The NEW office design – Work spaces are changing
Our work spaces and office designs are changing, have you noticed? From colourful, comfortable sofas in breakout areas and pods for quiet meetings, many companies are realising the benefits of renewing their office design to make them feel less stuffy, more welcoming. It is without doubt, partly as a result of the pandemic. Having worked from the relative comfort of their own homes for a while, many are reluctant to go into the office if it’s not only a headache commute wise, but completely uninspiring when they get there. But it goes beyond that.
We are now working differently in our workspace, we are working better – for our minds and bodies.
Good-bye to your own desk
The old style of working involved sitting at a desk all day – our desk – in one spot, often without moving apart from a quick coffee break and lunch. The new way of working is much more flexible. Allowing for more creativity and collaboration – not to mention actual movement.
People are encouraged to move around more, to work in different spaces, to use different areas for relaxing and creating, to have spaces for wellness, spaces for high energy calls, areas to have quiet. It is now unlikely that you have your ‘own’ desk as it were. Companies are seeing the benefits of giving employees a workspace they feel they can really grow in as well as work in.
Coworking spaces
Many new startups and SMBs that have sprung up in the past few years have really got to grips with this new way of working and as such, are offering the most flexible, workable and creative offices. This often means a coworking type set up whereby a company may ‘share’ space with other similar sized companies. Or, individual freelance workers are gathering together to work in one space.
A good example of this can be found in London’s Uncommon who, according to their website “create flexible and truly sustainable workspaces with a difference.” They have a number of unique and unusual buildings and spaces in which they have created office spaces. These spaces include biophilic elements (see our blog on biophilic design here for more on that, have sustainability at their core and the wellbeing of people using the space are actively promoted. From private desks to lounge areas, fitness classes and collaborative areas, this type of coworking space is, without doubt, on the uptick.
New office design – Promoting social interaction
After the pandemic, many companies found there was a reluctance from workers to return to the office 9-5 every day which meant offices lost their social side. After all, why would employees want to deal with an expensive commute to sit in a half empty office and barely speak to anyone all day? This has led to a huge issue, particularly for the younger generation who are just starting out in the workplace. With very little social interaction there is a real risk of a generation of people that don’t leave their homes. Thus, designing an office space well is key to engaging the workforce once again.
Steven Bartlett, recently discussed this very issue on his podcast The Diary of A CEO. In it, he talks about how working from home has had a detrimental effect on the mental health of many and that people have forgotten how to connect. He talks about how there is no place to chat about the weekend or to discuss social life outside work when working from home and how important this type of social interaction actually is.
He strongly encourages companies to offer a workspace where employees want to come in and become “part of the work community” and he suggests more flexibility. In a discussion with NY Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell they strongly advocate for companies to actively encourage their employees back into the workspace.
“We want (people) to have a feeling of belonging and to feel necessary…if we don’t feel like we’re part of something important, what’s the point?”
Gladwell
To do this, it’s clear companies have to start addressing the way in which their companies function and this can often be done through something as simple as desk layout, having welcoming break out areas and meeting spaces.
It is not just adding a sofa
However, there IS a big difference between designing a work space and a home and the lines can sometimes get blurred. We spoke to Jules Vreeswijk, founder of TOOtheZOO, about this; a Dutch label that focuses on developing inspiring design furniture for offices, hotels and public spaces.
“The new office design will have more of the function of a meeting place, we (the furnishing professionals) will have to optimally support this new function. It is too easy and undesirable to now fill the offices with furniture that is made for the home environment
Despite the new function of the office, there will also be work (laptop, tablet…) so the space and furniture will have a hybrid function. A good sitting position (not slumped like at home on the couch) is essential for feeling comfortable while working.”
His company has designed many innovative products which tick all of these boxes. For example, the TOOaPICNIC range is designed to give a cosy feeling when having a consultation in it. You sit together but you each have your own area. The table offers the possibility to sit comfortably right in front of your laptop or tablet.
Agilita, who featured Jules’s designs at Clerkenwell Design Week also has some innovative ideas. Its Persy Four, for example, is an acoustic meeting pod that can be used as a meeting space or somewhere to spend time when needing to focus.
A furniture facelift for the new office design
One area that has vastly improved in office design is the office desk. No longer are sitting desks the only option. Instead, more new office designs incorporate desks that offer their user flexibility – be it sitting or standing. Teknion, an innovative designer of office furniture has many options available including its Hispace – a height-adjustable table with three memory settings enabling users to find their most comfortable working position. By offering this kind of furniture option, Teknion, and others in the field know that businesses will benefit.
More design, less designer
Looking around new office designs today – be they co-working spaces, new developments or redesigns – you will not only see the difference, but you will feel it. Softer edges, more fabric and colour, less harsh lighting, more plants (please, more plants!), more natural light, better flow, more areas to relax, more areas to focus – be it on work or not.
Designers cannot ignore the need for a different working environment and we at Oil Studios are well aware of this. We understand that workspace is changing and we are working with our clients to highlight these changes and incorporate these new designs into their developments and showcase our clients products in ways that reflect this.
We agree with Steven Bartlett, there is a need for flexibility by employees and a real need for employers to encourage their staff back into the office by adopting these new office designs.
If you would like to talk to us about your office development, product or design please get in touch. We’d love to help your company grow.