Arcgate – with sketches of well-known landmarks from each city of the start-ups, as of famous personalities from those cities and philosophical quotes from them – combining philosophy and humor along the way. The conference and meeting rooms are a series of colored glass walls with bold names given to each and splattered on the surface. Each room within has its own identity defined through its ceiling and wall graphics. The services are disguised as a series of perforated grey panels with colored graphics on them.
11. One learning you’d like to take on to your next project?
Due to the project being tech-based, ‘collaboration’, especially between the design team, the client, and the graphic design team, was the deciding factor to create a pleasant working environment. This also turned out to be a learning experience for us for our future projects.