SEM

Project overview

In summary

SEM are a precision manufacturer that design and build specialist motors for the likes of large satellite dishes. As a company SEM have a history stretching back to 1914 and since that time have established and build an international reputation in their field.

SEM have a large facility in Dartford that comprises of both office space and a manufacturing warehouse, as well as a large canteen know as the Break Bar. The team at SEM contacted us to gain our input into how they could showcase their corporate values throughout their space to reinforce the company’s vision of team.

In order to do this consistently throughout the space the team at SEM highlighted 4 key areas they wanted to prioritise which were the reception, the corridors, the warehouse and the Break Bar.

In the reception space the SEM team wanted the space to be a welcoming environment that also educated visitors on what the company does. As a result we designed a welcome wall that utilised a wide variety of languages all saying welcome. In combination with this we also designed and produced a series of fabric banners that were held by fixings in both the ceiling and the floor. The designs of the fabric banners showcased exploded motoring parts under a filter made from their brand red. Finally in this area we supplied and installed an acrylic sign that was placed behind the reception desk as well as a SEM logo cut from frosted material.

The next key space was the corridors on the ground floor. Within these spaces we pitched the concept of having large wall murals that were colour coded and referenced to individual values by means of an icon and text. The colours were pulled from a logo we designed for their Together Better initiative. In addition to these large wall murals we designed and installed a range of magnetic whiteboards that the team could use.

The third key space was the large warehouse that is home to their production facility. Within this space we proposed the ideas of tall and thin version of the value wall murals that would be displayed along the same wall using the principle of strong visual repetition. These burst of colour add a bright design feature the space that is consistent with the designs in other areas of the building.

The final space highlighted was the Break Bar, which is the canteen and breakout space for all staff. SEM wanted us to create a design that gave the space its own brand feel that was disconnected from the rest of the space. So taking this brief we set about creating a range of unique designs that included table wraps, wall murals, hanging signage, window graphics and small value boards.