IMC
CHICAGO, IL
IMC is one of the largest and most innovative trading firms in the world. They were one of the first to harness the power of algorithmic technology in helping to shape the future of trading as we know it today. To stir the imaginations of the hundreds of talented traders and technologists who call their Chicago office home, IMC wanted to better reflect this entrepreneurial and innovative spirit throughout their space. Forcade was commissioned to create a complete branding program for the Chicago office. We developed a design plan inspired by the inventiveness of IMC, impacting nearly every inch of the interior with ingenious elements that imaginatively captured their unique culture.
IMC believes in “we” over “me.” Hierarchies are absent in the organization, empowering every single employee with the independence to make a real difference. We turned this people-first philosophy into a stunning reception-area design installation, ensuring the first thing that’s seen in the office positions people as the most important thing. Every single employee is represented by a beautiful blue anodized sphere set into an enormous, wall-length wooden grid backdrop. While there’s unity and organization built into the design, much like the grouping of circles in the IMC logo, the spheres were purposefully randomly placed to give them the feeling of freely moving throughout the space. This perfectly captured how the people of IMC freely collaborate together throughout all areas of the organization to make the biggest impacts.
Technology fuels IMC. Over the years, they’ve created several breakthrough algorithms that helped leapfrog the trading industry into the future. While technologically there are no bounds to their ambition, culturally they’re still a very grounded group. So much so that each algorithm they invent gets a fun animal name. We immortalized these history-making creatures into an extraordinary design addition to their game room. The likeness of each animal algorithm was meticulously crafted into a custom light. These gold metallic animals light a bold, dark-paneled wall, creating an entrancing yet approachable nod to the company’s ingenuity and at the same time a wink to their cultural informality.
To celebrate the past, we used this large portal as a place to depict the energy of the old trading floors and to create a full immersive exhibit for employees to experience the energy of the original days of trading. IMC’s roots reach back to the pre-algorithm days when trading was done using hand signals on a trading floor. To create intrigue and educate modern-day employees about the 30-year history of the company, we interestingly integrated its founding into the design plan. A hallway leading from the lobby into the workspace features a display of custom-designed hand-signal hangers that hold historic trading floor jackets, giving employees an inspirational journey through time.
In another hallway, we installed a series of additional dimensional, metal-wire hand signals. As employees pass by, the shadows cast from the hand shapes feel as if they are in motion, providing a glimpse into the non-stop movement of how the firm used to trade. On the opposite wall of each of these hallways we included enormous historic photographs of traders on the floor to inspire new employees to bring the energy of the industry’s past into
its future.
We also uniquely captured the spirit of the early moments when technology entered the industry on an awe-inducing, 30-foot interactive display wall. Dimensional, sliding sleeves with the firm’s core values debossed into them are arranged on wall-length cylinders to spell out the IMC name, but when slid and separated they are designed to look like early IBM Punch Cards. This juxtaposition of everlasting cultural values married with ever-changing technology shows employees that the company will never stop evolving but the future will always be directed by its core principles.
IMC’s focus on people extends beyond its office walls. The organization is highly philanthropic, encouraging employees to be active in the company’s giving through the IMC Foundations. Being charitable is an integral part of their culture, so our design plan commemorates the importance of this commitment throughout the space.
This includes full wall, colorful floor-to-ceiling banners highlighting their global philanthropic interests and investments, providing a can’t-miss statement about the importance of giving within the office. We also designed an engaging and interactive way to show the ever-increasing support IMC offers charitable organizations. Reminiscent of vintage flip clocks, the numbers on these displays could be continuously updated, showing employees the importance of making an ever-lasting, ongoing commitment to giving back.
Forcade worked to develop digital elements for the project. These highly dynamic, imaginative elements are featured in the highest traffic areas in the project. Paying homage to the brand the digital elements are ethereal as well as informative. Capturing the essence of a company as dynamically vibrant as IMC was a design dream. Forcade sought to not just make the office an enticing place to come to work, but also to elevate the experience of what it means to work at IMC. We did this by creating a series of conversation starters. Design elements that are unique in their own regard, but also connected together to tell the complete story. Which is exactly what it’s like to be an employee at IMC; empowered to innovate individually but stronger because they collaborate freely.
