Design Strategy

THE MARIS METHODOLOGY:

THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH

At Maris, we do not start design with a mood board; we start with Workplace Strategy. We move clients away from “Ownership” (my desk) to “Membership” (our space).

Our methodology restructures the floorplate into distinct zones based on activity, not hierarchy:

• The Focus Zone (The Library)
  The Function: Deep, concentrated work.
  The Design: High acoustic shielding, visual privacy, and strict “no call” protocols. This is the antidote to the open-plan noise that drives people to work from home.
• The Collaboration Zone (The Engine Room)
  The Function: Iterative teamwork and brainstorming.
  The Design: Agile project tables, writable walls, and high-tech AV for hybrid participation. Furniture here is often high level (standing height) to encourage energy and movement.
• The Social Heart (The Plaza)
  The Function: Culture building and “incidental collisions.
  The Design: This is not just a kitchenette tucked in a corridor. It is a central destination – a café or lounge – where staff cross paths. As the guide highlights, “these areas drive culture, belonging and chance interactions.”
• The Touchdown Zone
  The Function: Transience.
  The Design: Non-bookable, short-stay areas for visitors or staff between meetings. This removes the need for 10 people to book a 10-person room just to send a few emails. Neuroinclusion & Biophilia: We overlay these zones with “Sensory Design.” We use biophilic principles (natural light, planting, organic textures) to reduce cognitive stress. Crucially, we design for Neurodiversity, ensuring there are low-stimulation areas for those who find the buzz of the “Social Heart” overwhelming.

THE CFO’S CORNER:

THE ECONOMICS OF FLEXIBILITY

A static design is a financial risk. If you build hard partitions for every office, you face a significant CapEx bill the moment your team structure changes.

We advocate for “Long-Life, Loose-Fit” design.

• Modular Furniture: We specify furniture systems that can be reconfigured over a weekend (e.g., meeting pods that can be moved) rather than built-in joinery that must be demolished.
• Demountable Partitions: Instead of stud walls, we use systems that can be unclipped and relocated.
• The Churn Cost Savings: In a traditional office, moving a team costs approx. £300-£500 per person in crate hire and IT labour. In a flexible, activity-based environment, “churn costs” drop to near zero because people move, not furniture.
• The Hybrid Ratio: By shifting from a 1:1 desk ratio to a 1:1.4 sharing ratio (supported by lockers), you can often free up 30% of your floorplate. This “found space” allows you to add wellness rooms and collaboration hubs without leasing more square footage – essentially getting a bigger office for free.

MARIS TOOLS:

THE “WORKSTYLE” CALCULATOR

Before approving a layout, audit your teams against these profiles to determine the right mix of zones.

• The Anchors: Admin, Finance, IT
  Need fixed desks, dual screens, secure storage.
  Maris Benchmark: 80-100% assigned desks.
• The Connectors: Sales, Recruitment
  High mobility, lots of phone calls, rarely at a desk for more than an hour.
  Maris Benchmark: Hot-desking + Phone Booths.
• The Creators: Marketing, Design
  Need project tables, pin-up space, messy areas.
  Maris Benchmark: Project Studios.
• The Leaders: Management
  Often in meetings.
  Maris Benchmark: Do they need a private office (empty 60% of the time), or priority access to bookable quiet rooms?