Inside Notion's San Francisco Office: A Design Philosophy in Action

Core Insights

• Office as Product Extension: Notion's SF headquarters reflects the same design principles and attention to detail found in their product, creating seamless cohesion between physical and digital experiences
• Historic Building Transformation: Renovating a 1906-1907 building required creative engineering solutions, with employees discovering Prohibition-era wine bottles hidden in the walls
• Intentional Space Design: Every element—from indirect lighting and acoustic planning to art placement and color selection—is deliberately chosen to feel like a home rather than a corporate office
• Culture-First Approach: The workspace actively supports Notion's core values through unique programs like the bathroom DJ initiative and conference room reminders focused on customer approval
• Collaborative Environment: The office layout and design encourage spontaneous brainstorming and creative improvisation, reflecting Notion's "jazz band" philosophy of product design

The Philosophy Behind the Space

When Akshay Kothari, one of Notion's co-founders, describes their newly renovated San Francisco office, it becomes clear that this isn't just another tech headquarters. The space represents a deliberate extension of everything Notion believes in as a product company. The philosophy is straightforward but profound: the office should function as an extension of Notion's product itself.

What makes this approach distinctive is the meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship throughout the space. Walking through Notion's office reveals a conscious effort to align physical design with product values. From the Ada Cafe—named after pioneering mathematician Ada Lovelace—to every light fixture and wall color, decisions reflect deeper intentions about creating an environment where both employees and visitors feel the brand's essence.

The baristas at Ada Cafe exemplify this philosophy in practice. They don't just serve coffee; they know employees by name, understand their preferences, and even recognize their dogs. This level of personalization isn't incidental—it's a deliberate extension of how Notion approaches user experience in its product. The synchronicity between walking through Notion's office and using Notion's product is palpable, creating a unified brand experience that few companies achieve.

Renovating History: Building in a 1906 Structure

Constructing a modern tech workspace within a building completed in 1907 presented unique challenges and unexpected rewards. Kothari describes the process as "putting a new engine into an old car"—a metaphor that captures both the technical complexity and the creative opportunity of the renovation.

The most tangible discovery during construction came in the form of hidden Prohibition-era wine bottles discovered in the old walls. The building's history as the original Dawn Club meant that previous occupants had literally hidden bottles within the structure. When these treasures emerged during construction, the immediate reaction from approximately fifty employees was simultaneously humorous and authentic—direct Slack messages flooded in asking whether they could taste the discovered spirits.

This element of surprise and historical connection became part of Notion's office narrative. Rather than removing historical artifacts, the company embraced them as reminders of the building's journey. This approach to renovation demonstrates a philosophy that honors the past while creating something entirely new. The challenge of integrating modern infrastructure, technology, and design into a century-old structure forced creative problem-solving that ultimately resulted in a more distinctive space than a purpose-built tech office would have provided.

The renovation process itself became a metaphor for Notion's product philosophy: taking existing structures and reimagining them for modern purpose. Just as Notion transforms how people organize information, their office transforms how a historic building functions as a contemporary workspace.

Distinctive Design Elements: Light, Sound, and Atmosphere

One of the most striking aspects of Notion's office is how distinctly different it feels compared to typical tech headquarters. Rather than industrial aesthetics or corporate polish, the space deliberately evokes residential comfort. This philosophy extends to fundamental design choices like lighting and acoustics.

The office contains virtually no visible light bulbs. Instead, Notion invested extensively in indirect lighting systems that create ambient illumination throughout the space. This choice isn't purely aesthetic—indirect lighting reduces eye strain, creates a warmer atmosphere, and psychologically makes the space feel more like a home office than a corporate environment. The effect is subtle but noticeable: you don't see lighting fixtures; you simply exist in well-lit, comfortable space.

The library represents another distinctive design element that sets Notion's office apart. While the rest of the office features jazz music and constant conversation, the library is intentionally designed as the quietest space possible. Employees can check out books and contribute to the collection, turning it into a living resource rather than static furniture. This separation acknowledges that different work requires different environments—a nuanced understanding of productivity that extends beyond generic open office concepts.

Color selection throughout the office demonstrates equally intentional design philosophy. Ivan, the designer, selected a specific color called "Cream Froth" for all office walls. This isn't a casual choice; Kothari mentions buying Cream Froth paint by the pool, suggesting the color's importance across multiple Notion locations. The consistency of this design element creates visual cohesion while maintaining the residential, warm aesthetic the company prioritizes.

Artwork placement further illustrates Notion's design consciousness. Rather than hanging static pieces on walls like a museum, Notion treats art as something fluid and mobile. Pictures move; they shift with the space. The office functions as a workshop where art, like the space itself, is actively evolving. This approach mirrors the company's philosophy of continuous product improvement and creative iteration. Art exists to inspire and stimulate, not to impress—a subtle but important distinction that reinforces Notion's employee-centered culture.

Culture Through Space: The People and Programs

The physical design of Notion's office directly supports and reinforces the company's distinctive culture. Kothari describes Notion's people as "weird and warm"—a characterization that extends to unique programs like the bathroom DJ initiative. With a six-month waitlist to become a bathroom DJ, this program exemplifies how Notion builds culture through playful, unconventional mechanisms. Even Kothari, a co-founder, hasn't made it off the waitlist, acknowledging both the program's genuine popularity and the company's flat, egalitarian approach.

The office layout actively encourages the collaborative creativity that Notion values. One particular row in the office is notably "rowdy"—the area where rapid-fire collaboration and ideation happen—while other sections maintain quieter, focused atmospheres. This zoning acknowledges that not all work requires the same environment, and that creative breakthroughs often come from different types of interaction and focus.

The feedback culture within Notion emphasizes specificity and closeness. The physical space supports this through design that allows people to "get in really close" and provide detailed feedback. This layout reinforces what Kothari calls "a really humble culture" where "people are really only concerned about one thing here, which is making the product good, making our customers happy."

Sesame Street characters appear in every conference room, serving as a constant reminder of the company's true focus. These familiar, approachable figures symbolize that Notion isn't designing for internal validation or corporate hierarchy—they're designing for customers. The company seeks customer approval, not internal thumbs-up, and this principle is literally built into the physical environment.

The Creative Output Connection

For Kothari and many Notion employees, the office environment directly influences creative output. He describes the office as bringing out his best creative work, with the ability to immediately tap colleagues for brainstorming sessions. This accessibility supports Notion's core design philosophy of product design as a jazz band—improvisation and response rather than rigid pre-planning.

This "jazz band" approach to design contrasts sharply with traditional "marching band" product development, where every step is predetermined. Notion's office physically enables the former: constant chit-chatting, spontaneous collaborations, and the ability to riff off ideas in real time. The space doesn't just accommodate this style of work; it actively encourages and facilitates it.

The office's design demonstrates that physical space profoundly influences creative culture. When employees are surrounded by thoughtful design, intentional spaces for different work types, and colleagues they can immediately collaborate with, creative output improves measurably. This understanding—that space shapes thinking—represents perhaps the deepest philosophy behind Notion's office design.

Conclusion

Notion's San Francisco office stands as a masterclass in aligning physical space with company values and product philosophy. By treating the office as a product itself—deserving the same attention to detail, intentional design, and user-centered thinking as their digital application—Notion created a workspace that reinforces culture, enables creativity, and reflects brand identity. From the historic building renovation to indirect lighting systems, from the quiet library to the rowdy collaboration zones, every element serves the company's core belief that space, culture, and product are inseparable. For companies seeking to understand how physical environment shapes organizational culture and creative output, Notion's approach offers both inspiration and practical lessons in thoughtful design.

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Original source: Inside Notion's SF Office

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