Over the last decade, we have seen dramatic adjustments in the way we design office environments. We have moved away from cubicles, beige walls, and hushed environments.  Now design influences stem, not only from how employees approach work but from how those who employ them understand their needs. Companies finally realise that investing in a well-designed space delivers significant benefits for revenue and reducing staff turnover.

So, this new year let’s focus on the office design trends that directly correlate between a happier, healthier workforce and a happier, healthier bottom line!

Agile Work Environment

We are no longer bound to our desks by equipment. This freedom has allowed us to:

• work remotely,
• develop co-working spaces
• And sparked hotdesking trends

People spend almost as much time in their office as they do at home, so we must provide environments that are worth coming to!  In fact, at Aym Design, we believe offices now have a duty to become places of collaboration and personal connection.

We can already see the importance of this through the huge rise in popularity of co-working spaces. Design characteristics of these often mimic typical social settings such as cafes and lounges.  They integrate flexible furniture configurations and multiple seating choices such as high and low tables, group zones and quiet zones.

So, why not try to implement these principles in your office environment?  This trend encourages all departments to work alongside one another.  It opens doors for innovation, collaboration and inevitably opportunities that would not have ordinarily come to fruition.

Technology

Ensure you provide (at a minimum) sufficient tools for your employees to do their job (you’ll be surprised how often this doesn’t happen!) and then double your efforts.  We will soon be living in a ‘smart’ world, and we must start to think of how we design our spaces so that they will be able to seamlessly integrate with rapid advancements.

Already, Smart lighting, automated temperature control, and usage sensors are becoming commonplace among large corporations.  This adoption will only continue to rise as prices fall and the benefits are realised among SME’s.

Alongside providing enough built-in hardware, investing in the right software will help you support your staff in easily moving around the workplace.  Integrated apps that work across all devices allow staff to make the most of the different settings and encourage collaboration in and out of the office.

Greenery and Wellness

As we take greater interest and care of our lifestyles, wellness will need to play its part in every aspect of the built environment.  Bringing the outside in is not a new concept, but as we grow ever more aware of the effect the technology boom has had on our society, it is a concept that is more important than ever. It is our job as designers to rethink and reshape many of our current surroundings to promote a healthier way of living.

The easiest way to start doing this is by incorporating Indoor Plants into our spaces!

Indoor plants are proven to boost productivity, decrease sick days and increase workplace wellbeing. Plants can also act as a design feature, such as a climbing green wall, and assist in absorbing sound.

Culture and Branding

Perhaps the most important design feature of all is your company Branding.  Your brand defines your culture and should be reflected in all your choices – from colours to furniture selections and spatial planning. These decisions ultimately influence the way your staff work and interact with the business.

An office now has to provide more than a sturdy desk, it has to attract and retain staff.  Providing employees with a carefully thought out space makes them feel valued and in return value the business – this is paramount to any company’s success. So, if you’re approaching a renovation, we suggest thinking carefully about your brand and the culture you would like to foster.