OFFICE DESIGN GOES BACK TO SCHOOL

Sometimes, you have to strip things back to basics and revisit the drawing board.
Office design appears to be doing just same at this moment, with inspiration coming directly from the class room.

In fact, when you actually sit down and think about it, it all makes sense. Let me explain how?

A LESSON IN OFFICE DESIGN

If you take your mind back to your school days, chances are you will remember sitting around shared tables and collaborating with someone for project work.

Schools encourage “Makerspaces”. In fact, recently Microsoft has joined up with Steelcase to create spaces that do the same, including a Makers Common.

Creativity is now seen as a 21st-century skill, and rightly so. More and more employers are realizing the importance of nurturing this trait through the use of office design.

And educators are the leaders when it comes to the kind of design experimentation that encourages this creativity.

Research by Herman Millers shows that collaborative learning techniques can encourage student engagement and better outcomes. The design and structure of a classroom can play a key role in this collaborative learning.

However, whilst the popularity of flexible, open offices is steadily rising, many workplaces still comprise of individual desks, cubicles, and enclosed spaces. Something that ought to change if we’re to nurture creativity.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Whether we’re attending events or discovering design inspiration, it’s clear to see that the workplace is changing to accommodate the needs of the multi-generational office.

It makes sense to be aware of the environments in which children are currently learning, as they’ll be joining the workplace in a matter of years.

Of course, an element of choice has to remain in order to accommodate the many different generations that make up the office.

If you’re considering a new office design, get in touch with our team today to discuss your options