When imagining what a tech company’s office would look like, a bright yellow-hued, warm, inviting, picture-perfect office that could have been dreamed up by a set designer for a Hollywood rom-com is probably not what immediately springs to mind. However, that’s exactly what social networking app, Bumble’s, Austin, Texas headquarters resemble.
Similar to how Bumble’s founder, Whitney Wolfe Herd, flipped both the traditional model of dating and the social networking app format on their head by having women initiate the first move on her platform, so too does the company’s office break the traditional tech office norm. Bumble’s Austin HQ was opened in 2017 and its look and feel is a departure from other tech companies’ offices.
To create the unique space, Bumble’s founder enlisted Mark Odom, founder and principal of Mark Odom Studio, and his team to bring Bumble’s office to life. Odom was a natural fit, according to the Bumble press team, given that prior to Bumble moving into the building in the Rosedale area of Austin, the Mark Odom Studio team were already working on restoring the building to its original 1960s aesthetic.
“It’s always enjoyable to restore a structure to its original roots, especially one with elements dating back to 1960s architectural trends,” Odom said of the project. “My team and I were inspired to build on that foundation while making the Bumble team’s vision of a lifestyle-focused company headquarters come to life. The Hive will surely live on in Austin infamy as one of the most stylish, vibrant and collaborative office spaces in the city.”
Scroll on to go inside Bumble’s Austin, Texas headquarters.
The office is a decidedly feminine space with its bright yellow colour scheme punctuated with pops of pink. The entire office is, naturally, bumblebee-themed and includes fun elements not associated with the stereotypical work space, such as a glam room with a hair washing station and a bar with kombucha, beer and cold-brewed coffee on tap.
