A couple months before I began my internship at HNI with the Design Studio, the company went through a reorganization to encourage more collaboration between its brands (Allsteel, Gunlocke, and HON). Previously, employees for each brand worked in separate buildings; now, senior members of the company rearranged departments so all departments from each brand could work together. Thus, the design teams for the three brands were moved from their respective headquarter buildings to 505 Ford Avenue: a customer service space that was built to function as a call center in the late 1990s.

 

As a now repurposed call center, the building was severely lacking in color and inspiration for its new users. When I arrived in May, the four other design interns and I were tasked with dividing the building into five sections and each refreshing a section. I was given the work café.

​

As shown in the current photos of the café, the most apparent problem was that the color scheme is incredibly muted, with only tan booth seating as a focal point. Employees also seemed to prefer the booths and high-tops rather than the abundant seated height tables. Lastly, the bar seating at the counter area was never used- many employees found it weird to sit there as this is looking onto a busy area with the refrigerators and microwaves on the other side.

​

I created my redesign to solve these existing issues. The color scheme is kept simple but is more interesting with light wood tables instead of stark white, deep brown chairs instead of dark black, and soothing blue booths instead of plain beige. Natural elements are also added, with planters to add privacy between booths. More options for seating are also shown, with added counter height and booths, while also keeping regular height tables for ADA compliance and those who prefer to sit at this level. This plan also eliminates the unused bar seating by separating the seating from the microwave and refrigerator area.