Can illustrations impact workplace well-being?
‘Self Belief’ a piece we created for one of our partners, Mindset Practice
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The power and magic of having illustration in the workplace
What are the first things you notice when you step into an office building or workplace?
Unless you’ve got a penchant for panel lighting or commercial carpet tiles, it’s unlikely to be the typical office environment.
But what if the walls of a workplace are adorned with a few prints or illustrations?
Intrigued, perhaps you’d step closer to find out what the painting is about, or who it’s by. Maybe you’d find yourself gazing at a lino print as you ponder how to reply to that latest email...
We display art in our own home – so why not at work? In this blog post, we’re exploring how art in the workplace can positively affect the people who interact with it.
Illustrations can boost wellbeing
If you enrich a space, people feel much happier and work better; a very good way of doing this is by using art.
– Dr Craig Knight, who studies the psychology of working environments
The environments we live in can have a profound effect on our wellbeing, health and happiness. Whether you prefer a sparsely decorated sanctuary or walls stuffed with colour and character, our surroundings have the power to uplift and affirm us.
We spend a huge percentage of our lives at work, and for those who’re required to be in ‘the office’ a lot, you look at the same four walls for many hours a week. If those walls find themselves being neglected, left bare or uninspiring, leaders are missing a trick on the positive, uplifting effects of a thoughtfully decorated space.
“While office trends come and go,” reports Alan Kohll in a 2019 Forbes article, “one thing that does not change is the impact that the office environment has on employee health and wellbeing.”
Kohll goes on to say that quality workspace design leads to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere. He argues that employers need to take the physical work environment of their employees into consideration.
Illustrations help you feel at home
You don’t need the reincarnation of Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel 2.0 for your staff breakout area. Just a few carefully selected prints can have a huge impact.
In a 2003 study on the effects of visual art in healthcare settings, researchers found that patients who spent time in new, thoughtfully designed hospital spaces experienced a reduction in stress and anxiety.
There’s a place for illustration, everywhere
Artwork in the consultation rooms – chosen by an art consultant – was directly linked to patients experiencing a significant decrease in anxiety compared with visiting older, less decoratively adorned healthcare facilities.
That doesn’t mean to say one glance at a lovely big framed print equals instant zen. But where else do we come across thoughtful artsy touches? At home.
In her 2016 dissertation, interior designer Emily May asked her survey pool:
“How does having art in the workplace make you feel?”
The most popular response was “more comfortable/at home”. Artwork in the office can help us feel more at home and consequently less stressed.
And according to Dr Knight, there are even more positive effects when staff have some say in how things look.
“The act of arranging the plants and artworks [makes employees] feel more at home in their work environment, which in turn boosted productivity.”
Speaking of which…
You might like to buy one of our limited edition prints:
Illustration in the office can improve productivity too
While employee health and wellbeing is likely at the tippy top of any responsible leader’s list of priorities, productivity is a photo-finish runner-up.
Having art in the workspace can actually boost people’s ability to be productive. When a workspace is considerately designed and lovely to look at and be in, staff are more resilient. More resilience equals better rates of productivity.
Illustration boosts more than mindset
A few years ago, our pal Dr Knight conducted a study in effective work environments. He asked participants to complete an hour’s work in four different types of office space:
a ‘lean’ space, with only the bare essentials on hand to complete the task
an ‘enriched’ space, featuring pre-arranged art and plants
an ‘empowered’ space containing the same art and plants but participants chose where to put them
and a ‘disempowered’ space, where participants arranged the art and plants themselves but the researcher then came in and (rudely!) reverted everything to the enriched layout.
The results were conclusive: in the enriched space, folks worked roughly 15% more quickly than in the lean space. In the empowered space, participants worked 30% more quickly!
Mind you, work completed in the disempowered space was at the same rate as the lean space. It seems that autonomy and choice are pretty important when it comes to reaping the rewards of art in the workplace!
Illustration in the workplace reflects positively on leaders
Having art in the workplace isn’t just about looking pretty; it sends a strong message: this organisation cares about the environment that our people spend time in – we care about our people, full stop.
“It's less about aesthetics and more about pride in one's environment,” suggests Victor Lipman in Forbes, “[having artwork on display] shows management care enough about the employee experience – and the customer experience – to have a thoughtfully maintained facility that people feel good about working in.”
This is the difference between whacking up a motivational poster and installing a piece of interesting and enjoyable art. You’re telling passers-by that this company values its people, especially when staff are asked for input.
Lipman goes on to talk about the value of ‘return on environment’ for employers. When a workplace has been thoughtfully enriched, staff feel a stronger connection to the space and the company. “Employees want to feel good about where they work,” Lipman asserts, “and they want their physical location to be a source of pride.”
A workplace full of beautiful illustration is a joy forever
A momentary distraction is definitely not a bad thing in the workplace. Art has historically always been about escape, and what we all need is an escape sometimes.
– Artist Dominic Harris, who specialises in interactive art using lights and video
Art is subjective; not everyone likes to look at the same thing
But even the most devoted office-dweller is unlikely to prefer a felt-backed noticeboard skewered with faded, out-of-date printouts to a lively lino print or intriguing landscape.
And you don’t need to know your Picasso from your Pollock to decorate the workspace. You can choose something you like the look of, a print that reminds you of your company’s values, or even a piece of art that doubles as a charitable donation.
Enjoy sustainable and socially responsible illustrations
Our in-house artiste, Vikki Hesse, is on a mission to make dull, boring workspaces a thing of the past. She’s produced an exclusive line of limited edition office-ready prints that are available to buy through our nifty online shop. And the #reelkind cherry on the cake of this mission is that we’ve pledged to donate from every sale to our partner charities.
Charity illustration partners; that’s #ReelKind
We’ve already secured several exciting charity partners who we’ve worked closely with to create the first collection of these limited edition pieces. Keep your eyes on our shop and our socials for upcoming launches, and if you like what you see, make sure you snap them up because when they’re gone, they’re gone.
And we’re always looking for more potential charity partners because we dream of scaling this idea throughout the UK. So, if you are or know of a non-profit who wants to raise money and beautify British workplaces simultaneously, please get in touch with our Majestical team today!
Need some help with your next illustration commission?
Click on the button below and see how we can help you with your illustration project!
And if you liked this blog then please share it with your charity and design contacts and tell them to follow @itsmajestical to be kept up to date with more illustration success.
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‘It's all in the Mind(fulness) y'know’ is a limited edition print designed to sooth the soul. This is the first in our Mindfulness collection, in association with our charity partner Mind who’ll receive a donation from every sale of this piece (read more below).
NOTE: This is a limited edition piece. We cannot guarantee any subsequent print runs will take place.