Innovative Workplace Design Ideas for a productive workplace

We spend almost half our lives at our workplaces but have we ever given enough thought about how important a role design could play in impacting our productivity at the workplace? Most of us would respond in the negative. To bring things into perspective, let us ponder on how the pandemic completely changed the workfront scenario - More people (especially employees of IT firms) started working on a Hybrid mode that continued long after the pandemic ended. But with normalcy being restored the return of the workforce was imminent and many workplaces have rethought their Design strategy to make the transition smoother.

Before the pandemic hit, a majority of workplaces paid little heed to design and focused more on basic functionality. A Gartner report (See 1.1) clearly points out how workplaces can improve the likelihood of high employee performance by 3.8 times if they combine flexible experiences, intentional collaboration and empathy-based management. Now, organizations can easily address these by easily approaching it from a variety of Design perspectives. Read on to find out how!

Bringing the Decibels down via Acoustic Office Pods

Gone are the days when scores of employees and teams would be packed together like sheep in what one can loosely term as an ‘obsolete’ design setup. Most corporate offices still have this design ‘relic of the past’, where a long table is divided into multiple workstations. This biggest flaw in this design is that it adds more distraction than productivity. Especially, when you are on a job that requires frequent virtual meetings, large number of calls, writing or even any amount of ideation; all you seek is a solitary spot to manage and finish the job efficiently. In another report by Gartner, in-person meetings in 2021 have significantly reduced to only 33% from an average 63% in-person meetings in 2019. This could be attributed to the pandemic that made virtual meetings a rage and is a fad that isn’t going to die out anytime soon. Hence, comes the necessity of designing niches within your workplace that offer you a solitary spot to work efficiently, whenever needed.

Image Courtesy: zenpod (www.zenpod.in)

With features such as insulated glass doors, acoustic felt panels, a ventilation system, LED lighting, a custom desk, USB ports, and more, these pods aim to block out 100% noise, Acoustic Office Pods are changing the scenario at work. Be it blocking the traffic noise outside to obliterating the irritating purr of that old office refrigerator, these pods are smart not only the way they function but also the way they look; which is nothing less than snazzy! These pods come in a variety of sizes - ranging from pods that accommodate one employee to pods that accommodate four or more. And the biggest advantage is that they are future-proof too! Two to Five years down the line, when you are shifting offices, you can easily move these along to your new space. The Microsoft Mumbai office has optimally installed these workpods to boost productivity at the workplace.

Image Courtesy: Office Snapshots (www.officesnapshots.com/2017/07/27/microsoft-offices-mumbai/)

Smart Work at Smart Desks

Every office has a vibe of its own. Design elements within a workplace directly foretell how a business is faring. A poorly designed office with just the ‘basic units’, reflects the loss of revenue for a business, wherein the budget for office maintenance and upgradation is sparse. That being said, businesses do not need to go overboard to accommodate employees’ comfort and end up burning a hole in their pocket. They need to think smart and adapt to the changing nature of work. A research by Godrej Interio’s Workplace and Ergonomics Research Cell points out that 64% of employees sit for an average nine hours at work. That’s almost half of one’s waking hours! This sedentary life is a slow poison and is bringing a host of lifestyle issues, mostly for people with desk jobs. Now, we have all seen English movies where the CEO of an organization spends most of his/her time on the bicycle installed within their swanky offices while they take calls or conduct meetings via their headsets. It is still a far reality for offices in India. But, there are simpler solutions, like a Smart desk!

Image Courtesy: Image by Freepik (https://rb.gy/l8c8e)

These ergonomic smart desks are height-adjustable and easily adapt to employees' routines. Some of these desks come with added built-in features like wireless charging, ambient LED lighting, a safe lock, an air quality sensor, a speaker, an air freshener, an ergonomic footrest, and a fitness module. But, even the basic smart desks serve the purpose! So instead of sitting down for prolonged hours, employees can divide their day, adjust the height of these desks and both, sit and stand while working. Now that’s the perfect transition for employees who have gotten used to the comfort of working from home during the pandemic. By incorporating these in workplaces, businesses can ensure wellness of their employees.

Image Courtesy: Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/hPCFOFtmNls)

Collaboration is the Key

Teamwork is always valued over individual work. But, ideation is a serious business. Your workplace needs to foster collaboration if they need to accelerate productivity and efficiency. We have come a long way from the usual chalk-and-board setup where teams used to gather, collaborate and ideate. A collaborative environment helps employees learn from each other and increases creative thinking and problem-solving skills. According to a study conducted at Stanford University, individuals working in a collaborative environment rather than a solitary one exhibit a 50% increase in task completion effectiveness. This collaborative approach also enhances their intrinsic motivation and fosters greater engagement with their work. Hence, the need for collaborative spaces!

Image Courtesy: A co-working space in South Melbourne (https://www.indesignlive.com/projects/commons)

Collaboration areas are designated areas, usually away from the regular seating for employees. These are fully equipped with Whiteboards, projectors, and writable surfaces that facilitate brainstorming sessions, idea-sharing, and teamwork. It makes the entire process more fun, creative and also is a great ice-breaker between teammates.

Concluding Remarks

Indian offices have a huge scope in terms of incorporating designs that would boost productivity. They need to evolve with the changing nature of work. Several other design trends like Breakout zones, Biophilic spaces etc. are changing the entire outlook of workplaces and positively impacting employee productivity, by making their offices a place they would love to spend more time in. Stay tuned for more such Design trends!

About Vanguard Design

Established in 2010, Vanguard Design is a firm that focuses on urban design, architecture, and interior design. Our expertise lies in crafting inspirational, functional, and sustainable designs with a futuristic touch for a wide range of projects, encompassing product design, architecture, and urban planning. Our creations are guided by a blend of aesthetic and functionalist innovation.