New school pub design recognises pubs as vibrant community hubs where patrons come to meet, enjoy great food and drink and soak up rich inviting ambiance. That is a lot for pub owners to capitalise on. All it takes is smart design and strategy to draw people out of the comfort of their own homes and into your pub. This type of design infuses your establishment with:

• Multi-purpose spaces: the more you offer, the longer your patrons will stay. Consider Mount Annan Hotel as an example. Design Clarity is working with Mount Annan Hotel to deliver features like a VIP gaming room, gaming bar, new bistro, sports bar & lounge, new bottle shop, beer garden and outdoor dining terrace. Punters and patrons alike can come in, have a flutter, watch live games and stay for meals, drinks, even meetings. This is the patron journey and experience that new school pub design can help you achieve
• Make food a main event: cuisine can give gaming a run for its money when it comes to delighting patrons. New school pub design places food offerings as the key player in pub appeal. Think top chefs, impressive meals and reasonable prices
• Green spaces and sustainable appeal: a powerful way to connect with your patrons is through inviting outdoor spaces, like beer gardens and green spaces. Bright with natural light, beautiful reflections of the local environment, not a spot of old school dingy pub in sight. 

New school pub design is the classroom in which next generation patron appeal is mastered. When it comes to pioneering new school pub design, Design Clarity are standout leaders. Speak to this talented team today or check out their portfolio of recent works including:

• Browns Brasserie & Bar, UK
• Corbett & Claude
• Din Tai Fung

Millennials on your menu of target pub patrons? You will want millennial pub design on your side. As the new generation of pub and hotel-goers, millennials have proclivities and influencers all their own. But that does not make them an impenetrable market. The right millennial pub design knows that the following factors are key to making your establishment’s millennial appeal:

• Millennials love food: plate up exceptional food offerings and beverage pairings as a way to millennials’ hearts…and Instagram. Even before taking a bite, you will likely see millennial pub-goers happily snapping photos of their chosen dish. All ready to be posted on Instagram and other social media. If your food offerings are going to light up the social media space, be sure to show your pub in its best light. Good pub design styles spaces to stir excitement and engagement with your establishment. So you can bring more millennials through your doors
• Keep it kind on the pockets: yes, millennials seek quality compelling pub experiences. But they also want these to be affordable. Many millennials will go where the drinks promotions are. So interweave plenty of dynamic drinks promotions into your design
• Go ‘old school’: millennials are the modern generation of today. Yet you’ll find that a healthy pouring of “old school” charm or kitsch is a winning for design that attracts them. Think juke boxes, pinball machines, pool tables and more
• Do digital well: millennials demand up-to-date tech! So a major part of their pub design is a smart clear website that performs just as well on mobile devices. Remember, many millennials will be using their phone to search for places to go. The faster they can connect with all key details about your pub, the more likely they are to choose your establishment. Credit card options are a must too as many millennials do not carry cash. If you can offer Apple Pay and Samsung/Android Pay, all the better. Pop your menu online, complete with prices and download options

Make your move on millennials and make it powerfully! Millennial pub design holds the key to compelling this dynamic game-changing generation. Speak with experienced millennial pub design specialists, Design Clarity. Or start by taking a look at their portfolio of recent projects including:

• Mount Annan Hotel, Sydney

Australian pub design is the impetus giving customers a reason to come to your establishment. What is a church without a congregation? What is a pub without bums on seats? Both are community gathering spaces but there has to be a compelling reason for the community to come on in! Here is where pub design is heaven sent. Put savvy professionals on the job of overhauling your space to make it irresistible to your patron congregation.

Design powers up your space with transformative features like:

• Kids play zones: want to bring families into your establishment? Good design helps you appeal to all members of the family with bright inviting kids play areas. Youngsters will love burning off energy and exploring new space custom-designed especially for them. Meanwhile parents will thank you for some time alone together or with friends while the kids play
• Adult play zones: Australian pub design makes sure that it’s not just the kids who get to let their hair down. Whether it’s an inviting pokies zone, dedicated air hockey or pool space or more, grown-ups will soak up the entertainment of your pub as well as the food and beverages
• Variety of seating zones: some come to enjoy an intimate dinner for two, others come to catch up as a big group, still more want to simply drop in for a quick bite. When you offer a variety of seating zones under one pub roof, you allow patrons to choose their pace and pleasure. Creative pub design helps you achieve this with strategy and style
• Dish up excitement: modern pubs can turn on as much entertainment as live theatre. Especially with Australian pub design exciting your patrons with open kitchens, real-time cocktail making, eye-catching dessert trolleys and much more. The term “feast your eyes” can certainly be delivered on by great design
• Add to your offerings: ever considered maximising the use of your real estate with retail opportunities? Australian pub design specialists, Design Clarity have helped Mount Annan Hotel upgrade the bottle shop & keg store located alongside the hotel. These retail offerings work in powerful tandem with the hotel itself

Inspired to put Australian pub design to work for your establishment? Speak with Design Clarity today.

