PRODUCTIVITY IN DESIGN: WORKPLACE INTERIORS FOR CLEVER COMPANIES
- Does interior design have a place in work?
- Can interior design even affect our work?
While everyone reacts differently to design, one fact about work never changes: employers want their employees to be as productive as possible.
In this post, we explore the ever-changing definition of the workplace and what that means when it comes to interior design and office renovation.
THE VERY DEFINITION OF ‘WORKPLACE’ WAS CHANGING WAY BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Formal work rules are dissolving, regardless of where and how we work – now frequently in hotel lobbies or cafes. As a result, the desk is no longer at the centre of our work life. It is disappearing as an archetype.
Now, during a global pandemic, the workplace is changing in ways that nobody could have predicted. All of this means that the prevailing ideas about desirable office spaces have been turned on their heads.
To anticipate this impact on the workplace design, the architectural firm Woods Bagot has re-imagined the layout of the workplace and argues that these new models of workspace layout will be adapted in one form or another by offices throughout the world.
ARE OPEN-PLAN OFFICES STILL THE BEST IDEA?
There is less face-to-face communication in open-plan offices, according to Harvard’s study The Impact of Open Workspace on Human Collaboration. Yes, apparently, open-plan offices do the exact opposite of what they were meant to do: shut down communication.
In recent years, this has contributed to the rise of text-based communication on platforms such as Slack and Facebook’s Workplace. Our love for text-based communication has, in turn, contributed to interior layout designs that focus solely on re-imagining and reconfiguring the workplace.
THE WELLBEING OF OFFICE STAFF HINGES ON OFFICE INTERIORS
In 2019, we were wondering if it was necessary to re-configure the workplace. If the workplace has been working in the same format for such a long time, could it continue to work?
2020 has given us the answer to that question: no, jobs cannot function in their current form, not least in the foreseeable future.
Yes, wellbeing needs have shifted. The benefits and benefits of offices like Google, with their swimming pools and free food, are irrelevant in this changing world, with many office workers working remotely.
But the question is, what happens when these remote workers go back to the office buildings?
The world of design has seen an explosion of new ideas and concepts when it comes to the workspace, which is not a bad thing!
MAKING OFFICE SPACE WORK FOR ITS INHABITANTS
While prospective employees are still looking for dynamic, innovative workplaces, their traditional office environment needs have changed.
It’s common sense to look at the way individuals work: what makes them the most productive?
Catering to this ensures that you are already taking the extra mile to help your staff grow personally and professionally: and growth is great for your company and your bottom line.
Our durable, stain-resistant contract fabrics have been designed with your office spaces in mind, no matter where they are or what form they take.
‘SUCCESSFUL’ OFFICE SPACES WILL BE THOSE THAT ADAPT THE FASTEST TO NEW SOCIAL DISTANCING REGULATIONS
What we need now is agility in interior design and architecture. Remember: you’re defining success. What is ‘winning’ for you may not be the same for another company, and our suggestion is to keep your definition in mind when designing or refurbishing office space interiors.
Office interiors are a success for us when they are ‘healthy’ and acoustically controlled. Both sound absorption techniques and innovative improvements in airflow are ensured.
GOOD OFFICE ACOUSTICS
While people respond differently to design, acoustics continues to affect a large segment of office workers.
According to Leesman’s finding, 70% of office workers are not happy with their workplaces’ sound levels. Bad acoustics is a heavy hitter of all aspects of an irritating workplace. How can you ensure that the interiors of your office are acoustically welcoming?
- Use a variety of materials in the interiors of the office space. They will help to regulate the sound level and also create visually stimulating interior environments!
- Hard flooring and empty walls have an intense impact on interior spaces’ acoustics, so maybe it’s time to let go of the harshness of minimalist office design and let some softness in. This can mean anything from wall panels upholstered to acoustic ceiling panels and anything between them. Look at the space you’ve got and use it to your advantage.
SMART OFFICE VENTILATION
The World Health Organisation has stated that fresh, clean air needs to available in all workplaces.
WORKPLACE INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS
It’s been an interesting number of years for office and workspace design trends, and this year is no different. We’ve seen refurbished meeting rooms, promoted casual spaces, and mass migration to remote work. We probably don’t need to tell you that you don’t have to jump on every single bandwagon that rolls into town.
This is even more important to the survival of traditional office spaces in the post-COVID world. Interior design can be your secret workspace weapon to get where you’re going (with an overhaul of your ventilation system, too!), so stick to your objectives and ignore any fads that don’t even meet your standards.
OFFICE INTERIOR DESIGN (STILL) BOOSTS PRODUCTIVITY
No matter where the workplace is, our environment will always have an impact on our productivity. This affects workers across the board, from remote workers in cafes to 9-5 in the HQ.
Whether you’re designing office layouts for a staff of 200 or carving a remote workspace for yourself, keep productivity and well-being at the front and centre of your mind.