The most innovative and powerful companies in Silicon Valley are famous for the attention they pay to their work environment. These companies have revolutionized the workplace, making the stereotypically sterile, fluorescent, and cubicle-filled office a sad and outdated thing of the past. One thing that the corporate headquarters of Google, Amazon, and Nordstrom all have in common: wall murals. Facebook even runs an artist residency program, staffing artists in a full-time office beautifying position. These companies know the value of a workplace that is comfortable and inspiring. Wall murals can play a huge role in adding branding and personality to an office environment. They transform white walls into attention grabbing decorative features that energize workers and impress visitors.
Wall murals are a fantastic and effective way to express branding and company culture. Daily exposure to carefully crafted wall mural designs can boost employee morale and productivity. In addition to employees, murals also have an impact on visitors to the workplace. Wall murals are aesthetically pleasing and start conversations; they set workplaces apart. At Spotlight Signs, we have proudly helped design, fabricate, and install a number of wall murals for office settings.
Color Theory in Wall Mural Design
Certain colors and design patterns have predictable psychological effects on viewers. Knowledge of color theory can be a powerful tool when designing wall murals for use in the office. Below is a summary of color theory from limitlesswalls.com in how it pertains to interior design and wall murals specifically:
Red: Drama and Passion
Red is an intense color and inspires feelings of intimacy and passion. It can be overwhelming for some and is likely more appropriate in the home than it is in an office setting.
Orange: Lively and Fun
Orange is a stimulating and social color. It inspires creativity and communication. Depending on the nature of the work being done at an office it can be great choice, but it can also be distracting. If your office is at it’s best when it is loud and alive with collaboration, orange may be the right choice.
Yellow: Sunshine and Optimism
Yellow is bright, it evokes the sun and good cheer. However, it can come across muddy or uncomfortably bright in a sunny room, it should be used cautiously.
Green: Peace and Harmony
Natural green tones invoke a sense of serenity and thoughts of the natural world. These colors are stress-relieving and provide an ideal environment for focus. Brighter, emerald green tones signify wealth and power, they are energizing and impressive to guests.
Blue: Serene and Fresh
Blue is a relaxing color and is very popular for use in office settings. Studies have found empirical evidence that blue rooms lower activity of the respiratory system and result in greater productivity.
Purple: Regal and Dignified
Purple evokes a sense of royalty and spirituality; palaces are purple. It is a bold choice, but fits the needs of an office well. Like emerald green, it signifies wealth and is impressive; and like blue it is energizing and promotes optimum brain function.
Black: Sophisticated and Powerful
Black is risky, as overusing it can be overwhelming and will make a room feel small. In the right doses though, it can be very powerful and dramatic. Design features and color combinations also have a powerful psychological effect on viewers, and the link above expands on these things. Our own office’s entryway is adorned with a purple wall mural!
Curator Engine Project
In November, we were contacted by Curator Engine to produce and install a wall mural at a Phoenix-area corporate workspace. In 2015, influential members of the Phoenix art community founded Curator Engine with a dedication to connecting talented artists with buyers who have the budget and motivation to bring their projects to life. Curator Engine believes that everyone benefits when artists are enabled to make their visions a reality in our public spaces. There are so many wonderfully talented artists who are unable to obtain the relationships and finances necessary to put projects into motion; they need help. This is the essential role that Curator Engine plays. In this case they connected their Phoenix area client, who had a budget to liven up their brand new office space, with the work of Alaskan artist Emily Longbrake. Then they turned to us, Spotlight Signs to print and install the graphics. Now, Emily’s artwork is alive and making a difference, invigorating office workers and impressing guests.
According to color theory, this mural utilizes a very effective design for an office environment. It is dominated by blue hues which are great in an office environment due to their ability to inspire focus and productivity. The design also makes great use of both curved and diagonal lines. Diagonal lines are known to energize and inspire creativity, while curved lines have an organic and soothing feeling to them. The blue hues, curved, and diagonal lines are excellent design elements for an office wall mural. They create an environment that is relaxed and ideal for focus but is also energized and well suited for creativity and innovation.
Wall murals are quickly catching on with the most successful and innovative firms today. They are a cost effective and practical way to add a huge dose of personality to a work environment. As the influence of the environment on human behavior continues to be studied and taken seriously, smart employers will put thought into creating an optimal work environment. Our recent project with Curator Engine is a great example of the good that can result when art is taken seriously and invested in. We are proud to have worked with Curator Engine and to have played a role in bringing the work of such a talented artist into the world in a tangible way.