The old decade is coming to a close, and the new year 2020 brings with it exciting new possibilities and new trends in the workplace. According to leading interior landscaping agency Ambius, this new year, the biggest workspace and shared workspace trend this year is going to be macro and micro designs aimed at improving the working environment and the natural environment keeping in mind the ever expanding dynamics of a business driven by technological advancements.
The key driving factor appears to be the fact that the workspace is no longer seen to be just a physical location to sit and work away. Rather, they are becoming a more integral part of the organisation and the individual working in it. Since technology today allows people to work from anywhere, indeed from their homes if they want to, they are more selective of their workspaces depending on a host of factors. Feelings of physical and mental well being based on the workspace design has achieved prominence in their choice, and as a result, workplaces have become more authentic, more dynamic, and more sustainable than ever before.
In their report based on global workplace design trends, Ambius points out 4 macro design trends that are going to dominate 2020:
Dynamism:
Workspaces of the new year will be more dynamic and flexible, allowing them to be remodelled and reshaped according to the needs of the workers. In other words, multipurpose workspaces that may serve any purpose from meeting rooms to dance studios.
This is going to happen through the further strengthening of the rapidly growing
coworking spaces, as well as dynamic and multipurpose furniture which are lightweight, easily shiftable, as well as ergonomic. From large tables that may be converted into a smaller one and two additional chairs, to walls that double up as projection screen or whiteboard, dynamism is being incorporated in a wide variety of ways.
Wood Texture:
Wood is going to come back strong as ever this year. As people become more and more environmentally conscious, companies are adapting fast to reflect the need for sustainability, incorporating it right into the spaces they provide to employees.
Wood lends a workspace an authentic and sustainable feeling, as well as has been shown to promote the physical and mental well being of workers. Workspace designers are thus increasingly using sustainably sourced, as well as recycled and reclaimed wood in building interiors.
Community Centric:
Today’s technology allows employees to work from anywhere. This lets them choose their workspace with greater freedom than ever. This was the basis for the rise of coworking spaces and shared workspaces. These places cater to those demands of the new age employees that are not easily available in traditional workspaces, namely a sense of inclusivity and community.
This is going to be reinforced further the coming year, with coworking spaces showing the way for traditional office spaces to adopt a more community centric approach. These new age spaces will include elements to make them more conducive to community building like common sitting, brainstorming, and relaxation areas, as well as more inviting like warm lighting and inviting textures. Why is this a macro trend? Because these changes will have to be comprehensive and cover all of the workspace, starting from the reception to the lounge. Yes, there will be a lounge!
Sustainability:
The core of all upcoming design trends is going to be a huge focus on sustainability of the workspace. In fact, sustainable design and wellness design will be combined together to create workplaces of the future, where sustainably sourced materials will be used to design and construct workspaces that are human-centric rather than work-centric.
This trend will be driven by multiple studies that have indicated a direct correlation between employee comfort and productivity in the workspace. Thus, a more natural and harmonious connection will be nurtured, using materials like wood and stone, more greenery in workspaces, as well as increased abundance of natural lighting.
The above trends make it clear that workspaces are all set to undergo a massive change in terms of employee well-being as much as in terms of increased work productivity. And as mentioned above, coworking spaces have been leading the way all through the last few years. What remains to be seen is how soon traditional workspaces adapt to these changes and what innovations coworking spaces come up with to remain relevant in the coming decade.