Ogilvy & Mather Office Makeover
Just in late 2007, Dharma from Ogilvy offered me to apply as part of Ogilvy & Mather Jakarta’s creative team, that is, after realizing how passive-repulsively self promotional I am. I reasonably declined the offer since I’ve set my eyes fixed on a certain media company; and yet now, I am filled with guilt and remorse for passing up the chance. The newly-revamped creative department floor at Ogilvy & Mather is simply nothing I’ve ever seen before along my professional experience. It signifies today’s corporate evolution where raw talents of its workers now could and should greatly contribute to the characteristics of the office physical atmosphere also its working ethics. You don’t see that everyday.
Here’s a look at the process of Ogilvy & Mathers office makeover.
Ogilvy & Mather itself is an advertising agency established in Indonesia since year 1972 and thus far have been serving clients such as the American Express, Unilever, Coca-Cola Indonesia, Konimex, HM Sampoerna, IBM, Isuzu, Indofood, Nestle, and John Hopkins University. The HQ office is located at the 25-26th floor of Plaza Bapindo, Bank Mandiri Tower, Jln. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 54-55, Jakarta. The project was executed in three days span by Jakarta’s graffiti artists also O&M’s creative staffs, hereby pseudonymed as Darbotz [Blog] in collaboration with Rege and done this early March. Abroad, the concept of creative office environment have already been intensely and widely applied at the Googleplex [View photoessay] and the Pixar Campus [View snapshots]. Coincidentally, Google and Pixar are also two of the most productive and revolutionary companies in the world.
View more images from the crime scene here.
At the mean time, be sure to check out these articles:
Monday Inspiration: Creative Workplaces
12 ways to pimp your office
Creative Work Environments — Do you work in one?
Hello. You are now reading an article written by Marisa Duma, published on 26Mar08 along with other notes on Advertising and Media, Arts and Culture, Commentaries, Design and Illustration, Jakarta, Video.
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so when the people from O&M read this post, do you think they will re-offer again? :D
looking at the state of the office desks (which are mostly in shambles), I am relieved to say I’m not the only one who doesn’t freakishly keep her desk clean and shiny…
therry’s last blog post..The White Phony
I wish.
Hey those are hardly messy. Then again that’s a non-smoking floor, I can assure you that it will look way more disasterous if it isn’t. :P
Funny that there’s no dirty coffee mugs visible on the scene though.
One thing for sure, somebody likes McDonalds’ Fillet-of-fish as much as I do. Nyumz.
messy offices are the best … they give a sense of gravitas in the way that those people are so creative, ideas are practically spilling out madly in every five minutes and have to be sketched, drawn-up or jotted down immediately :D
yeh those 24-hrs Maccas are the best arent they. I’m guilty as charged for being a big fan of their cheeseburgers. its junk food!
ah who cares. its not like i eat it all the time. well not rele.
therry’s last blog post..The White Phony
Ogilvy: PR & marketing, 1400 employees, 500 offices, 125 countries. Usually I tend to be kind of suspicious of these smart ass marketeers – but it’s a great place to build a career on.
But, yes, you’re right, this looks good, really good. And I like to believe those graffiti artists were absolutely free to do it the way they felt was right. Were they?
By the way: I think Ogilvy owes you a fee for this image boosting free publicity post.
(As for the relation between Ogilvy, messy desks and junkfood – it’s proof of your creative minds. And brings No Logo (Naomi Klein) to my mind).
Marisa, i heard that Microsoft let their employee come to office and even meetings with hawaii shirts and shorts, and the atmosphere is so .. casual. is that part of this creative office concept? or is that rumor really true?
mulia’s last blog post..Feminism for Today
Hey Marrisa,
I know some of advertising agencies who also have interesting ambiance not only in creative section but for the whole office. The purpose is to continuously stimulate their creativity.
My previous office’s lobby was painted black, red neon sign on the company name and plus mural that represent us courtesy from one of our graphic designer, and the working area is totally white and bright interesting combination, isn’t it?
Just my two cents from the insider ;)
Btw, have you seen Google’s office? It’s awesome!
ecky’s last blog post..Quote of the Day
@colson:
as in starbucks coffee and takeaway food? I read No Logo too :D
therry’s last blog post..The White Phony
ditawarin kerja di ogilvy elu nolak cha?
you must be kidding me…
eh, bisa barengan bimzkee, btw kalo elu disana..
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My previous job was helping the big companies to build their offices, so for the past 5 years I’ve got a chance to take a look at lots of offices in Indonesia. My favorite so far is HSBC in Gatsu. It’s not done by my company, but it’s very refreshingly bold, considering HSBC is a financial institution which usually is more conservative. They put sheer purple curtain, rather than normal vertical blind. The whole meeting room is floor-to-ceiling glass, where you could write on, from both sides. The pantry cabinet is yellow (!). Nike office in JSEB also really cool (also done by my ex colleague). They’ve got a bar/pantry which is black and red. And certainly, lots of huge posters of their football and basketball stars everywhere. Oh, and I once built an office of this boss complete with a hidden bedroom, the door is disguised as a cabinet. Cool, eh…*wink.
Especially in Indonesia, people take their office space seriously, as it’s a symbol of their ’status’. I’ve seen ugly battles between end-users or even bosses re. the design, the color, the size of their office, the location, the view, you name it. In here people are encouraged to work from home, and share their desks.
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That’s a nice office! I wouldn’t mind working there.
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