At Spaceagency, we are strategic thinkers: architects, urbanists, product designers and visual communicators driven by the human experience in space. Our team employs a unique blend of urban analytics, destination strategy, communication design and spatial design expertise to curate human-centric journeys through unforgettable places. Together, we are pioneering a new field in experience masterplanning for the built environment.
People
Our work always starts with people. We help our clients define the strategic positioning of their development by providing insight into the needs, drivers, and behaviours of their target customers. We do this through direct research and the use of advanced predictive tools which map people’s behaviour in space.
Values
Marrying our clients' vision for their development with the real value drivers of their customer's motivations, we define a guiding Experience Vision as a north star to plan and shape the ideal user experience within design teams.
Place
We believe that memorable places have site-specific, defining characteristics which can be unearthed by research into their history, culture, geographical context and transformed by design into spatial form, use and story. When choreographed holistically and united by a meaningful common narrative, we can design incredibly powerful experiences for people where all of the touchpoints that people interact with along their journeys integrate into a resonant sense of place.
Experience Masterplanning is a comprehensive methodology which builds the user’s perspective into the design of complex masterplan and building projects. Providing an overarching vision, principles, strategy and framework for the target experiences that will be designed for visitors, Experience Masterplanning incorporates a number of complementary human-centric consulting and design services which span from upfront strategic destination positioning through to post-occupancy placemaking initiatives. These services run symbiotically alongside the ‘hardware’ of the physical masterplanning process to focus on the ‘software’. A user-centred perspective offers valuable insight to clients, highlighting opportunities and innovations that will be attractive to visitors, amplifying their multi-sensory experiences, perceptions and emotions, over simple transactions and functions. A better end-to-end experience increases visits and enhances the visitor's perception of value.
Deeply engaged in the value of people's experience of the built environment, we capitalise on our combined expertise in urban, architectural, digital and visual design to integrate disparate elements of places into immersive destinations. We believe that defining a clear vision for places helps them define and manifest their place in the world.
Visitor journeys provide insights into the needs of customers, capturing valuable criteria for each project’s offer relevancy. By researching how people will move through spaces and their physical / digital interactions along the way, we have built up an understanding of the basic social layout of space. A careful analysis of pain points and planning out of touchpoints keeps the focus on innovative service designs that will smooth navigation, transitions and anticipate user needs.
A core area of expertise, Spaceagency is recognised as a global leader in wayfinding practice. We have a depth of knowledge and experience in wayfinding and signage for the transport, event, retail, sports, hospitality, commercial and cultural sectors. We employ pedestrian modelling tools to provide transformative evidence-based solutions.
We use powerful graphic communication to tell the story of places. Spanning from public artworks and installations to urban supergraphics, place identity creates stronger recognition and sense of belonging. What makes us unique among environmental graphics practices is that we have the detailed architectural skill base to work alongside larger design teams to seamlessly integrate our work directly into the fabric of the architecture and landscape, avoiding add-on solutions.
Combining our joint expertise in graphic, product and spatial design, we craft unique narrative environments. Our exhibition design work is guided by a conceptual approach where exhibition themes are drawn out and represented by bold spatial concepts, marrying form and content. A singular narrative and design language is carried through from graphics to environmental design, creating a coherent experience.
Our work always starts with people: Understanding the psychology of space, we connect knowledge of how people move, behave in and understand buildings and urban spaces with a narrative to curate their journey.
We connect the rigorous and technical disciplines of architecture and urban design with the human focus of communication design and user experience. By concentrating on the interface between the user and the built environment, we connect people to places in meaningful ways.
We work at the intersection of design disciplines that often work in isolation. Together with our clients and project partners we work to create a holistic user experience through an in-depth understanding of the built environment, user interaction and visual communication. Throughout our work, the user’s perspective is always at the heart of our thinking.
‘Spaceagency were able to present numerous creative proposals which fulfilled the Design Team’s criteria in a way that also helped to enhance many of the spaces. Space Agency was always very professional especially in their ability to meet deadlines and to clearly present their work at Client meetings.’
Spaceagency employs a methodology developed at the Space Syntax Laboratory at University College London and tested in practice for over 30 years to forecast patterns of movement and use within cities and complex buildings. This methodology uncovers the underlying dynamics of how the layout of the environment affects people’s behaviour and use of space. Using this research, we focus on how people experience and engage with environments; mapping movement, decision points and interaction. This strategic knowledge is then translated into innovative design solutions. Within the design of a building we integrate the digital and physical realms, creating new possibilities for how visitors will use and interact with buildings.
‘Spaceagency formed an important part of the design team and provided valuable creative input into the development of the design language for the project.
We highly appreciate Spaceagancy as a creative, productive and cooperative partner and will definitely extend our collaboration.’
We are known for exceeding expectations. Great design does not come about without passion, creativity and personal commitment.
Underpinned by meticulous attention to detail and artful execution, we ultimately seek to inspire: from those we work with to those who use the spaces we design.
‘It was a successful event for us and a testament to all of you for achieving what looked impossible at one point when we initiated the tender with 8 weeks to go to the exhibition. Not only did you all deliver but the whole experience from design, production and event days was handled excellently.
The event allowed Dar Wa Emaar to establish itself at the event for the first global exhibition and to portray our values and demonstrate our experience to government entities, private companies, suppliers and our customers for residential units.
I encountered many people complementing the quality and experience of our booth. We are all very proud of what was achieved’.
We apply a strategic approach, led by innovative thinking and supported by cutting edge technology, including the latest analytical tools and computational models to predict and interpret movement and behaviour to deliver excellence.
The ‘spatial framework’ can be complex on large scale projects. This is why we always seek to create a visual metaphor that synthesizes our research into a comprehensive design concept. Creating topological maps, just as Harry Beck did for the London Underground in the 1930’s, helps us to simplify this complexity and create a solution that feels natural and intuitive.
Our design proposals emerge from a thorough analysis, client discussions and understanding of the specific context we operate in, including the cultural heritage, local crafts, specific natural features.
This analysis will be the foundation of all further development: physical form, material, colour, typography and mapping and result in a unique and bespoke design that is deeply rooted in its context, relates to the architectural design language, the client’s values and the cultural and social conditions of the region we operate in.
We develop a unique graphic language that is highly legible and rooted in the same design principles and concepts as the product design. This includes the choice of typeface, developing bespoke iconography, colors, patterns and typography. On many of our projects we have to take into account more than one language, which may have a different set of characters or be read in the reverse direction from English.