– 29, September 2002
Design keeps fluid in chilled - out space
Creating a slick image for Glasgow’s newest design venture came naturally to Jacqueline Doherty for the 29 year old owner – director from Motherwell who graduated with an arts degree has spent her entire career being a creative now it seems it's third time lucky for Jacqueline who is now enjoying the spacious design of the offices for her new venture, 2Fluid.
On graduating from art school, Jacqueline received a loan to set up a design business but before she put down any roots she was snapped up by new media arm of Caledonian Newspapers.
In 1998 Jacqueline had again been on the verge of setting up her own design agency but was lured into helping Chris Gorman set up Reality Creative Design which became one of the best known design agencies in the industry. Reality Creative Design was sold to Great Universal stores last year for £35million. Jacqueline made her own profit from the deal and has now set up her own design agency with a difference. 2Fluid is now keen to carve its own niche in the design world.
Jacqueline says finding the right office space was key to getting the best from her staff. She says, "I got together with another one of my directors, Dino and we talked about where we would like to work. We knew that we had to have something which we felt comfortable in.
"I’d looked at many serviced offices around the city but I couldn't find anything suitable then I stumbled across this Victorian property in Claremont Terrace and I knew I had to have it. I loved the traditional feel of the building and the big picture windows would let lots of natural light in which is great when your working with computers."
Before Jacqueline and the team moved in, the property could only be described as bland. Cream walls, brown carpets and polystyrene tiles set in the tone for the property which had remain stuck in the 70’s when the properties had first been converted from residential homes to commercial use.
Many of the properties in the area are now converting back into homes but Jacqueline’s laid-back, sophisticated studio style isn’t a bit out of place. 2Fluid designed their 3500 sq ft office space themselves. It encompasses a funky reception area, a boardroom and chill-out area as well as the main design studio dressed in the company colours of white, gun-metal grey and canary yellow.The reception area is impressive featuring an all-white wall and an opposing grey wall which both feature art from local artists. The art will change over time subject to artists submitting work to the company.
The actual reception desk is a feature in itself – it is an immediate calming influence since it draws the eye to a 2fluid logo which cuts away to reveal Chinese goldfish swimming around the otherwise concealed tank.
The 22ft high corniced ceiling remains adding a classic touch to what is a very contemporary office space. Says Jacqueline: “We completely designed the offices ourselves. It took a while because it was a mess but we persevered and now it looks great. The offices had to be clean but fun and not overly fussy because it had to be modern and it was important that we had lots of space to move around. That was an important factor when it came to desk area as well. Lots of people work cramped up at their PCs but we felt it was important to have free space to move around. That’s also why we created a library with a sofa in the studio – so that staff who need a bit of time out, can chill and read up on whatever they need to.
"We sourced our desks and lighting from Italy and decided to have fish in the studio because it’s good to have another visual distraction when you spend a lot of time working at a screen. "2Fluid's new office has already created a big impression and the firm has a number of big name clients under its wing.