Right now, it is fast times in food trends. In Part 1 of this two-part story series, we looked at four key pub food trends that are paving the path to 2020. But food trends 2020 are by no means limited just to pubs. Here we look at four wider trends that every dining establishment can leverage.

1. Say yes to sustainability: modern food patrons are attracted as much by zero waste commitment as by flashy dining options. Showcase sustainability in your food establishment wherever you can. Invest in a kitchen garden to grow your own ingredients. Patrons may like to view or walk through your kitchen garden if space and logistics allow. As our earlier story Power up your menu with pub food trends said, put paid to plastic and disposable dining accessories. Partnerships are a great way to stay at the forefront of trends. Why not look at collaborating with donation businesses such as OzHarvest?
2. Bring on the brunch: you do not need to be a hip modern café to serve up brunch-time brilliance. Food trends 2020 are set to see pubs and clubs jumping on the brunch bandwagon to monetise this already popular concept. So give cafes a run for their money and bring brunch to your menu!
3. Tech talk: did somebody say “free wifi”? Well according to food trends 2020, every food establishment owner should be saying and offering just that. Keeping your patrons connected will keep them in your premises for longer – and will increase the spend per customer. Including charging stations, easy laptop use zones and communal spaces that people can use to work either collaboratively or on their own
4. Kick off fun for kids: families are wonderful patrons to attract. They bring greater headcount and many bring groups of families into your establishment. So how do you ensure every family member enjoys a memorable dining experience at your establishment? Prioritise use of your premises space to include room for kids play zones. Then put a savvy experienced design team on the job to custom-design the best kids play zone possible for your establishment. Kids play zones are a major factor in food trends 2020.

So there concludes our two-part series of food trends 2020. Design is a major factor in putting your premises in prime position to capitalise on food trends 2020. Fortunately Design Clarity has a proven track record of revolutionising food establishments to capture new and increased market share, diversify service offerings and pioneer food trends of their own. Speak with our team today or take a look at some of our recent work. You will see great responsiveness to food trends 2020 in projects like:

• The Briny (Portsmouth, UK)
• Sushi Hon Barangaroo & Broadway
• Din Tai Fung

Why should fashion have all the fun? Pub menus have just as much opportunity to shake up the style tree – and many already are. Whet your appetite for progressive dining experiences with top pub food trends for 2020. Welcome to the first of our two-part series outlining eight food trends for 2020. Here are four top pub food trends that are fast emerging:

1. ‘New cool’ dining experiences: one of the biggest movers and shakers in pub trends is how food is served to patrons. Old-school traditional dining rooms have had their day. In 2020, pubs are set to wear many hats. Think a diversity of cuisine, price points and service options all within the one establishment. Nourish greater patron catchment through smart pop-ups and food trucks. Offer pub food through street food style service. Food trends 2020 demand pub owners to branch out big and get imaginative in their use of their premise.
2. Put plastic down for good: plastic is hard-pressed to find a place in emerging pub food trends. With patron focus on sustainability and zero waste, pub owners are called on to radically reduce plastic. So say goodbye to plastic straws or takeaway containers.
3. Give your menu a make-over: pub food trends are moving menus to break new ground. Good old-fashioned pub meals no longer stand alone. Spearhead food trends by giving your menu a make-over to include a host of healthy options. Jump on the paddock to plate movement, showcase local produce, highlight free range options and consider a choice of smaller tapa style meals.
4. Refurbish with relish: remember the days of the old-school pub with dark rooms, old-fashioned furnishings and questionable carpet choices? Latest trends tell us it is time for fresh thinking. Entice patrons in your pub by creating spaces they cannot resist. Think open kitchens where meal preparation can almost become a theatrical performance. Bright energetic kids play zones, outdoor beer and wine gardens, wide choice of seating zones, rooftop dining spaces plus wifi connectivity. All these are food for thought when refurbishing in line with trends.

