“When you enter our office’s open café, you are greeted with an atmosphere that reflects our way of working in a very real way. That is the kind of experience we were looking to achieve together with the wonderful designers of Rune & Berg. The various joint workshops and how proud our people are of our new premises tell us that the design and implementation management were highly successful. It’s been easy to advertise Rune & Berg to groups that have visited our office,” says Hanno Nevanlinna, Director of Culture at Futurice on the cooperation.

Employing more than 600 people of 47 different nationalities, Futurice is known for its innovative corporate culture, where everyone can be themselves. The goal of the partnership has been to develop a world-class work environment experience that enables the top professionals to find and stay at Futurice.

“The most amazing thing about the partnership has been that the management has wanted to be involved in all the projects throughout the cooperation. This indicates that the space is seen as a strategic tool that can be used to influence the work itself,” says Sara Tuohikumpu, Lead Designer at Rune & Berg Design, who was involved in the early stages of the cooperation.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Rune & Berg in creating a workplace and culture that reflects our way of working. They’ve always appreciated and built upon the comments they’ve received from us as their client,” says Hanno.

The Managing Director, Finland of Futurice, Riku Valtasola, has also been closely involved in the development of the work environment experience. “I’m happy to say that working with Rune & Berg Design has been flexible and communicating with them has been open and easy. I consider it important that, in addition to their ideas, our partner pays attention to the changing needs and wishes of the employees. Rune & Berg always comes up with good ideas for suitable solutions. They also possess strong expertise in choosing the best-suited materials for the intended use, for example,” says Riku.

• highlighting the company culture
• ecological and effective design
• pioneering hybrid work

During the decade-long collaboration, Rune & Berg Design has been Futurice’s partner in developing the work environment concept, change management and designing and updating the offices in Helsinki and Tampere to suit their users. “We’ve seen immense growth since we moved from Lauttasaari to Kamppi. That was the first time we purchased interior architect services – it was a sign that doing things by ourselves was no longer enough. With a well-functioning, high-quality space, we can show that we take things seriously,” says Hanno.

In the latest update of the head office, we focused especially on solutions for a post-pandemic world of work. “We’ve been considering new ways working and how the space could support interaction in an interesting way that reflects Futurice,” says Sini Ala-Nikula, Lead Designer on Rune & Berg Design’s latest project. “For example, the tables in the conference rooms were designed together with Hanno. They’re all at standing height, and different messages and ideas to support the Futuriceans’ decision-making model and interaction have been incorporated in them.”

The new Kamppi office also had an emphasis on services as part of the Innovation Home property, and internal IT services were brought to the office in a central location to make the everyday lives of the Futuriceans easier. “The use of space at the Kamppi office works well. There are enough video booths, for example, and the large open café space with its easily movable furniture allows you to interact with people just as much or as little as you like,” says Hanno.

The world of work is in a state of constant change, and work environments must also change with the times. Futurice’s offices, which employ coders, service designers and business consultants, are designed to be flexible according to the needs of different employees and projects. At Futurice’s offices, you can find, for example, a lot of easily movable furniture and adjustable surfaces, such as movable glass walls, where you can stick your post-it notes to help with brainstorming.

“According to our brand, things need to have a bigger function and purpose. It’s important for us to be able to modify the premises according to the intended use,” says Hanno.

“The premises were built to be flexible. The people at Futurice are very independent also in rearranging the premises. In order to be able to do something new and creative, you need the premises to be flexible to facilitate that process,” says Sara, who participated in the first projects.

This flexibility is also reflected in the new Kamppi office: “For example, the working café with its easily movable furniture can be used to host a variety of events, from training events to information sessions, parties and hobby clubs. There is hardly any wasted space at the office, and reserving the spaces and zoning them to floors for focus-intensive work and cooperation make everyday life smoother,” says Sini.

The people at Futurice have also played a key role during the design process: the various workshops, user interviews and observation days have helped to create unique work environments that serve the Futuriceans. For example, the atmosphere of the premises and the principles of use were created together with the users.

“At the beginning of the cooperation, we spent a lot of time with the Futuriceans at their office at the time. We talked to people and observed their ways of working and, for example, the sound environment,” says Sara.

