Office-sweet-office: make your workplace professional and personal.

• Author: Sutherland, Spencer
• Position: EntrepreneurEdge

With the likes of MySpace, iPod and YouTube, technology has created a "me" culture--consumers have gotten used to turning anything they touch into a reflection of themselves, including their office design.

Many employers are finding ways to make their space feel less like work and more like an extension of the personality and mission of their company.

"We are seeing a trend to move away from the stereotypical office design," says Kurt McGrew, vice president of architecture and design firm Blalock and Partners. "Many firms are looking to differentiate themselves and personalize their offices."

It's not just creative industries like ad agencies or architecture firms that are giving their work space a makeover--doctor's offices are becoming more sleek, law offices are becoming more modern and IT companies are becoming more fun. No matter the type of business, "individuality is the key," McGrew says.

Home from Home

It's a depressing fact that we spend more time at work than just about anywhere else. Omniture's headquarters in Orem, however, feels more like a getaway destination than a place to punch a clock. In addition to traditional work stations, the Web analytics company's location also features plenty of places for its 600 employees to unwind.

The building's edgy, warehouse design is nicely complemented by a video player's dream: industrial-style steel gaming platforms connected to Xbox 360s and projected onto a 14-foot screen.

Other gathering spaces feel more like living rooms, complete with comfortable furniture, games and food. Musically inclined employees tend to gravitate to the room that houses a baby grand piano, guitars and amps for impromptu employee jam sessions.

"Omniture is passionate about attracting and retaining the best talent, and our company culture is a tangible thing that permeates through everything we do," says Omniture Human Resources Director Shane Koller. "By designing our offices with [these] components, we reflect the type of environment that our employees enjoy being part of."

What Works for the Workers

Possibly more unique than Omniture's office is the way it was designed: by listening to its employees. "As we build out or remodel new space, we listen to what our employees are saying so that the design and architecture of the space meets the needs of those occupying [it]," Koller says.

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McGrew echoes this sentiment, recommending that design should always be driven by functionality. "Too...