VERDECO'S STORY
In spring 2016 I was at a crossroads in my career. I was about to graduate from Aalto University of Business with former work experience in the financial services sector, but ever since my early childhood interior designing had been my greatest passion and calling. Surely, the safe and logic choice would have been to dive into the business world, but I realized that I couldnât stop dreaming about starting an interior design agency myself.
So with zero working experience and zero studies in interior designing, but with tons of determination and faith in myself, I founded Outsidein Interior (nowadays Verdeco Oy) after graduation. When drafting a concept design for my agency I came across studies that showed how natural elements can enhance wellbeing when incorporating them with interior design. “Bingo” I thought in my mind, since Iâve always loved nature and believed that is has some restorative superpowers also indoors. What’s more, especially office workers benefit from biophilic design, so focusing on workspaces was a clear direction for me, since I felt like I can help more people at the same time.
Despite all the careful business planning, jumping into the blue was still somewhat scary in the beginning of the journey. What made me convinced, was listening to Steve Jobâs inspirational speeches:
âYouâve got to find what you love â your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.â
And thatâs what still keeps me going every day.
NATURE BY DESIGN
Biophilic Design Principles lie at the heart of Verdeco.
Biophilia is humankind’s instinctive attraction to nature, literally meaning ‘love for life’. However, nowadays people generally spend 90% of their time indoors, which creates a huge need for biophilic design to connect humans back to nature.
Biophilic Design incorporates direct and indirect elements of the natural world into the modern built environment. Using natural materials, natural light, vegetation, nature views and other experiences of the natural world helps people to reconnect with the nature also indoors.
The benefits of biophilic design are remarkable for health and wellbeing. Employee happiness increases as biophilic interiors feel more calming and uplifting. Increased levels of productivity and creativity whereas decreased levels of stress are also some of the key advantages of biohilic design.
BENEFITS OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN
INCREASING
WELLBEING (+15%)
CREATIVITY (+15%)
PRODUCTIVITY (+6%)
CONCENTRATION & MEMORY
DECREASING
STRESS LEVELS
ABSENTEEISM
BOREDOM & AGGRESSION
THE FROM START TO FINISH
PROJECT PATH
FREEÂ Consultation visit & offer
Employee survey about views & visions
Design sprint workshop
Concept designing including 3D sketches
Implementation designing
Project management
Execution (third parties)
Final inspection & feedback survey