Day 1 Office Activations
Designing the First Experience of a New Office or Space
Role: Experience Strategy & Design Lead
Scope: Pop-up experiments → Day 1 framework for Office openings
1. Overview
Opening a new office or space type is not just a logistical moment, it’s a critical first experience that shapes how people understand, use, and feel about a space.
I led the design of a “Day 1” experience framework to help employees quickly understand their environment, feel productive, and build connection to their workplace and community.
The work began with pop-up experiments to activate specialty spaces and led to the development and pilot of the framework in LA/Culver City and is designed to scale across future office openings across the globe (Singapore, London, etc.).
Impact
Designed a scalable Day 1 framework for all future office openings
Improved employee understanding and adoption of new spaces
Increased connection to site and community
Activating Specialty Spaces
Pop-up experiments tested small, unexpected gatherings designed to activate underutilized spaces and bring people together around shared interests.
These experiences were intentionally lightweight, niche, and experiential, allowing us to observe how people naturally interact in different environments.
What we learned about connection and space
Small, interest-based experiences drive stronger connection
People connect more easily in informal, shared activities
Space type strongly influences interaction patterns
Activations can change how people perceive and use spaces
Impact:
92% felt more connected to the community
87% connected with people with similar interests
78% met new people
After our Music Jam activation, the music club has organized monthly OpenJams over the last 2 years
The Mario Kart tournament model spread to Tokyo, London and celebrations as a model to activate large gathering spaces
Designing the Day 1 Experience
Part 1: What employees need on Day 1
I started by identifying what employees actually need on their first day in a new space:
Understand what spaces & services exist
Understand how to use them
Feel productive in the environment
Feel connected to the site and community
Part 2: Experience framework
The Day 1 experience was designed as a sequence of moments that guide employees from arrival to connection. Rather than designing a one-time event, I developed a repeatable framework that could be applied across future office openings. This structure allows teams to adapt the experience to local context while maintaining consistency across sites. The experience was not just about introducing a space, but shaping how people use it.
Through signage, nudges, and interactive activities, I designed for behaviors such as collaboration, shared norms, and exploration.
Part 3: Piloting the framework
I piloted the Day 1 experience in Culver City, testing how employees interacted with the space, activities, and each other.
By observing behavior and gathering feedback, I iterated on formats such as scavenger hunts, signage, and activation moments to improve clarity, engagement, and connection.
What Participants Said
“I valued the interaction, making use of the whole space and all the building’s amenities for the day, and also testing the waters when it’s a bustling day in the office.”
85%
Agreed that this event accelerated their understanding of how to use spaces in the office.
92%
Agreed that the event helped them feel more connected to the Adobe LA community.
What Makes a Great First Day Experience
The first moments of an experience define how people perceive and engage with a space. Designing for arrival, welcome, and early interaction is critical in shaping behavior.
The most effective interventions were experiential, not informational, creating opportunities for people to engage with the environment in a way that feels natural and intuitive.
A strong first day experience guides people through key moments while creating space for exploration and connection, ensuring the environment feels not just functional, but welcoming and worth returning to.