By Meara Hamidiani
March 30, 2021
Starting off by mentioning that their previous posts about office design followed trends like boosting wellbeing and productivity. While this is still important, in 2021 there is the added need for keeping everyone healthy and safe from infection. Their previously predicted design trends for 2021 changed drastically.
Office layouts have changed over the course of the pandemic to include procedures to ensure health and safety – some temporary but others might be here to stay. Some adapted office layouts include:
Desk pods: rather than the plexiglass dividing everyone and interrupting collaboration, these allow 3-4 employees to work together while still being safely distanced
Desk distancing: simply alternating desks or having desks face away from each other
Outdoor offices: some offices around the world moved their work outside (weather permitting) as research states the ventilation outdoors carries a lower risk of transmitting Covid-19
Smaller conference areas: this made sure that small teams can still work together yet still have adequate social distancing rather than working at a cubicle all crammed together
This just goes to show that there are ways to maintain productivity and collaboration while maintaining safety measures.
The rest of the article covers the top 5 office design trends they discovered in 2021.
1. Remote work is here to stay…but so is the office
Many companies adapted to working remotely over the pandemic and it seems like many appear to want to continue this way. While remote working can boost productivity and save the company some money, experts say just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. It's important to keep in mind your company culture, work styles, demographics and more when making the decision to remain 100% remote. Some may want to come into the office a few days a week. The goal is to find that perfect balance for your company and its workers.
2. Strict sanitation procedures embedded in office design
Companies must find ways to implement proper hygiene. That could range from more hand sanitizing stations or adding sinks to staff rooms or places where people gather. Trash cans should also be in communal areas, assigned desks, lockers and, filing cabinets - all to reduce individual contact.
3. Unassigned seats with shielding and boundaries in the modern office
A pre-covid trend called “hot-desking” is still relevant in a post-pandemic office. This is when employees choose their workspace each day on a first-come-first-serve basis. Hot-desking also includes spaces to co-work. While this may seem counter-intuitive, the post quotes an industry expert saying that offices with assigned desks are usually “proven to be dirtier than many toilets.” This is due to cleaners being told not to disrupt people’s personal items and just clean around them. Therefore, having unassigned seats, everything can get deep-cleaned each night. Trends will also include more barriers along the lines of curtains, walls, or shields to allow for safe distancing as well as lessening distractions.
4. Hands-free or “touchless” technology-inspired office design
Office design post-pandemic will need to incorporate beacon technology and wireless systems in order to function. Employees will require access to present and video conference, in all their work environments. Touchless technology will be involved to limit surface touching and in turn, limit the spread of a virus in the office. Also included in this trend is the use of voice activation and artificial intelligence.
5. Smart materials and nature-focused office design to boost air quality and circulation
“Smart materials that are easy to maintain, resist mould and promote good indoor air quality should be prioritized,” says one expert. This includes materials that are antimicrobial, such as copper. Better ventilation systems will have to be introduced along with bringing nature to the indoors. Living walls and other office plants have been proven to help with air quality and therefore a healthier life.
I think this article would be great for both new offices and existing offices that are heading back from remote working. It has great ideas for how to start designing your new office or make upgrades to accommodate your current space with the new health measures. I do find most of these suggestions to be pretty generic and therefore able to adapt to any kind of office space no matter the industry. Most of these trends in my personal opinion were on the rise before the pandemic, except maybe the social distancing and sanitization.
If I were creating an office for post-pandemic life, I would be saving this article to have on hand. I like the recommendations found here, as well as that it has expert knowledge embedded. Looking at the expert's website, their designs really appealed to me. They have experience with not only office spaces but public spaces as well, so the mixture would interest me. I would want an office that feels welcoming like a public space would, but also have the workspaces for individual projects and collaborative work.
Hamidiani, M. (2021, March 30). Top 5 office design trends in 2021. Proxyclick. Retrieved from https://www.proxyclick.com/blog/top-office-design-trends-2021.
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