By John Arenas | September 8, 2013

Work on Display

That the workplace itself is now the subject of highly creative expression is proof of its rapidly-changing role in our lives.

It’s likely that the brand image you attribute to Nike, Coca Cola, or Old Spice has come from the think tank at international advertising agency Weiden + Kennedy. What makes the agency’s ad campaigns so successful is its knack for thinking outside the box. Its creativity, one can argue, is a direct result of the resources that the company spends on fostering inspirational work environments.

Hello Neighbour is one such resource. Through the program, W + K’s London office works with local artists to design its storefront windows. Its most recent installation, titled Real Life at Work, concluded last weekend. W + K’s employees took turns occupying a comic book–like office space, created by graphic artist Emily Forgot. Inspired by pop art painter Roy Lichtenstein, the temporary black-and-white printed façade served as the backdrop for W + K employees to show the outside world the way they work.

Here at the Labs, this immediately stood out to us as a vivid, visual example of the retailing of the workplace. I also can’t help but wonder how companies might design their offices if they were always open to the public eye… Good ideas tend to spread!