Established in 1887, Hearst Corporation is one of the world’s oldest and esteemed mass media and business information conglomerates. Hearst owns over 360 diverse but clearly branded businesses. As other heritage publishing companies have subsided by failing to evolve, Hearst has successfully migrated from print to digital media, while also diversifying into other information sourcing products. In order to maintain that success, the company continues to adapt its business model to fit changing markets.
As a major player in a mature industry, Hearst understands that they are competing for top-talent employees as much as they are competing for business partners and consumers. Attracting, retaining and supporting a contemporary work force is critical to the company’s business methodology. Therefore, Hearst relies on strategic partners from other industries to keep its work environments up-to-date with the product line and employees. Chicago Design Network has served as Hearst’s reliable partner in creating facilities that uniquely reflect the style and mission of each division and brand.
— Hearst Magazines —
When Hearst Magazines relocated to Chicago in 2016, their company leadership wanted a stunning, beautiful space to reflect its fashion forward image. Chicago Design Network created that at 333 West Wacker Drive, one of Chicago’s beautiful riverside buildings.
The office symbolizes the progressive vision and business goals of Hearst Magazines. The elegant space attracts top-level employees and inspires them to dress the part and engage in the lifestyle patterns of Hearst’s publications. Advertisers, content providers and staff are inspired to live up to the environment, as the brand is fortified by its employees.
Unobstructed by private offices, the exterior glass walls provide expansive views of the Chicago cityscape. A central café serves as a hub for creative collaboration as well as dining, informal meetings, and social events.
View project here.
— Hearst Autos —
In Chamblee, GA, Hearst and Chicago Design Network created a one-of-a-kind class-A office space to serve as the headquarters for Hearst Autos, a full-service consultative resource for connecting automotive marketers with consumers from inspiration to purchase. Located near Chamblee’s Antique Row District, the facility is easily accessible to employees, advertising partners and contributors.
“We believe our new Atlanta-area office really embodies the innovative spirit of Hearst Autos,” the company’s then chief product officer Josh Searcy said when the company moved into the Chamblee office in September 2017.
With the look and feel of a startup, the soft-loft design reflects the contemporary, forward thinking image of Hearst Autos’ digital products in a real-world setting. The design allows employees to make the environment their own – to have a sense of pride, ownership and investment in their workspace. That feeling of attachment leads to a reduction in employee turnover.
The space and the employees reflect and reinforce brand development. The Chamblee office encourages its occupants to escape their desks and work in a variety of meeting and gathering spaces. Atlanta artist Yoyo Ferro painted a custom mural in the office space’s reception and kitchen areas.
Hearst Autos brings together the company’s industry-leading automotive media businesses into one dedicated, full-service division. Hearst Autos is composed of Car and Driver, Road & Track, Jumpstart Automotive Media, Hearst Magazines and the Blend Line.
View project here.— Black Book —
The Black Book is the go-to resource in the automotive finance industry, containing everything from vehicle valuations and VIN decoding to equity data mining and portfolio analysis. Established in 1955, it was a simple weekly publication for local dealers compiled by three Georgia businessmen pooling their notes on local auto auctions. The Black Book has consistently remained a step ahead of the ever-evolving industry, with print, online and mobile access for consumers and dealers alike.
The company’s new offices in Lawrenceville, GA embody the Black Book’s conservative, modern brand to employees and visitors. The space, like the product, is cost conscious, efficient, functional, friendly and forward focused. The office layout reflects leaderships’ philosophy of functional hierarchy.
The architecture supports the company goal of retaining long-term, seasoned, well-trained employees. Managers have private offices situated on the perimeter of the floor, allowing for easy visual supervision and quick mentoring. This setup allows supervisors to monitor worker output that helps identify and correct errors or deviations from protocol, thereby optimizing production and supporting new hires. Ongoing support and training in a comfortable, functional and modern work environment encourages employees to stay with the company. Staff members feel valued and can see themselves moving through the graduated levels of management.
— Our Partnership —
The alliance between Hearst and Chicago Design Network ensures that the distinct image and needs of any of Hearst’s evolving brands are presented clearly in the architecture of each individual workspace. It is critical that anyone encountering the spaces—whether it is an advertising partner, content provider, staff member or casual visitor—should understand immediately what the specific brand represents.
Properly and creatively representing Hearst’s broad spectrum of brands and products presents a challenge. The architects at Chicago Design Network meet that challenge by defining the product and the business through innovative, functional design.