The Latest Office Design Trends You Should Know About
With the rise of the digital economy, offices have begun to adopt a more collaborative and dynamic environment. As a result, office interior designs in Singapore are trending away from the traditional desk-and-cubicle setup and towards more open workspaces with shared meeting spaces, cafes, lounges, and other collaborative areas.
Companies are also prioritising tech accessibility through universal internet access and ergonomic furniture that supports remote working to accommodate these new work environments. Internally, companies are implementing AI assistants to streamline processes and achieve operational efficiency. Externally, brands are incorporating eco-friendly features into their spaces to reduce their carbon footprint and support sustainability initiatives.
In this blog post, discover the latest trends in office design that can be implemented in your workspace.
1. Shifting from Traditional Workspaces
The traditional layout of cube-based offices is no longer a viable design choice for many businesses. This is due to several factors, including the rise of remote and flexible working, technological advancements, and the demand for more collaborative and open space. These traditional workspaces are also not conducive to supporting employees’ needs for better air quality and noise reduction. As a result, the team may be more distracted and less productive.
Additionally, when offices are designed with a single layout, it limits employees from creating a personalised work environment, leading to dissatisfaction and less engagement. Furthermore, an optimal office layout is essential for maximising energy efficiency, which is especially important for businesses that operate in multiple locations.
2. Open Plan Working Areas
Open plan working areas are a popular choice for today’s office designs. They’re often used as a social space where employees can collaborate while remaining focused and efficient with their work. There are a few different open plan layouts, but the most common is the “idea wall” model, which features a large wall with an organisational system for employees’ initiatives.
A significant advantage of open plans is that they allow for more natural light and better air quality. They also foster a collaborative and creative environment for employees, ultimately increasing engagement.
A common design trend with open plans is to have different types of spaces within the same room, such as meeting rooms that can be closed off for privacy and open desks for collaboration.
3. Collaboration Hubs
Collaboration hubs are areas with a variety of tools, such as whiteboards, projectors, and other audio-visual equipment, designed to facilitate collaboration. There are multiple variations of collaboration hubs, but they’re all designed to support team collaboration and help employees work more efficiently.
Collaboration hubs are beneficial because they give employees the freedom to decide how they want to collaborate with each other. They also provide a central location where employees can easily access these tools, regardless of their work location.
4. Mobility and Ergonomics
As offices shift towards more open designs, companies are implementing ergonomic furniture and other products to accommodate employees who are spending more time on their feet.
Businesses are implementing sit-stand desks and other adjustable-height products that allow employees to work in an optimal position to prevent health issues, such as carpal tunnel. For employees to be as comfortable as possible in their work environment, office designers are also incorporating natural materials, such as wood, into the design. Additionally, companies are hiring interior designers who specialise in eco-friendly designs that meet sustainability goals.
5. Office Gardens
An office garden is a feature often incorporated into the design of an office space. This can either be a small container garden or a more extensive outdoor garden. The purpose of an office garden is to improve the overall mental health of employees by providing them with a place to de-stress and re-energise.
Studies have found that office plants can reduce levels of cortisol in workers, which is commonly referred to as the “stress hormone”. A reduction in cortisol can decrease feelings of anxiety, which is helpful for those who work in a high-pressure environment.
6. Mixing Functionalities
Functional mix refers to the creative blending of office features to create an interesting and engaging space. This can include, for example, incorporating a café into the office layout to increase collaboration and provide employees with more amenities.
There are many ways to mix functionalities, and designers are getting more creative with their layouts. Some examples include incorporating a coffee shop into the office layout to boost collaboration, placing a library next to a kitchen for more social gatherings, and adding a gym for employees to stay active while working.
Mixing functionalities can create a livelier office atmosphere and encourage employees to engage with one another. It can also help the company stay competitive by offering more amenities to employees.
Summary
Office designs have been evolving for years, but with the rise of the digital economy, businesses have been looking for ways to make the workplace more collaborative and engaging. Hence, we are seeing the rise of open plan offices, increased use of audio-visual equipment, and the introduction of collaboration spaces. If you’re looking to create a new office design, use these trends as inspiration for how to make your space more collaborative, social, and engaging.
Wilsin is a one-stop shop for all your office space needs. We value a productive workplace. Thus, we make every effort to ensure that our solutions combine the distinctive culture of your business with tasteful functionality.
Visit our physical furniture store at Tagore Lane or browse our extensive online furniture selection for all your office fit-out requirements, from soft lounge seats to office workstation designs in Singapore.
