(JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com)
Working in an office doesn't always mean having to sit behind a boring desk all day. Here are seven of the most creative and colorful offices in the world that put the fun into going to work.
1. INVENTIONLAND DESIGN FACTORY
WHERE: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: The corporate headquarters of Davison Design & Development is a massive 61,000-square-foot (5,700 m2) design facility replete with 16 themed office spaces including a pirate ship with a deck full of desks and the Inventalot Castle where daily meetings take place.
FUN FACT: When times get stressful, there are three waterfalls, life-like trees, butterflies and birds to help employees relax.
SEE IT HERE
2. GOOGLE
WHERE: New York, United States
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: Paying homage to the Big Apple, Google's Chelsea-based bureau is full of New York quirks such as hallways decorated with subway grates and fire hydrants as well as a conference room that is set up like a tiny Seinfeld-style apartment. To add to the merriment, an array of scooters provide some 3,000 employees transportation around the 2.9-million-square-foot building.
FUN FACT: A nifty bookcase turns to reveal one of three "secret rooms" in Google's library.
SEE IT HERE
3. ETSY
WHERE: Brooklyn, New York, United States
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: It's no surprise that the cool kids over at this social commerce website redesigned their new office space themselves (with the help of architects), and used Etsy products to decorate their new digs. On top of that, each new employee gets a $100 credit from the company's website to dress up their own workspace.
FUN FACT: There are three artist-designed telephone booths - one modeled after a classic British red telephone box, another like a super-villain lair and another like a giant plush office.
SEE IT HERE
4. MIND CANDY
WHERE: London, United Kingdom
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: Fun is the name of the game at the offices of this British entertainment company that feature a bright red slide connecting two of the floors as well as a cool tree house and table tennis tables.
FUN FACT: A top London chef visits the office monthly to cook lunches for the hungry staff.
SEE IT HERE
5. SKYPE
WHERE: Palo Alto, California, United States
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: It's all about creativity and dynamism at this once vacant warehouse that now features informal gathering areas scattered with moveable furniture and funky free-standing sound-proofed pods for important calls. They also have mobile white boards - know as “skype-its” - for informal team meetings or for those moments when a sudden creative thought needs to be jotted down.
FUN FACT: The board room is clad with flavoring sticks from vintage wine barrels in a nod to the local culture of northern California’s wine country.
SEE IT HERE
6. EPIC SYSTEMS
WHERE: Verona, Wisconsin, United States
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: Whether it's a rustic boardroom designed like a ski lodge, a cafeteria reminiscent of a summer camp dining room or a hallway designed after a New York City subway car, a day's work at this tech company is never boring.
FUN FACT: There's an Indiana Jones-themed office tunnel that connects different parts of the building.
SEE IT HERE
7. OGILVY & MATHER
WHERE: Guangzhou, China
WHY YOU'D WANT TO WORK THERE: With a “Carnival of Ideas” theme, the Guangzhou offices of international advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather is like a fairground for adults, complete with carousel horses and funhouse mirrors. Located in a quiet suburban spot, the building’s huge red explorative staircase encourages people to interact and have fun during the work day.
FUN FACT: A team of life-sized nutcrackers stand guard watching over workers as they go about their daily business.
SEE IT HERE
