You’re looking to redesign your office space. How can you create a workspace that inspires productivity?

The needs assessment must address the 'why' and the 'purpose' of being together in the office in the first place. Answer if this space is a central office where many groups come together to work and collaborate in person and remotely? Or is this more of a smaller enterprise hub space akin to a coworking space serving a geographic area that staff can use to supplement home-based working, or travel into the area from other locations? Or is it something else? Depending on the "mode(s)" of this office space, you may or may not need as much work area square footage or shared common spaces to support business operations. Establish the purpose first, and the specifics of your needs will come into focus more easily to follow.

Even though a brief may be provided, the leader of a workplace project will endeavor to expand upon that brief, most commonly with interviews that cover each department or functional group of the client’s business. For large complex workplaces, campuses or headquarters this can be a significant undertaking, often lasting a month or possibly much more, potentially requiring interviews with dozens of people from amongst the company’s leadership. This inclusive approach in crafting a workspace not only serves the current workforce through a period of change but also has a better chance of creating a new understanding of the purpose of the workplace; one that can make the environment more adaptable to changing conditions in the future.

The effort to create an optimized layout is a much more involved and iterative process of ideation and refinement. This can also involve complex adjacencies of business units, circulation, varieties of workspaces, and so much more. Normally this is also visualized in 3D, not just a layout, so that all involved can see and understand how the space would be experienced. The workplace project leader seeks a holistic approach even at this early stage, taking into consideration not only the brief and list of requirements but also integration of the social, technological and environmental aspects as well.

Incorporating branding and reflecting the company's values can strengthen identity. This goes well beyond choice of colors and styling to wellness, productivity and purpose. In addition, the ethical sourcing, carbon considerations and the need to consider how the entire lifecycle of the choices we make affect the planet are now a significant part of the design process. Virtual and real mockups can help all to understand how color and lighting affect the results and can guide decisions that make the space more engaging and conducive to work, thus supporting talent attraction and retention strategies.

Implementing smart climate control systems that use sensors to monitor and adjust temperature, humidity, and air quality in real-time addresses comfort and health concerns, crucial for a productive work environment and provides data to measure against targets. This technology is now capable of facilitating a personalized approach to climate control, accommodating the preferences of a diverse workforce and ensuring the office is an appealing place to work. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through climate control choices can resonate with environmentally conscious employees and clients, enhancing your company's reputation as a responsible and forward-thinking employer as well as helping to meet ESG targets for the business..

Creating a workspace that reflects the company's culture and employees' personal achievements can significantly boost morale and engagement. Involving employees and encouraging them to contribute ideas that make the office feel like a community is an effective choice. Showcasing the company's history, values, and achievements through design elements can remind everyone of the shared purpose that brings them to the office. Aligning the design of the space with organizational goals and also demonstrating a commitment to creating a workspace that values and supports its employees is an approach fosters a sense of ownership and pride among employees, which can be effective for attracting and retaining talent.

Very Important to consider and study these points before application:- 1) Functional uses and ergonomics of the area and job- plan out , if you can’t make a small demo then apply. 2) Light placement- extremely important to get the best work productivity 3)Furniture Selection- Hire an expert to approve ( procurement or management team may not be able to differentiate between functional biomechanics of furniture and asthetic looks) 4)Storage space- may it be Bags,Trophe, Accessories etc… 5)And do not forget some personalisation

Very Important to consider and study these points before application:- 1) Functional uses and ergonomics of the area and job- plan out , if you can’t make a small demo then apply. 2) Light placement- extremely important to get the best work productivity 3)Furniture Selection- Hire an expert to approve ( procurement or management team may not be able to differentiate between functional biomechanics of furniture and asthetic looks) 4)Storage space- may it be Bags,Trophe, Accessories etc… 5)And do not forget some personalisation