Designing and fitting out workspaces calls for the involvement of a number of trades, all sharing their know-how in the service of the same project. It's a dynamic sector, strongly correlated with changes in society and in the way workspaces are used. This means that office design professionals have to respond to new needs, such as facilitating business communication, offering modular spaces and promoting employee well-being. So, to create a new working environment, it's common to call on the services of a design office specializing in office design, bringing together all the necessary expertise. Would you like to find out more about the professions involved in office design? Let's find out in this article.
The project manager
He is the main interface with the customer. He is responsible for commercial relations and project management, from customer contact through to completion. He coordinates the project team. In collaboration with his team, he participates in the various choices required for the design and layout of workspaces (space planning, choice of materials, furniture, decorative proposals, etc.). To do this, they need to know their customers' needs and budget in advance. He/she masters all the parameters of the project: customer needs, budget allocated to the operation, deadlines to be met. He or she is also responsible for scheduling the various stages: submission of the offer, presentation of the project, contractual finalization, launch of the operation.
The project manager, in collaboration with the architect, coordinates and manages all the skills made available for the project. He or she supervises the work, ensures that deadlines are met and monitors the quality of the work carried out.
The architect: the orchestra conductor in the office fit-out business
Theoffice architect is an interior designer specializing in the design and layout of workspaces. They play the most important role, since they are able to combine virtually all the different office design professions, and are involved at every stage of the project. Space designers are most often found in specialist companies or design offices. In certain more complex or technical cases, it may be necessary to call on the services of a DE (formerly DPLG) architect.
The role of the office architect is not only to design a work environment that meets the needs of the client, but also to select the furniture and decorations, with the aim of creating harmony within the space. Office architects have a wide range of skills, coupled with a well-developed artistic and creative sense. As a result, his missions can be wide-ranging and varied, depending on the team he collaborates with, and which he may also manage. He or she acts as an advisor to clients, keeping abreast of the latest standards and trends in office design.
Once the first sketch of the project has been drawn up and the space planned, he intervenes on the aesthetic side, selecting colors, shapes and future decorative elements. He gives a style to the working environment and personalizes the premises according to the customer's expectations. He pays particular attention to their tastes to create a space that reflects their personality and their corporate image (branding). During the project, he provides advice and guides customers in their choices. He is also responsible for coordinating the various tradesmen (painters, carpenters, partitioners, etc.) involved in the office fit-out.
The space planner
Also known as a space designer or BIM manager, the role of the space planner is tooptimize workplaces so that they perfectly meet the company's needs. The space planner works closely with the interior designer, proposing the best solutions for organizing the workspace. The space planner then draws up plans based on the customer's business sector, the number of employees, their working habits (on-site - telecommuting - flex office) and whether or not they need access to certain spaces: meeting rooms, individual, soundproofed offices, relaxation zones, catering areas, mobile offices, etc. Our real expertise lies in designing, organizing and optimizing spaces.
In response to recent changes in working habits, space planners are expected to create modular and flexible office spaces, so that they can be easily reorganized if necessary. Space planners work with cutting-edge computer tools and software that enable them to create 3D models, to better visualize the different layouts.
The site supervisor
He's the prime contractor for any workspace development project. The site supervisor is also one of our customers' main contacts. They are present at every stage of the project, and attend meetings with the various office fit-out professionals. He is the person in charge of the site. His role is to supervise the work teams, ensure that delivery deadlines and budgets are met, and check that the work is perfectly executed.
You're now familiar with the main trades involved in office design, and the respective roles of each. Since all this expertise is needed to create a functional workspace adapted to your company's needs, the best solution is to call on a design office specializing in office fit-out. Their teams have all these skills and a wealth of experience, and will be able to offer you turnkey layout solutions.