Design Thinking for the Workplace

Design Thinking for the Workplace

Design thinking is a problem-solving technique; a method of approaching challenges while keeping all viable solutions in mind for evaluation.?

In business, design thinking is a human-centred technique used to generate solutions designed for human issues: identify problems, collect information, conceive ideas, construct a messaging around the ideas, test, revise, and execute. In contrast to critical thinking, which requires the removal of ideas, design thinking is a creative process that grows and develops ideas and solutions.?

So how can principles of design thinking be applied when it comes to the workplace, particularly in this post-pandemic era??

According to the Harvard Business Review, there’s a shift under way in large organisations that puts design much closer to the centre of the enterprise. This shift isn’t about aesthetics; it’s about applying the principles of design to the way people work. That’s something we are strong advocates for at Aylott + Van Tromp.

Natural work cycles?

The Covid pandemic has meant that the form and purpose of contemporary office environments is certain to change. Gone are the days of people working 9am to 5pm with a regimented lunch break, because most companies have now realised this is not as effective as allowing people to work in their own cycles. The experiences people have had while working from home during lockdown have shaped their expectations for what they want work to be like in the future.

Rather than being detrimental to productivity, flexible working has more often than not created teams that are far more productive and efficient, and the quality of work has either been successfully maintained, or in many cases, actually improved. We believe the design of contemporary workplaces needs to reflect this. The most effectives ones will be those that incorporate plenty of restoration and relaxation areas for employees, as well as plenty of access to natural light (and, ideally, an outside space). This will allow employees the flexibility to retire to these areas and recharge their batteries when their natural work cycle begins to wane.?

People work differently?

Along with understanding employees' natural work cycles, it has also become increasingly accepted that not all people work in the same way either. Some like to sit quietly and go through things meticulously, some prefer to discuss everything with colleagues, while others prefer to collect just a few of the best minds together and work collaboratively in smaller groups. We believe the very best workplaces are those that understand the different ways that individual employees work most effectively, and offer different environments for all these different approaches to take place harmoniously.?

Safety first

Post-Covid safety in the office will also be of paramount importance. No longer just restricted to concern for physical safety in the working environment (such as poorly constructed storage or slippery flooring), building materials that are highly antimicrobial such as copper and untreated wood, and technology that helps to remove touch points, such as automatic doors and self-flushing loos, will be far more readily incorporated within office design.?

Design affects emotional wellbeing?

At Aylott + Van Tromp we are huge advocates for incorporating biophilic design elements into the workplace that stimulate all the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and other sensory systems. Did you know that various aspects of the physical working environment, including natural light, colour, textures and sound, all have an impact on the mental state of your employees’ mental state??

In the workplace, stimulation is essential, but overstimulation may be just as damaging. Workplace productivity and well-being can be harmed by the use of distracting elements such as bright colours, loud music, and fragrant plants and enhanced by the use of a calming colour palette, classical music and air-purifying foliage. We like to incorporate elements of the natural world by showing complexity across different levels of our designs, rather than straight edges and harsh lines, and utilising natural light sources as much as possible.?

It is widely reported that the benefits of biophilic design include greater productivity, decreased sickness absence and better employee engagement. According to Rachel Kaplan and Steven Kaplan people need to go through four phases to overcome mental fatigue: fascination, directed attention to the fascinating environment, contemplation, and deeper restoration experience. Workplaces that foster a culture of inquiry, empathy, optimism and resilience are therefore more likely to foster ongoing creativity and productive output as a result.?