Want to become a powerhouse in emerging pub food trends? Speak with Design Clarity. This dynamic team specialise in pioneering next-generation pub spaces, like:

• Mt Annan Hotel
• Brasserie & Bar, UK

Don’t forget to check out Part 2 of this story series which outlines four other emerging food trends that are shaping the path to 2020.

Well there is never a dull moment in the banking industry. Move over Millennials, Gen Z is about to step things up another notch. Digital technologies and fintech start-ups are among the industry game-changers of Millennial vintage. Gen Z banking is a whole new bag all over again. Let’s take a closer look.

Unique character of Gen Z banking

Gen Z shares many habits and proclivities with Millennials. Yet this generation certainly has financial habits and motivators that are all their own. Gen Z banking will be driven by a generation that is:

• Powerfully inclined towards saving
• Highly debt-averse
• Looking for a financial partner/bank that is in their corner
• Stability

So what does it look like?

Millennials swooned over digital technology and drove this to incredible new heights in the banking space. Yet Gen Z banking must look beyond the digital frontier to impress this upcoming generation. For Gen Z, digital technologies are the norm and generally fail to thrill. What stokes Gen Z in a financial space is access to timely personalised accurate banking information through existing digital channels. So, it’s less about being tech-savvy and more about gaining trust. 

Consider this: Gen Z commonly have the most negative outlook on their financial future and tend to trust digital technology over banks. What they want, however, is for banks to prove their trustworthiness and dependability so Gen Z have a reliable partner to support them in transitioning into adulthood and financial independence. To establish themselves as such, banks must use chat bots, mobile apps, voice assistant platforms and more to provide Gen Z with reliable relevant advice.

Gen Z banking products that support patrons of this vintage to live within their budget will also be strongly received. Gen Z already favour pre-paid cards and no-overdraft accounts, with many already having well-established savings habits.

Ready to meet and excel in Gen Z requirements? Speak to the experts with experience, creativity and vision in this field. Call Design Clarity today or take a look at their portfolio of recent projects, including work for:

• Bankwest
• Westpac
• People’s Choice Credit Union

Are you a banking or financial lending branch? Then you need to know the steps to the digital self service dance. One of the key roles a modern branch must fulfil is to get their patrons fully worded up on self-service technologies. Your end goals are higher digital uptake and thoroughly educated patrons. Here is your guide to achieving this.

Deliver masterful member education

Digital self service is of little value if patrons do not know how it can enhance their banking experience or how to use it. Smart branches make their digital self service zone the heart of their branch. It never sleeps, so patrons can carry out a range of banking transactions any time they please. In a smart branch, the self service zone is open 24/7 and is home to:

• ATMs
• Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs)
• Robot greeters/AI functionality
• Service terminals
• Interactive digital walls
• Chat services
• Much more

So how do patrons figure out how to use all this functionality at their fingertips? During branch time, every customer that enters the branch is greeted instantly by a staff member who directs them to technology that meets their needs or offers immediate service via their tablet.

Digital self service: much more than just an add-on

Digital self-service is not a bolt-on to the way branches currently do business. It is an essential part of the modern branch fabric, from customer interactions to daily operations. Over 90 per cent of fundamental patron activities should be migrated over to digital.

But how do you effectively educate your patrons about the new and emerging digital technologies that can radically enhance their branch experience? Place your branch into the expert hands of Design Clarity. We have a proven track record of achieving field-leading self service zones for a range of banking and lending clients. Take a look at our recent portfolio of projects including:

• Police bank
• NRMA Insurance
• People’s Choice Credit Union

Millennials have changed the face of banking forever. This generation is the trail-blazer for the fusion of digital technologies and responsive in-branch experiences. Millennial banking design breaks the mould in a variety of ways. Here are three key ways that banks can captivate the millennial population through in-branch experiences:

