There is nothing black and white about the office of this advertising agency that calls itself In Black & White (iB&W). That is, not taking into account the black and white clothes of its Executive Director, Indranil Chatterjee. What you see instead are shocking yellows, electric blues and a psychedelic blend of peach, orange and lemon splashed all over the walls, the doors, the furniture - all in an eccentric disarray. And a ubiquitous dash of red has found its way from the red dot over the i in the agency's logo to practically everything in the office - the edge of the reception bench, the sides of the conference table, a triangular panel in the door! No wonder psychologists abroad are increasingly talking about colour therapy to reduce stress and burn-outs. The effect is instant: the moment you enter, you are reminded of the lively, happy atmosphere of a nursery classroom.Yet everyone does not see it that way as a client rejected the agency just because their office looked dull! ``We are a service-oriented industry where looks make a lot of difference,'' says Chatterjee. ``Besides, the place where you spend almost all your waking hours must look good. It heightens the sense of belonging among the employees.''And Chatterjee has ensured things look different. ``We are creative people. We must perceive things a bit differently.'' So you find the rectangular conference table not exactly a rectangle, his personal desk in the shape of a palette made of medium density fibre-board popularly called MDFB, a semi-circular bench, and partition walls that seem to flow like ocean waves.But Chatterjee is not the one to steal credit. He gives interior designer Pradeep Sachdeva full marks for the creative touches. The burnt brick exteriors and unburnished cane colour of Chatterjee's chamber are unmistakable Sachdeva touches: of ethnic chic. ``I wanted a functional office and my brief said so,'' says Chatterjee. But it was Pradeep of Dilli Haat repute who brought such a wonderful harmony of aesthetics and functionality.Keeping in view the functional part, the filling system has been centralised so that ``anybody who comes from our Bombay or Chandigarh office can just go there and easily locate the file he wants without bothering anyone.'' The basement which is divided into the business, creative and production section has a central open space with circular granite-topped tables and blocks of solid granite for stools. ``It is where brain storming sessions, petty cash transactions with our suppliers, or lunch sessions take place,'' Chatterjee says with pride, mildly kicking the stools to demonstrate that they are firmly rooted to the floor without ``the problem of their getting scattered all over and giving a very disorganised look.''The man's attention to details is obvious from the wipe-off mica boards plastered to the walls of each desk. ``List of `things to do' can be written here and rubbed off later. This prevents paper wastage,'' he informs. The furniture here is modular ``so that if we shift, all we need is to fold it and take it''.The agency doesn't seem to believe in hierarchy. So much so that one wonders whether they are just taking off on the Park Avenue ad that says ``Hierarchy is out!'' But it isn't totally out, for Chatterjee does have a chamber, even though his 34 employees have no cabins. ``It is an open office. But at my level some privacy is required,'' he explains apologetically.Contrast the general colourful ambience of the office with what Chatterjee calls, ``visiting directors' room'' to the immediate right of the reception area. A sober affair with heavy Italian teak-wood table and grave upholstery, everything here bespeaks of understated elegance. ``Discussions on company strategies and management decisions takes place here,'' explains Chatterjee.That Chatterjee is a pucca advertising salesman is obvious from the way he tries to sell the nuances of his office. ``Look,'' he says, pointing out to the electric wire pipes (painted the same colour as the ceiling) in the corners of the ceiling, ``we could have gone for a concealed wiring system. But don't you think it gives an industrial look?'' he asks.As you place your palms on the Jaiselmer stone-topped reception desk and throw a wide-angled glance at the entire office area, you can't help wishing being the boss around there. Indranil Chatterjee, living up to his name, has truly brought the indradhanush (rainbow) indoors!
