Function:

• Tailored Layout: Design a reception desk that optimally fits your space and fulfills operational requirements. Consider factors such as traffic flow (preventing obstructions, and bottlenecks, and ensuring smooth movement), a comfortable waiting area near the reception desk (without impeding traffic), storage solutions, and accessibility (adhering to ADA standards for desk height, counter depth, and knee clearance). This optimises workflow for your reception staff and ensures a smooth experience for visitors.
• Functionality for Staff: Consider the workflow and needs of both the reception staff and visitors. Integrate features like ergonomic workstations, built-in storage for paperwork or supplies, and technology integration for a smooth workflow. This not only improves staff comfort but also boosts their efficiency. Ensure there is a clear view of the waiting area to enhance accessibility and comfort.
• Accessibility: Designing for accessibility demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and respect for all visitors. Ensure your reception area is accessible to everyone by following accessibility guidelines and universal design principles. This may include adjustable heights, ample space for wheelchair access, and visual and auditory additions. 

Form:

• Brand Identity: Reflect your company's core values through design elements such as materials, colors, and finishes. Incorporate your brand identity by utilizing your brand colors, subtly integrating your logo, or selecting materials that embody your company's image. For instance, a healthcare clinic would benefit from a reception desk in a more organic shape incorporating curves and intricacy while a multinational company with values focused around uniqueness and a stand-out approach to their service offering might require an abstract desk design, incorporating dynamic geometric shapes using parametric design principles. 
• First Impression: Create a welcoming and impressive space that sets the stage for exceptional visitor experiences. This can be achieved through thoughtful lighting and an overall ambiance that authentically reflects your brand personality. For instance, consider how the careful selection of Luminance and Kelvin values for primary, secondary, and accent lighting can significantly impact the atmosphere. Cooler, neutral, or warmer light tones can dramatically alter the mood and influence how all interior colors are perceived.
• Unique Statement Piece: Go beyond the ordinary with a custom reception desk that becomes a conversation starter and a memorable element of your workspace. Consider a unique shape, a mix of materials, or an integrated art installation to create a lasting impression.
• Sustainability: Choose eco-friendly materials and design features that promote energy efficiency. This aligns with your brand's environmental values and creates a positive impact.

Bespoke Merchandising Units

• Increased brand awareness: Bespoke units can be designed to incorporate your brand's colours, logos, and messaging, creating a cohesive and memorable shopping experience for customers. Beyond simple incorporation, the space should be a unified entity. For example, the organic, curved shapes of a dental reception desk introduce intricacy and create a cohesive design throughout the area.
• Improved product visibility: Custom displays can be tailored to effectively showcase your products, making them more appealing to customers. By strategically utilising feature lighting, such as hidden strip lights, you can dramatically enhance product visibility and captivate attention. The human eye is naturally drawn to light - a phenomenon known as phototropism - making illuminated displays a powerful tool for guiding customer focus.
• Space optimisation: They can be designed to fit any size or shape of space, maximising your use of valuable floor space.

Designing a standout merch area or bespoke merchandising display requires careful consideration of both aesthetic and psychological factors. A successful merchandise area in a clinical setting must balance these. Given the often anxious environment, our focus is on building trust and educating patients. Instead of a sales-driven approach, we propose a clean, informative space highlighting product benefits and aligning with the clinic's expertise. By prioritising clarity and minimalism, we can create a reassuring environment that effectively promotes products.

Other considerations might include: 

• Eye-Level Positioning: Items placed at eye level are more likely to be noticed and considered. For adult patients, this generally means placing the most important products between 4 and 6 feet off the ground. This positioning helps guide the patient's eye naturally across the display.
• Colour Psychology: Colours should reflect the calm and professional atmosphere of the space. Soft and more earthy tones often evoke calmness and trust, while subtle accents in the brand's colors can enhance brand recognition without overwhelming the space.
• Strategic product placement: Group products that are often used together or are complementary. For example, in a dental clinic, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash could be grouped. This makes it easier for patients to see the full range of products they might need, encouraging multiple purchases.
• Highlighting Key Products: Use spotlighting, or specific shelving, to draw attention to new, popular, or recommended products. This technique can create focal points that draw the patient's eye to specific items.
• Patient Flow & Accessibility: Position displays in areas with natural patient flow, such as near waiting areas or checkout desks. This increases visibility and encourages browsing while patients wait. Accessibility might include ensuring that product information is readable and within reach.
• Education & Interactivity:  Include clear, concise information about the benefits and uses of the products. Where appropriate, incorporate elements that allow patients to engage with the products. This can be achieved through bespoke graphics, interactive displays & tech, or installation art.  

Bespoke Graphics

Walls are often the most underutilised space. It should not be wasted on generic posters or bland paint. Bespoke graphics, like murals, wall decals, or even large-scale photographs, can transform your walls into inspiring and informative canvases. You can use them to showcase your company values, tell your brand story, or simply create a more vibrant and engaging atmosphere. However, bespoke graphics are not just about walls. 

Patient-easy navigation symbols that help patients find their way around the facility, decon stickers that indicate areas that have been decontaminated to ensure hygiene, and promotional graphics of visually appealing elements that promote the facility's services or create a welcoming atmosphere. For example, the visualisation of the building's exterior or the incorporation of biophilic design elements (like a potted plant).