It has certainly been difficult for many offices to adapt to the many changes that have taken place over the past two years.
It is therefore not surprising that the main trends in office design have also evolved over time. Discover in this article some key trends in the office environment in 2022.
Integrating hybrid working and the physical workplace
In most cases, traditional workplaces are designed to accommodate the majority of staff present at any given time. This design has evolved over the years. The majority of employers are now adopting hybrid work practices as the norm. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that top talent now expects this flexibility and it allows businesses to downsize their premises to accommodate smaller capacities.
With regard to hybrid working and its impact on the physical design of offices, it has led to an increasing importance of the design of a workplace to act as a social anchor, a space where human interaction is encouraged by intelligent design and layout. As employees increasingly work outside the office, the need for face-to-face meetings in the office paradoxically becomes even more important.
This involves redesigning spaces with the typical flows or movements in a workplace in mind and optimizing them to encourage and stimulate conversation and interaction – think social/breakout spaces, kitchen areas, coffee machines, cafe, water fountains and, as designers, think about what can motivate occupants to interact with these spaces and therefore with their colleagues.
It's also about providing employees with a variety of work settings within the physical workplace, so they can choose how they want to work, depending on the work they do. The ADP Group website, adp-group.fr, supports you in your workspace layout needs.
The smart office has arrived
The advent of hybrid working has also fueled a shift towards increased use of smart technology in the workplace. This technology is designed to enable the reservation of workspaces, the use of sensors to monitor air quality, natural light levels and the use of spaces, and to share this data in order to better understand how the spaces are used and adapt accordingly.
This is just the beginning and the level of data that organizations can leverage to improve workplace ergonomics and increasingly adopt smart technology will be even higher.
Work of art in the workplace
Inclusion of artwork in prominent locations adds key brand messages. Wall art or graphics communicate the brand to staff and visitors. Artwork has been proven to be more than just decorative.
They can help improve productivity in many cases and inspire creativity – you can read more in our article dedicated to the impact of art in the workplace.
Biophilic office space
Biophilia refers to our instinctive connection to our natural environment. Green spaces are not just a trend inside offices. Some offices maximize the use of outdoor spaces and rooftops.
In the summer, employees can take a break from their hectic lives to get together and take care of the garden. Raising office morale and feeling connected with nature also brings new inspiration and ideas.
