Welcoming Everyone: Crafting an Inspiring Workplace Brand Experience

Contentful Office Wayfinding & Workplace Brand Experience Design

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

Client

Contentful, Germany

Industry

Software Development, Tech

Services Provided

Brand Experience Strategy & Design, Wayfinding, Environmental Graphic Design, Naming, Branding

Year Completed

2023

Project Photography

Koy+Winkel, Sprühsinn, Startling Brands

Winner

2023 SEGD Global Design Merit Award for Wayfinding

Nominee

ArchDaily Building of the Year 2024

Startling Brands Arch Daily Building of the Year Wayfinding Office Branding
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

TRANSFORMING BRANDING INTO THE WAYFINDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN

Creating a three-dimensional brand experience

As one of the most valued German software companies, Contentful has endured accelerated growth that propelled the need to translate its brand into a large-scale office environment. Our role was to build a wayfinding system that extends Contentful’s brand identity and delivers environmental graphic design applications that enrich the workspace with artworks showcasing Contentful’s values.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

 ELEVATED ROOM PICTOGRAMS

Helping users to navigate the environment

Contentful’s Berlin office has over 120 rooms leading from narrow corridors. We designed an elevated wayfinding system to help employees quickly navigate the environment. The color-coded pictograms for meeting rooms, toilets, tea kitchens , and other specialty rooms enable employees to quickly and easily recognize the room’s function from a distance.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE SIGNAGE SYSTEM

Following the design language of the interior

The acrylic plexiglass signage system follows the shape language of the interior and enhances the workspace inclusivity with Braille wayfinding. Combined with 3D printed arrows and floor indicators, it embodies Contentful’s playful visual identity. The stenciled Kroppen font—our primary wayfinding typeface—gives the overall solution a technological accent while steering away from the usual tech design clichés.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
We echoed the signage system in the stairwell areas by using dimensional letters combined with colorful floor indicators.
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

GLASS WINDOWS DECALS

Patterns enhancing the room privacy

The glass is a dominant surface material in the new Contentful office. We built a level system for window film applications to improve workplace safety and enhance room privacy. It combines two dotted patterns with specialty 3M frosting foils split into four level applications. Telephone booths that don’t offer enough space for theming applications feature a customized pattern design to conceptualize the room name.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

GLASS WINDOWS DECALS

Patterns enhancing the room privacy

The glass is a dominant surface material in the new Contentful office. We built a level system for window film applications to improve workplace safety and enhance room privacy. It combines two dotted patterns with specialty 3M frosting foils split into four level applications. Telephone booths that don’t offer enough space for theming applications feature a customized pattern design to conceptualize the room name.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

THEMING OF ROOMS AND LOUNGES

Celebrating content and content makers

Across the five floors, Contentful celebrates content. Our theming and naming concepts pay homage to trailblazing scientists, engineers, artists, and authors. They highlight humanity’s most famous content landmarks and celebrate well-known Berlin places and institutions where Berliners get to immerse themselves in cultural content.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

CUSTOM SIGNAGE AND DESIGN APPLICATIONS

Adding character to communal spaces

The custom branded approach enhances the character of communal spaces. The Ritter Cafe, named in tribute to Contentful’s previous office, and The StorageRoom, which celebrates Contenful’s original name, use custom-designed signage and foil applications. The IT Help Desk sign tackles people’s frustration with broken computers in a fun typographic construction.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

LARGE-SCALE MURALS

Artworks enriching the office environment

The most prominent environmental design applications are large-scale murals. Using several mediums from chromatic foils through painting, posters, and 3D printed elements, they enhance Contentful’s brand presence and celebrate themed floors with high-impact] artworks.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

INCLUSIVE WAYFINDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN

Welcoming to everyone

We delivered Contentful wayfinding and environmental design application solutions that were in synergy with the interior design and aligned with Contentful’s brand values. Our solution has enhanced the workspace’s inclusivity and helped create an inspiring environment while staying true to the playful nature of the Contentful brand.

Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful
Startling Brands Branding Agency Berlin Wayfinding Environmental Graphic Design for Contentful

PROJECT CREDITS

Thank you

Melissa & Stephanie (and their teams), Alecia (and her team), Manfred (and his team), Benjamin & TinoAchim (and his team), Eric (and his team), Hernán (and his team), Stefan (and his team) and Filip

GET IN TOUCH

How can your brand help you transform your space?