“We’ve really got to know them along the way and have had the privilege of being a part of their growth story. The Futuriceans challenge us to make bold choices and to think outside of the box. They appreciate our perspectives on small details and big issues alike,” says Account Manager Raija Mattila.

As you enter the office, the first space you step into is the working café, Voyantic’s inviting and cosy shared living room. You are greeted by music, the lovely aroma of coffee and cheerful chatter, setting the perfect mood for your working day. Flexible solutions enable the versatile use of the space without compromising on the atmosphere. The new heart of the office provides a setting for conversations, meetings, events, game nights and after-work activities.

A variety of new spaces were created to support different modes of working. For hybrid work, the office has quiet spaces and meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art AV solutions. The open-plan coworking space and multipurpose space were designed to support various forms of collaboration, such as working together, team meetups and brainstorming. The ad hoc space is perfect for spontaneous moments of collaboration. It was important to create a suitable space for collaborative activities for every employee at the office.

Jennie Laine, People and Culture Specialist at Voyantic, is happy with the excellent end result: “Our new office is cheerful, surprising and well-functioning. It’s full of functional and visual candy. We wanted to have a space that people can enjoy, and it truly lifts everyone’s spirits. People have learned to use the new spaces well, fully embracing them.”

A key goal in the development work was to give everyone the opportunity to participate and express their opinions. The new office was designed for the employees, with the employees.

The design process started with identifying the teams’ needs, with the aim of creating better conditions for hybrid work. Employees were involved in the process through various means, including a needs assessment survey, key personnel interviews and collaborative planning of new practices. Using the collected user insight as a foundation, Voyantic’s new office was designed by incorporating functional and spatial solutions to facilitate smooth hybrid work and collaboration between teams. We were responsible for the interior architectural design and the design of the fixtures, graphic elements and signage.

The goal of the renewal was to enable seamless interaction in hybrid work. The project was guided by the following design drivers:

• Strengthening the work community: the sense of community and social relations between colleagues are strengthened through informal encounters
• Supporting collaboration: continuous, seamless interaction between team members
• Efficient and equal meetings: smooth hybrid meetings provide both on-site and online participants with equal opportunities to participate and have their voice heard

“Compared to the old office, the new premises facilitate meetings and conversations in an entirely new way,” Jennie says happily.

Cooperation began already before the design stage, with Rune & Berg Design preparing a listing of Voyantic’s interior standards to support the lease agreement negotiations. Listings of interior standards play a key role in the design process as they enable more user-oriented design and make the implementation of changes more straightforward, cost-effective and eco-friendly.

“Cooperation with Rune & Berg was rewarding from the very beginning. We received expert and practical assistance every step of the way, and we couldn’t have succeeded in this alone. Finding an excellent partner led to an excellent end result,” Jennie says.

Voyantic wanted the new office to reflect quality, technology and innovation. Sustainability and the circular economy were also taken into account in the design, and existing elements were utilised and repaired efficiently.

“Voyantic had the courage to stand out, and there was a deliberate intention to do something bold. As a designer, it was great to gain the client’s full trust and have the opportunity to design such a delightful concept,” says Aino Keto, Lead Designer at Rune & Berg Design.

The design process started with an exploration of the colours of Voyantic’s brand identity and how they could be used to create a functional spatial experience that takes into account materials, shades, structures and patterns. The graphic elements on the walls of the space mimic a report graph typical of Voyantic’s products. The holistic design of the spatial experience also factored in the sound environment, which is particularly crucial in the hybrid age.

“The quality and details of the design have sparked discussion that paints an accurate picture of our company. The space is memorable, which supports our brand. Daring to trust the designer’s vision leads to the best possible end result. We wouldn’t have been able to pay attention to all the small details or design features such as lighting, microphones or the sound environment ourselves,” Jennie says.

The trend of office downsizing accelerated by the pandemic did not apply to Voyantic. Instead, the company was worried that the pandemic would change how people come together and interact, resulting in a sense of disconnection among people. Compared to the old premises, the new office has a better location in Pitäjänmäki and more square metres. “Now we have space, design and a cosy atmosphere,” Jennie says.

“In the old premises, everyone used to work remotely quite often, but the new office is frequently packed. I’d say that before, around 50% of the personnel were working remotely, whereas now, 85% come to the office. We no longer have to worry about people drifting apart,” Jennie says.

