The perfect collaborative workspace for an ambitious agency experiencing explosive growth.
Founded in 2018, The Social Shepherd are a rapidly expanding social media marketing agency based in Bath. Since hiring their first employee just before lockdown they’re now a team of over 50 people and urgently needed a collaborative workplace to facilitate further expansion. Previously housed in serviced co-working spaces, they were ready for somewhere to call their own. Coincidentally, The Social Shepherd took on one of Interaction’s previous homes, a spacious, multilevel building in the centre of Bath.
Social media is a fast-changing sector and the brief evolved at pace. With a history of working with high-growth companies, we understood the need for adaptability and flexibility and the necessity of creating an environment which could change with business.
The Social Shepherd’s HQ needed to embody their brand personality and ethos, representing their bold ambition. We’ve created a super flexible space that’s transformed the way they work, enabling their people to collaborate under a single roof and scale up their content delivery. Their new space accommodates the needs of their clients and their people as they create world-class content.
We wanted a space with a wow factor that is representative of who we are – and who we want to be in the market. Interaction have certainly delivered our vision – it looks just like we had hoped.
Jack ShepherdFounder, The Social Shepherd
Flexible yet functional
Spaces to create
Knowing the importance of a powerful brand and impactful first impression, we worked closely with the team at The Social Shepherd to translate their distinctive digital brand into a physical space that reflected their identity. A striking client lounge provides a vibrant welcome to the space, with a bold mint green tea point on arrival sitting below cloud chandeliers and agriculturally-inspired acoustic paneling.
Flexibility was integral to the design, to allow growth and enable new ways of working. The Social Shepherd needed a variety of spaces or “sets” for their creative teams. Unique settings and home-style furnishings help achieve this by making each area unrecognizable between shoots. It feels like anything but an office.
Many spaces have dual purpose: a cozy armchair offers a place to unwind while also providing the perfect backdrop for wellbeing and skincare shoots – all without leaving the premises.
The new office also includes a state-of-the-art production studio featuring the latest green screen technology and a central staircase that leads to a mezzanine upper floor and a podcast studio.
Playful pops of colour
Optimised for growth
First and foremost, the team at The Social Shepherd needed to feel connected. Previously they were spread across several floors, making visibility and collaboration trickier. Broken-plan spaces and large communal areas help foster a sense of togetherness.
The building is a double-height warehouse with a central staircase that leads up to the mezzanine, with biophilia and quirky ornaments drawing the eye upwards.
Provisions for future growth include flexible furniture instead of partitions and pre-installed floor boxes in anticipation of future desks spaces.
Their identity runs strong through the entire workspace, being dialled up and down in different areas. The downstairs meeting rooms are bright and playful with pops of colour, bespoke manifestation, and sheep references including cloud pendant lights. The client-facing boardroom with its centrepiece hanging lights creates a more intimate meeting experience. Finishes include a glass cloud chandelier, a neutral colour palette and crittal-effect glazing.
As an award-winning agency, their merch rail and trophies are a focal point of the space – and, handily, can be seen from all angles.
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The staff teapoint with a large breakout table. -
The vivid orange sofa provides a space for relaxation and breaks. -
Neutral tones promote calm and tranquility in this meeting room. -
The Ground Floor featuring the client facing teapoint and bright seating area. -
Crittle glazing on The Boardroom with feature pendant lighting.
Reaching new heights
A space to scale
The Social Shepherd now has a real home from which to unleash their potential. We helped transform their digital brand into a physical space with room to expand and collaborate.
We can’t wait to see what’s next for this Bath-based business as they enter their next phase of growth.
Design Features
Details that matter.
This space makes several nods to The Social Shepherd’s brand, with sheep-like ornaments, lighting and wool-style finishes throughout. A striking blue teapoint pairs perfectly with the on-brand neon sign on arrival.
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