Productivity at work is one of the ultimate goals in workplace strategy and design.
The truth is that many people don’t think about design factors when they’re setting up a workplace: a few workstations, some stools, coffee machine – that’ll do. There’s no point in putting perfectly useful employees in a work environment that drains them from the moment they step through the door, because of a lack of an inspiring environment.
This is where workplace ergonomics and smart design come in to play. If you think of your workers first, you’ll reap the benefits, so a proper ergonomically structured setup is key to any successful business. Here are just some of the ways that building your space around your employees can help your business’ productivity.
Biophilic design strategy
Biophilic design which means showing, or being the human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature, is a popular design that focuses on the connectivity to the natural environment through the contact with natural features.
Research has found that creative problem-solving will increase by 50% when employees are exposed to nature, (huynchi.com ).
Office designers can fill the workspaces with biophilic elements, such as plants, natural lights, fresh air, natural landscape, to relax employees, and create a refreshing working environment. Plants are a unique and easy way to add inspiration to your workplace, brightening up the space, whilst contributing calm, stress-relieving qualities. In fact, biophilic design has been found to support employees’ cognitive function, physical health, and mental well-being.
Indoor air quality
Offices with poor indoor air quality are often associated with “Sick Building Syndrome”, which not only threatens comfort, well-being and productivity of the workforce but also leads to financial costs of healthcare and sick leave.
Especially in the presence of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, air quality is a crucial factor that prevents the spread of this (and many other) virus’s. Workplace design should aim at keeping VOCs (Volatile organic compounds) to an absolute minimum, addressing the necessity of air filtration systems by using high-tech heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and installing more windows for natural ventilation.
Create cosy spaces within your workspace
The environment in an office plays an important role in getting you to feel more productive and inspired. An easy way to make an office feel more cosy is to pay attention to the furniture and decorative pieces in the space. Avoid picking repetitive furniture, but instead, curate your furniture with care so that the space feels more like home, where each item was picked out carefully. Think soft sofas, bean bag chairs and rugs in a calming colour palette.
Noise factor
One of the biggest reasons for distractions in the office is noise.
Research has shown that 64% of employees were dissatisfied by the phone conversations of colleagues, and 76% were distracted by overhearing private conversations. Low-frequency and constant background noise can cause disruption in work tasks, and increase fatigue and stress. In the office layout, quiet zones and focus rooms are critical to enhance productivity at work. We have seen a huge increase in the demand for private cubicles, and we try to incorporate these into our designs wherever we can.
We also prioritise the individual needs of your employees and company. Employees with jobs that require them to focus on complex tasks need a work environment that allows them to concentrate for long periods of time. You can further reduce noise distractions with acoustic wall panels, room dividers, and even with sound-absorbing furniture.
Abundant lighting
While dim lighting can lower productivity, daylighting has been proved to enhance mood and morale, reduce fatigue and increase the quality of employee’s performance up to 15% (Edwards and Torcellini, 2002).
A bright office with windows letting in natural light can uplift the mood and facilitate productivity. Therefore, it is ideal to prioritise natural daylight in office design, and combine different levels of lighting and colours as a substitute in case natural light is not constantly available.
Sources of inspiration: Amazing Workplace | Huynchi