Voyantic carries out regular personnel surveys and has received excellent feedback on the work atmosphere and the office. “Now we have a great and well-functioning place to come together. We’re very proud of our new, functional premises,” Jennie says.

The head office and production facilities of Fastems, a company specialised in intelligent CNC automation, are located in the same building in Tampere. The property was built at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s and has been the heart of Fastems’ operations for a long time. The aim of the project was to modernise the office and training spaces on the first and second floors and make their use smoother, in addition to strengthening the links to the factory. “In many companies, the head office is housed in a business park while the production site is elsewhere. Fastems wanted to strengthen the links between the head office and production,” says Sara Tuohikumpu, Lead Designer for the project, describing the starting point. “After the renewal, the production and office facilities will be directly connected. For example, if you are designing and thinking about a future product, you can see the robot right next to you,” Johanna Happonen, Interior Architect, adds.

• modern and technically advanced
• warm and human-friendly
• unforgettable and recognisable

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the interior architecture and graphic design of the office and training facilities. “We designed an interesting space by juxtaposing the futuristic space theme with a soft, human approach,” Sara says. The office was renewed in three stages, and the project also included designing temporary premises at Farmi in the Hermia business park. The design was based on a work environment needs assessment by CBRE.

The office became a meeting place for the international Fastems community. The biggest change was the impressive lobby with its self-service functions and the cosy café that invites people to chat and play board games. In addition, to support the increasingly mobile work culture, the company adopted a home base model, where the first floor is allocated to administration and sales and the second to experts, such as coders.

Even the visual elements of the space underline the links between the office and production. “We were inspired by the colour palette of the production facilities. We used the bright yellow, blue and orange we saw in the factory,” Sara says. “The end result is bold but well justified for a large-scale industrial company. Galaxy epoxy flooring, glazed wall decals that look like code and a general sci-fi vibe,” says Johanna, sumning up the recognisable elements of the revamped Fastems office.

Smartly.io operates in several offices globally, and its culture is all about equality and a strong sense of community. The Event Space was designed as a communal hub that supports hybrid work and represents the company’s core values for colleagues and visitors from different countries. “Smartly.io values innovation and does not take work too seriously. At the same time, it is also a large-scale IT company with high security standards. The aim of the Event Space was to make the Smartly.io culture and values visible without letting visitors enter the actual working spaces,” says Aino Keto, Project Lead Designer.

• networking
• Smartly.io’s brand awareness and visibility
• personnel satisfaction and well-being

The Event Space was designed in cooperation with experts from various fields. The idea was to create the multimedia experience of the future that would make even virtual participants feel like they are genuinely present at the event. Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the conceptual design, interior architecture design and the graphic look and feel of the project. OiOi was responsible for audiovisual content production and Granlund for audiovisual design. Akukon was the consulting partner for acoustics.

The Event Space was designed as a surprising space that supports Smartly.io’s innovative brand image and the outside-the-box thinking of different target groups. Thanks to the adjustable sound system, lighting and furniture, the atmosphere can be adapted to casual get-togethers, more business-like meetings with customers and training events alike. “The Event Space supports working smartly and loving one’s job. Employees can freely reserve it for casual get-togethers or use it as a yoga room. Thanks to the electrically controlled curtains, the atmosphere is easy to change. The space also has a kitchen for large-scale events that require catering. There is plenty of storage space under the rising auditorium for furniture that make the space adaptable,” says Aino.

The Smartly.io way of working involves various internal events, as well as many events with stakeholders, such as customer meetings, training, demos, product launches and presentations to students. The functions and visual look and feel were designed in cooperation with Smarty.io’s marketing team. The human-sized unicorn that sits in the audience, inviting visitors to take selfies for social media, is the emblem of the Smartly.io spatial experience.

Whatever the event may be, the audiovisual solutions and furniture make even remote participants feel like they are part of the audience. The numerous streaming cameras and plug-in-and-play connections enable smooth presenting and listening to presentations everywhere in the space. “The Smartly.io Event Space is unique. It is the first completed space of the company’s new work environment concept. It supports hybrid work, and the modern technology enables multisensory experiences,” explains Heidi Linkka, Design Strategist from the Smartly project team.

See the global work environment concept we designed for them.