1. Millennial banking must be easy on the eye: appearances count for a lot when you are mixing it with the millennials. This generation demands smart presentation, sharp clear visual cues, intuitive layouts and simple swift satisfaction of their needs. In-branch design must match from floor plans to service zones. Banking design must reflect their aesthetic preferences, reminiscent of a trendy café or vibrant co-working arrangement. Easy flow of constructive communication must be central to millennial banking design, with a range of walk-up service zones and laid back comfortable meeting spaces. Customer queues are not a favourable option either.
2. Millennial banking meets its patrons where they are at: to satisfy millennials, your branch needs to travel with them wherever they go. That means using as many digital technologies as possible so your millennial patrons effectively carry your branch in their pocket in the form of their mobile phone or other technologies. And in true omnichannel style, be sure that the digital experience you offer integrates seamlessly with your in-branch offer
3. Stay up to the minute, every minute: millennials demand information, solutions and satisfaction in real time. That means millennial banking must deliver a real time experience. Be across emerging trends, use real time marketing and personalise every inch of your patron interactions

An intuitive convenient personalised service delivered in a cheerful vibrant environment will woo millennials convincingly. This is how it must present and perform. Need expert support in achieving millennial banking magnificence? Talk to Design Clarity first or check out their portfolio of recent banking projects like:

• People’s Choice Credit Union
• BankWest
• Police Bank

Don’t count the bank branch out yet. Perhaps branches will not look the same as they traditionally have but that does not mean they will no longer be with us. New banking styles reimagine the branch rather than making it a redundant concept. Bank patrons want the convenience of quick easy digital transactions right alongside the human touch of branch staff for substantive advice and information. So to remain relevant and pivotal to the overall customer experience, branches need to deliver both.

Branch experience is key

Against the backdrop of new banking styles, customers still want to work with branches. Yet as their focus is on interactions rather than transactions, the customer experience needs to be something quite exceptional. Banking should be easy for patrons. So successful branches will be those that deliver:

• Informed responsive staff
• Minimal wait times
• Individualised service
• Enhanced convenience

Design transformation brings new banking styles to life

Essentially new banking styles are a multi-faceted fusion of the physical in-branch experience with pioneering digital technologies that deliver a seamless omnichannel approach. Banks like BankWest and People’s Choice Credit Union are already breaking new ground in bank design. In these pioneering financial institutions you will find design features like:

• Soft booth seating for semi-private customer discussions
• Vertical signage pylons and street markings to guide customer journeys
• Standing and seated meeting hubs for swift simple consultations 
• Suspended expert bar portal for face-to-face advice
• Online zone where customers can access PCs, iPads and free wifi
• Communal tables
• Interactive kids zone
• Much more

In addition to such innovative design features, pods are fast gaining traction as a key player in new banking styles. Pods are individual workstations that patrons can simply walk up to and have their transactional needs met. No more impersonal seating of tellers all in a row with customers lining up to access their assistance.

Ready to be at the forefront of new banking styles? Speak with Design Clarity today or start by browsing their recent portfolio of financial services projects including:

• Police Bank
• People’s Choice Credit Union
• Westpac
• NRMA

Digital technology is changing the face of bank branches ushering in leaner staff footprints and clear service precincts. This means more under-used floor space in bank branches. So one of the most exciting potential evolutions of the digital age lies in mutual banking relationships. Under-utilised branch space opens the door to many valuable opportunities for community collaboration.

Working together

Just what are banks going to do with under-utilised floor space? Well the options are wide open. A café may be a suitable approach to add another dimension to customer experience or simply to draw people through the door. But one idea that is fast gaining traction is that of co-working spaces. In any given community, there are small businesses that need premises to operate out of but are not quite at a point where they can take on their own facilities. Here is where mutual banking relationships can pay dividends for all involved. A bank that sublets or creates co-working zones out of under-utilised floor space can:

• Demonstrate strong community spirit
• Drive enhanced small business engagement
• Generate new lending relationships
• Improve cash flow by generating an additional source of income

Mutual banking relationships: mutual benefits

Emerging smart branches can be tailored by design to offer exceptional co-working capabilities. Intuitive floor plans where customers are guided swiftly and efficiently to where they need to go. Communal kitchenette, coffee, lounge and water cooler zones boost interaction between small business and the bank. This enables the resident small business to grow on the strength of the branch’s customised banking service. Meanwhile, the bank can glean much about the needs, goals and challenges of the small business.

Would your branch consider repurposing under-utilised space for co-working opportunities? Design Clarity is the team you want to work with for bringing mutual banking relationships into being with ease and efficiency. This expert team gets every aspect of your bank design working at its optimum from floor layout engaging customer experience touchpoints, digital technology zones to service precincts. Speak with Design Clarity today.