Uusi Itis, Helsinki Employment Services

Modern wayfinding design and encounters

Completion Year:

2025

Project Size:

4100 m2

Industry:

Public Space

Services:

Graphic Design, Project Management, Service Design, Signage & Wayfinding

A modern, customer-centric main office for Helsinki Employment Services

One of the two main offices of Helsinki Employment Services is being built in the Itis shopping centre, offering jobseekers and companies broader and entirely new types of services. Opening in 2026, the premises will enable versatile customer meetings, training sessions, and events in a central, easily accessible location. The other main office is located on Malminkatu in Kamppi.

The Uusi Itis project represents modern wayfinding design, where not only the physical space but the entire way of engaging with customers was rethought. The goal was to create an environment that is not only accessible but also welcoming and safe. Wayfinding plays a critical role in a successful service experience: it must guide a diverse user base smoothly through the entire service journey, from the lobby to meeting rooms and training facilities.

Listening-based design and visual clarity

At the heart of the project was the idea that effective wayfinding grows from deep understanding. The process was built on active dialogue, carefully listening to user needs and reading wishes between the lines. This formed the foundation for a solution where fresh visual expression and smooth service flow go hand in hand.

The spatial concept for the Uusi Itis employment services is derived from the recognizable Helsinki brand. Wayfinding elements are placed strategically, mainly on walls and ceilings, to ensure accessibility and functionality. Glass wall graphics and floor decals not only guide movement but also create identity and provide necessary privacy.

A customer experience built through collaboration

As a result, Agile Work created a wayfinding system that is distinctive yet harmonious. The solution serves both end users and staff by clarifying daily routines and improving usability of the spaces. A key factor in the success was the participatory design approach, with solutions developed in close collaboration with the entire project team.

Work at Uusi Itis will continue next year, including the development of house rules and spatial illustrations for the youth-focused Ohjaamo spaces. Young people are intended to be involved in the design process so that, for example, the “Safer Space Principles” and the spirit of the space are genuinely created on the end users’ terms. This ensures the spaces feel inspiring and truly theirs well into the future.

“Our collaboration with Agile Work Oy on the signage plan for our new premises went very smoothly from start to finish. Their professionalism was particularly evident in the way they took into account the needs of our service and facility users as well as our brand requirements in their design. We felt that our views were genuinely taken into account and that they were an important part of the process and the final result. Communication was straightforward, regular, and easy. Thank you very much for your cooperation!"

- Sanna Kauppila, Project Manager, City of Helsinki