LIVE BRIEF
Client. DXC Technology
Date. May - September 2017
TEAM: Athanasia Barakiti, Sneha Nemali, Soraya Petrosillo
While working for DXC we discovered much more about how everyone worked and we all were so enthusiastic of having had this great opportunity.
We had a really good partnership with the company, with everyone who we had the chance to meet and speak to, and we have learned so much in such a small time that we were able to have entire conversations about Agile methodologies in few weeks.
The brief was about designing a brand new concept of a Design Studio within the Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) in Newcastle in order for them to be in in line with the Agile methodologies the company applies.
dxc technology-the brief
The Values and Culture of DXC need to be reflected in the space
Showcase different stories throughout the space
Space needs to accomodate Agile methodology and internal change
the challenge
Agile is an umbrella term which identifies a set of methods and practices in the contemporary workspaces based on specific values and principles. Agile methodology is also all about the Team: flexibility and adaptability are constant values which will make all processes faster and more functional. The team will be the one who will take decisions, fully empowered and conscious of everything related to the project they are working on. Agile methodologies are actually much more but, for the sake of this project, what really was important for us was to find out how the office space could be improved based on some Agile insights and workspaces trends we researched and some problems we could see of DXC's offices today.
About agile
The dtc
Personality
Transparency
Collaboration
Creativity
Productivity
Flexibility
Curiosity
Innovation
Improve
Transformation
Conversation
beehive
This concept represents a colony or community that makes this delivery centre what it is, with constant teamwork and transformation. It emphasizes on the fluid interaction between the client, the teams, the company and space. The goal is to show the effectiveness of DXC's delivery processes to the client while focusing on enhancing collaboration and conversation between the deVop teams.
the journeys
THE CLIENT
THE TEAM
The client can easily navigate throughout the space without disrupting the team. At the same time, by deconstructing the central part, and using frosted glass for the meeting rooms, there will still be transparency over the whole floor.
The teams will have the possibility to use the whole space to the fullest. They will have their own privacy and will be able to customize their own space. Collaboration will increase, together with productivity and motivation as the teams will have more chance to get together and be much more independent.
The newly designed space for the Digital Transformation Center in Newcastle avoids using any kind of fixed wall. We deconstructed the whole space in line with the fast changes the company is going through. Furniture, whiteboards, walls: everything is movable and transformable. By doing this it won't ever be the employees to adapt to the space but it is the space that will adapt to the employees' needs. The colour palette was chosen to reflect DXC visual identity.
the vision
The reception is the first impression, and we wanted to give a bit of this building's nativity feel including materials and textures which remind the industrial part of Newcastle. As soon as you get in, DXC branding reveals itself right away at the reception desk.
The Ground floor is used in two ways: for the delivery part and the showcase part. As soon as the client comes in they can start their journey into Agile right from the waiting area which gives some informations about the company values using displays which integrate themselves into the space.
This area is for the employees's self-development. A space where they can share ideas, thoughts, news and start new conversations. The printers are strategically positioned her so even a quick stop at printing zone will make casually conversations start. Agile is about teamwork and employees empowerement, and this space helps the teams to feel more independent and empowered.
In Agile workspaces collaboration between employees is fundamental. This led to expand the common areas so that employees have the chance to sit together and naturally start conversation -> which leads to be more productive
Client demonstration starts. Use of flexible displays slides, foldable desk, making the space multipurpose for DXC to shape it for different needs.
The circular design symbolizes the space's function. The retractable glass wall can shape the space based on the needs.
On the left a brainstorming space with stationary and whiteboard. High chairs induce the feeling of a quick meeting. Sound absorbing curtain to separate the spaces.
Walls have been deconstructed to create a more sense of unity. However every team will have at least 2 movable white boards which will also function as separators. In front of them we have the meeting rooms made of frosted glass which will let the light go through while still proving privacy.
Strategically positioned at the beginning of the floor so they can be easily utilized by partners and clients seated at the hot desk.
feedback
Gary Binns
Newcastle Regional Delivery Centre Leader
"The team were presented with a high-level brief to create a different and innovative design space for the DXC Digital Transformation Centre in Newcastle. We agreed on high-level objectives around culture, storytelling and flexibility to facilitate new ways of working. Months of collaboration with the Newcastle DXC team culminated in a very professional and engaging client presentation where the team took Newcastle Digital Transformation leaders through the entire process they had followed and their proposed design.
(...) Two options were explored in detail and we particularly liked the use of client and team journeys through the space and innovative thinking around movable furniture and walls as well as display space to remove clutter from walls."
Nick De La Bedoyere
Vice President, DX Technology
"Your thought-provoking work has triggered lots of discussion within DXC. Last week we heard the overall concept of a ‘Digital Transformation Centre ‘ will be deployed elsewhere in DXC and therefore we will be taking your recommendations on how to design the office space and feeding these into the global programme."