10 CORPORATE VISION / Issue 2 2018 , Indoor Garden Design Ltd was established with the idea of bringing tropical plants into the office environment. We invited Ian Drummond to tell us more about this creative and versatile gardening firm. Bringing Nature into the Workplace Based in Highgate, since 1975 Indoor Garden Design has been bringing nature into the workplace. Since then, the business has grown from mainly corporate planting schemes to a broader service offering, which now includes interior and exterior installations, special events, short term installations, product launches as well as In Bloom and Christmas schemes with full maintenance contracts. However, the firm has retained the special values that set it apart from the rest, including a design-led approach delivered with quality service. Ian comments on how the team at Indoor Garden Design approach a new project and client, emphasising how the team get to know their client and work hard to really understand what is expected of them. Creating a beautiful project is not done just to satisfy the client, but is also a clear vision laid out by the company. “When undertaking a new project, we discuss our client’s goals, visit and review the site to understand the look and ambience they wish to create, and most importantly, explain how Biophilic principles can be incorporated into the design to benefit the physical and psychological health of visitors and staff alike. “Essentially, our firm’s overall mission is to create beautiful, practical and cost-effective planting schemes. Additionally, we aim to bring nature into working and living spaces to improve creative flow, encourage concentration and reduce sickness and improve well-being generally. In a predominantly urban environment, plants bring much needed air quality and tranquillity into our busy, modern lifestyles. Wherever we spend our working day, plants enhance the space naturally. Plants work to create a healthy, engaged workforce, if people are more creative, take fewer days off sick and are less stressed, then they are simply more productive.” Clearly proud of this recognition as one of 2017’s Leaders in Design, Ian talks us through the achievements of Indoor Garden Design. “It is good for not only the company, but also the industry as a whole, and this will benefit the business moving forward.” “Over the years we have won many industry awards for creating eye-catching, innovative schemes that enhance our clients’ ethos and fit their brand management strategy. Since we use our own in-house trained and very experienced plant technicians, our clients benefit from having their own ‘specialist’ on site each week to take care of their plants and provide advice on an ongoing basis, all as part of our service. “Significantly, we are very pleased to have been selected as part of 2017’s Leaders in Design and it is really good to see that our industry is getting more general exposure. Being based in London, we do have particular challenges that we face each day, notably traffic delays and suitable access for offloading being a major one. However, because we have been here for many years, we also understand our client’s frustrations and meet particular challenges as they arise. An example of this would be when managing large scale installations of plants and containers across many floors of new office buildings, and we work hard to structure a regular maintenance programme that fits perfectly with our client’s working hours.” Looking excitedly towards the future, Ian aims to see further expansion and recognition of the current trends, emphasising the idea of bringing nature into the working place. He accentuates how much nature inside can bring about a better working environment for clients, before 1711CV11 concluding that the process must benefit its clients, citing Indoor Garden Design’s high retention rate. “With such a great legacy of creative green planting, we would love to see further growth in the current trend of bringing nature into the working and living space, a trend supported by the many recent scientific studies which have proven the benefits. Living walls and live pictures are being used even in smaller spaces to add more of the natural ‘green feel’ and in a really simple way, they create great impact in a corporate reception area or break out zone. “Ultimately, the workspace has evolved so much over the last 45 years, yet we have successfully retained many of our original clients and continue to create the most suitable planting, wherever the workplace.” Contact: Ian Drummond Contact Email:
[email protected] Address: Woodside Works, Summersby Rd, N6 5UH Phone: 0208 444 1414 Website: www.indoorgardendesign.com