A better workplace starts with a better brief.

Start with activities, not a desk count.

A headcount tells you how many people may use the office. It does not explain what they do there. Identify focused tasks, calls, teamwork, client meetings and social activity. Ask which activities can share space and which need separation.

Treat visitors and staff as different journeys.

Reception, meeting rooms and guest facilities need a legible sequence. Staff need convenient access to work settings, storage and support rooms. Mapping these journeys can reveal conflicts before they become part of the floor plan.

Make technical requirements visible early.

Power, data, video meetings, ventilation and acoustics affect the layout. Record the equipment and performance requirements alongside the spatial brief. A meeting room that looks convincing may still fail if its technology and sound separation are unresolved.

Agree what success means.

Set project priorities in plain language: more confidential meetings, better collaboration, room for growth or a clearer brand experience. Use those priorities to review the design, cost choices and final handover.