Effective design comes from the ability to know your audience and speak their language. If you don't effectively communicate, you won't effectively define the problem. Different generations of building users have different values, expectations and needs. Attracting and retaining quality staff and satisfied building occupants requires providing them with quality environments. Try working with your client to assess the demographics of the building users and look at these tips in the chart below from the Generational Targeted Marketing Corporation to target programmatic elements or design features that might resonate best. You may discover that providing amenities like on-site childcare, fitness center or convenience services can make all the difference, or that better break rooms that allow staff to get off-stage and decompress in a stressful work environment keeps them motivated and happy. There's nothing better than knowing you designed a building that people find enriching to occupy.
DEMOGRAPHIC SEGMENT | MINDSET: ATTITUDES, BELIEFS and VALUES |
Generation 9/11 (2001-Present) |
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Generation Y (1982-2000) |
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Generation X (1961-1981) |
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Baby Boomers(1943-1960) |
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Silent Generation(1925-1942) |
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G.I. Generation(1901-1924) |
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Source: Generational-Targeted Marketing Group, 2007 |