How office design can improve communication

The way we communicate at work has shifted. Over the past couple of years, the pandemic has simultaneously pulled us apart and put us all in the same boat. Even in 2022 when face-to-face working is largely back on the cards, many of us are still seeing less of our colleagues in person than pre-pandemic – particularly in office jobs. But we know regular and effective communication is as important as ever.

Two years of working from home and learning how to communicate digitally has both helped and hindered our working patterns. We’ve found when we’re working from home that some communication can happen efficiently – for instance, a quick call or chat rather than a meeting. But over the course of Covid-19, in-person collaboration has suffered, particularly when dealing with a workforce who have become used to being apart.

Today, most businesses have returned to the office, be it full-time or in a more flexible way, and we have a chance to cement better office communication practices. At FASTSIGNS Leeds , we’ve helped a number of Leeds businesses update their office space to make the return to work more appealing, and it’s taught us all a thing or two about effective office design.

Here are some of the ways office design can help improve communication and facilitate better communication between teams:

Meeting space and break-out areas

People getting together to share thoughts and ideas in person is one of the main bonuses of being back in the office, and something many of us missed throughout 2020 and 2021. In-person meetings give everyone the chance to have their input and record the outcomes. Having a communal board or screen helps facilitate effective brainstorming where everyone can contribute.

Creating vibrant meeting and break-out areas encourages people to get together and inspires discussion. Dull, bland conference rooms don’t engage anyone. We’ve learned how important it is to make sure your meeting space is comfortable, well-equipped, visual, and presentable.

Sharing the company vision and values

Every employee should know and buy into your company vision and values, particularly after a couple of years of uncertainty. Visually displaying your values on a wall in your office reminds people of them each day and shares the culture of your business to visitors and clients. Decorating a wall with your vision and values brings the team together behind a common cause and decorates blank space.

Personalise your building

Most office spaces look similar. White walls, dark carpets, glass partitions, bright light. While this is practical, it doesn’t help differentiate your workplace or share what you’re about. Decorating the walls and glass with graphics instantly personalises your unit.

Adding plants, furniture and artwork makes an office feel more welcoming. With hybrid working more common, your office should be an inviting and invigorating place to work. Spending a bit of time creating a unique office design is worth it for the atmosphere it creates.

Open plan working

Communication is fuelled by people working in proximity, with time to catch up and discuss what’s going on in their day. After a long period of social distancing, it’s more important than ever to celebrate the opportunity to spend time in the same physical space as our colleagues, engaging in much-missed chat and idea sharing.

Consider moving the desks around to face each other in small clusters, rather than long rows. This allows employees to see each other and talk freely across desks. Not only that, it also gives your employees a little extra personal space that’s very much valued in a post-pandemic world.?

Message and ideas boards

The communal pinboard might seem old-fashioned now, but why not bring it back? You could choose a dry-wipe magnetic board that can be cleared and used for meetings. Whether it’s to share news or office jokes, a communal board is an easy and fun way to bring your team together.

How we helped Your Engine Room

Local marketing agency Your Engine Room moved into a new office space in Leeds city centre in 2021. They have spent this year transforming it into an exciting space that inspires employees and promotes great communication. From a smart dedicated meeting space and relaxed chill-out areas to a communication-boosting open-plan set-up, this is a perfect example of office design that brings employees together.

Your Engine Room wanted to add some branded finishing touches to their new office space, so they brought us in to turn their ideas into a reality. We added colourful, customised window graphics to brighten up their standard glass-walled meeting room and used wall graphics to add their company logo above their breakout area. The result is eye-catching, personalised, and encourages creativity within the team.

I hope you enjoyed reading through these ideas. If you have an office or workspace in the Leeds area that could use brightening,?get in touch?with the team or drop me a message to chat.