LinkedIn London: Experience Centre
LinkedIn’s new Experience Centre in London stands as a cornerstone for community, connection and innovation.
- Year
- 2024
- Sector
- Workplace
- Location
- London, UK
Project Overview
LinkedIn’s new Experience Centre in London is designed to be a dynamic, public-facing venue that hosts an array of talks, conferences, and interactive displays exploring LinkedIn’s commercial and social offer. Occupying the entire ground floor of LinkedIn’s London HQ at the historic Ray Building in Farringdon, the space was intended to mirror the area’s storied heritage of craft and creativity.
With bespoke artworks, signage and graphics designed in-house, alongside a curatorial strategy that called on original commissions from six local emerging artists, we set out to develop a harmony between business utility and creative expression, creating a cornerstone for community and innovation in Central London.
The Brief
The objective was to develop a space that was visually engaging, inviting, and also conducive to networking and interaction. The art and bespoke design elements were to serve as catalysts for conversation and networking, making visitors feel comfortable and open to new connections.
We were asked to celebrate Farringdon’s unique cultural fabric, infusing the space with energy and warmth to create an environment that stands as testament to LinkedIn’s brand and service offering. Every aspect of the space - from the general ambiance to the smallest design details - needed to contribute to a cohesive, engaging, and memorable visitor experience that reflects LinkedIn’s brand and Farringdon’s local context.
Curated work within the Executive Suite
Bespoke tapestry shown in the lobby
This is such an exciting time to open the Experience Center - when we make time at work for in-person interactions, we want them to be as impactful as possible.
Andrew Monu, VP of Marketing at LinkedIn
Curated works throughout the Executive Suite
Our Approach
Our overall strategy utilized art as a functional element to define different zones within the space, ensuring each area - from the executive business center to the public engagement zones - maintained a warm, inviting, and homely feel, suitable for traditional business in a non-traditional setting. A large panelled artwork by Olly Fathers, shown across the wall at the entrance to the space, acts as a magnetic visual draw from the street, inviting curiosity exploration, while sequential pieces by Charmain Chanakira guide visitors fluidly through the centre. Each artwork encourages social interaction and connection with the artists, with plaques aside each piece linking to the artists’ LinkedIn profiles, promoting a deeper connection with the creators.
Throughout the space, the work subtly incorporates LinkedIn branding, with playful nods to the site’s history as the former home of The Guardian Newspaper, respecting its past while aligning with modern functionality. Environmental graphics that utilise abstract shapes and simple tones wrap the walls above the centre’s Podcast Studio, to add a layer of recognisability and consistency. In the foyer, an intricate fern-themed tapestry reflects the etymological roots of the word ‘Farringdon’ (fern-covered hill) and the area’s legacy in textiles, with bespoke signage inspired by local architectural silhouettes dotted in key locations throughout the Experience Centre.
Glazing manifestations wrap a meeting room
Bespoke prints echoing the essence of Farringdon
Manifestations and bespoke signage for the Photobooth
Credits
Photography
Nikhilesh Haval
Videography
GivingBack Films
