Designing Dynamic Experiences for Mundane Office Functions

A positive working environment is a workplace that promotes employee safety, growth and goal attainment. These environments are most conducive to a successful workforce as they encourage employees to perform to their highest ability. 

Design holds the power to cultivate improvement in mental and physical well-being of the end users. Spaces with the right energy and positivity lead to emotional calmness and thus lifts individual spirits. Whilst policies and uplifting systems drive work-environments, interior design and decor can contribute towards increasing productivity and interaction in otherwise mundane spaces. 

Typically for an office design, functions are usually allotted to spaces as per fundamental requirements and aesthetics are kept to a minimum. The lack of experimentation to otherwise vanilla spaces leads to mundane spatial narratives and eventually affects people’s mental ability to produce work efficiently. Some minor tweaks in design elements via materials, technology and decor can significantly transform the visual and experiential quality of spaces. 

Catering to a larger working population holistically, the study of ergonomics is highly critical when it comes to office design solutions. Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimise human well-being and overall system performance.

Conventionally, interior design for commercial spaces are put together using factory made furniture modules. Individual modules are replicated in the studio and working stations since they are easy and quick to execute. Whereas, to bring the right design sensibility one must look at customising furniture. 

Bespoke furniture pieces such work-stations, counters, seating furniture, and many more can be elaborated by forms, shapes, materials and most importantly, details. Interesting mood-boards that explore dynamism via colour, finishes and textures respond well with natural light and hence bring a sense of calmness to the rooms.

The hierarchy of spaces and elements within those spaces is strongly influential when it comes to workspace design. Flexibility in space allocation, space differentiation and seating arrangements can also bring instrumental change. For example, small breakout spaces regularly placed in between functions can perform better than a large standardised chunk of public space. Spaces that have a certain sense of connectivity - visual or textural can induce interaction and community building activities. 

Graphics play an important role in encouraging optimistic working environments. Often neglected, the corporate ceilings are the perfect opportunity to try something new. Solid coatings of bright colours, vibrant illustrations, or words of positivity on ceilings or walls can instigate interactive experiences. Additional installations such as suspended artwork, floral beds etc can also be looked at. 

Moreover, technology and automation offer various possibilities in transforming simple elements to full efficiency. New generation ideas of design include work-desks that can move vertically as per height requirements from day to day timings. Additionally, tables set with hydraulic systems can work on automation in various directions and movements. 

With respect to the post pandemic times, sensor based systems for room doors, cubicles, cabinetry and drawers can be truly explored. Technology offers equally advantageous features in lighting solutions. Adaptable lighting that perform on sensors and provide customisable lux levels are truly transforming for simple spaces. 

Keeping space crunch, timelines and client briefs in mind, one can explore various ideas and techniques to amp us simple office environments.