In Collaboration with Valerio Dewalt Train and Office of Things, M-O began the design of YouTube's lobby update by emphasizing the use of natural materials, intuitive design, and multi-purpose functionality.

The LEDs that light the panels are broadly spaced and set a few inches behind a layer of soft acoustic fabric, so that the material catches the light as large circles.

Prior to the redesign, the lobby space was congested and had poor acoustics. The new design streamlines circulation and creates spaces for people to both experience the installation and find solace for work.

YouTube Lobby

Having occupied a building in San Bruno, California that previously housed the Gap’s headquarters, YouTube quickly found that its lobby was in dire need of an update. The entrance to such an important tech company felt plain and didn’t reflect the creativity behind the platform nor its nearly 2 billion user base. For visitors, the lobby would likely be the only part of the company that they would be granted access to, and the experience had been perceived by many as anticlimactic.

A series of visioning sessions with project stakeholders led to design principles that would dictate the outcome of the new lobby. First, was to create a striking experience, something memorable, that would inspire visitors and mark their arrival at the company headquarters. Second, integrate iconic and share-worthy branding to encourage user interaction with social media. Finally, to provide a canvas for creators, where visiting Youtubers could display their work at a grand scale.

Upon entry, visitors are greeted with a floor-to-ceiling digital installation. Rather than add a cutting-edge high-resolution screen to display content, the designers treated the installation as an art piece, an abstraction of a screen that celebrates individual pixels. The LEDs that light the panels are broadly spaced and set a few inches behind a layer of soft acoustic fabric, so that the material catches the light as large circles. As a result, the videos that play on the screen take on an abstract, ephemeral quality. Unlike the cold plastic materials typically used in technological products, the soft fabric feels inviting and warm to the touch. When the LEDs are off, they’re invisible behind the fabric.

The northern side of the lobby is lined with an extensive living plant wall, stadium-style millwork seating, and high table seating. Adding elements of biophilia not only supports employee wellness but also complements the natural wooden textures that contribute to an inviting atmosphere. This is also where we placed YouTube’s “Artifact Museum,” to display memorabilia donated by famous YouTubers.

YouTube’s famous “play” icon is outlined in neon at the center of the LED wall. The icon is reflected in the black glassy logo mark behind the reception desk directly across the lobby.

A series of floor “medallions” are spread throughout the lobby, encouraging visitors to interact with the digital installation. Each medallion bears a graphic that describes one of YouTube’s core values. Stepping on a medallion triggers a reaction on the digital wall. Activating multiple medallions in different combinations gets different responses, inviting visitors to work together on learn how the medallions function. Much like YouTube’s online platform, the lobby is designed to foster creativity, exploration, and discovery, all while celebrating the company’s content creators and employees alike.