In our industry, the term user experience (UX) is in danger of becoming played out. This is a shame, because unlike some of the other interactive buzzwords at death's door — Web 2.0 and wet floor immediately come to mind — UX deserves a better life.

At its core, UX goes a long way toward defining a brand — especially a digital one. People form opinions about a brand based on their interactions with it, from in-store kiosks to rich media microsites. Consistent look and feel helps to anchor those opinions, but great UX goes beyond consistency, reinforcing brand identity while engaging, entertaining and — if the stars align — inspiring the user. Ultimately, the takeaway is brand affinity, which can be worth plenty over the long haul.

What does any of this have to do with where you work? Well, the look and feel of a given physical space conveys a lot of information to people who spend time there. Is the agency a boutique or a behemoth? Does it have an experimental or a more traditional business model? Everywhere you look, visual cues reveal a company's identity — and its priorities. Hopefully, those priorities include helping you achieve your goals.   

Shameless self-promotion aside, our offices serve as a good example of how look and feel come together to express brand and philosophy. From mid-century modern decor and orange FLOR tiles to wide-open spaces and the distinct absence of cubicles, a handful of carefully chosen interior design elements have come to define our visual identity.

These elements also encourage collaboration and spark creativity on a daily basis. How, exactly? To paraphrase a wise woman, by giving people the space to be people. Instead of trying to rigidly define experiences, they should provide a strong environmental framework that's flexible enough to accommodate the imagination (Workplace UX? Nah...). This kind of flexibility allows creative minds to do some of their best work.

While it may not seem obvious at first blush, the relationship between what you put into an office space and what you get out of it is pretty clear. When something is designed to inspire, people notice — and everyone involved is that much better off for it.