In today's fast-paced and competitive business landscape, companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to create a positive and inspiring workspace environment that not only boosts productivity but also reflects their brand identity. One powerful tool in achieving this is through strategic art placement and curation. In this article, we'll explore the essential steps for crafting a successful art strategy in a workplace or office environment in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia, and how an art consultant with in-house art making capability such as an art studio can play a pivotal role in this process.
Understanding the Brand Identity: The first step in creating an effective art strategy when wanting to buy art for office and workspace, be it a headquarter or just one floor in an office building, is to understand the brand identity and values of the company. Artwork in the workspace should align with the company's ethos, mission, and culture, whether it's in the bustling city of Dubai, the vibrant streets of Riyadh, or the in the UAE's Capital city: beautiful Abu Dhabi.
Art Consulting: Engaging with an experienced art consultant is crucial in developing a tailored art strategy for companies in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi. Art consultants possess the expertise to analyze the space from interior design ID drawings or in person, identify key areas for art placement, and recommend artworks that resonate with the brand and enhance the overall ambiance. Many times, an art consultant would work alongside the interior designer to formulate the best design ensuring the interior and art are complementing each other. An experienced art consultant who has previsouly worked on delivering entire artwork packages to offices would help companies come up with a great art package that fits with their budget. Such art consultant will develop a list of artworks and accessories and table them in a Bill of Quantity (BOQ). This helps the client assess whether they need to add more or remove some artworks based on their budget.
Concept Design: Conceptualizing the artworks involves developing a creative direction that embodies the brand's identity and resonates with employees and visitors alike. Each artwork should tell a story and evoke emotions that reflect the company's ethos, whether it's through abstract paintings, photography, sculptures, metal, wood, acryclic or mixed-media installations.
Artwork Design: Designing each artwork is a collaborative process that involves iterative brainstorming and concept development. Art consultants work closely with clients and their interior designers to translate the brand's vision into visually compelling artworks. This process can take some time: we usually tell our clients that " we don't have the designs stored already in our creative minds, we have to find the artworks, or create them, and sometimes it happens fast, sometimes it takes more time!". Finally, clients can visualize the proposed designs through digital presentations and immersive tools, such as virtual reality, and provide feedback before final approval.
Art Making: Once the designs are finalized and approved, the art production phase begins. Skilled artisans and craftsmen bring the concepts to life, utilizing various techniques and materials to create bespoke artworks that meet the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. From painting and sculpting to printing and fabrication, each artwork undergoes meticulous attention to detail to ensure a stunning end result.
Curating Artworks: In addition to making art, the art consultant alsot curates a selection of artworks and accessories that complement the workspace environment. An office in Dubai may differ from what an office in Riyadh or Jeddah require. Usually, local resident artists are always the preferred choice. This process involves sourcing pieces from galleries, artists, and art fairs, considering factors such as style, size, color scheme, and budget.
Installation: The final step in the art strategy process is the installation of artworks in the designated spaces. Art consultants will use the approved artwork package from step 1 to place the artworks and create focal points that captivate and inspre all who enter the workspace. The art consultant usually helps, supervises, or manages the artworks or art accessories procurrement, art making, and also shipment, delivery and installation. The staging and placing of the artwork is the final important step to ensure all artwork pieces look stunning.
