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What makes a great place to work in 2018? As we move full steam ahead into the new year, we’re observing commonalities among today’s top offices across industries – from technology and fashion to travel and media. In this month’s design news aggregate, we consider three rising design ideas that innovative workplaces are incorporating now, more than ever.
Many organizations are incorporating unique settings into their offices, going beyond graphics and strategically positioned logos. Companies are moving toward design that tells a comprehensive, authentic story through an immersive, branded environment. On Office Magazine highlights Airbnb’s San Francisco headquarters, with meeting rooms designed to be recreations of the site’s listings that staff members can also personalize.
Interior Design Magazine showcases Beijing marketing agency Elephant Parade, a 44,000-square foot space with a massive staircase – using natural, locally sourced bamboo – that curves like the trunk of an elephant. Meanwhile, in New York, the headquarters of women’s news source Bustle reflects the energy of the fast-growing company and the ever-changing media landscape: elements include a wall covering inspired by neon signs on a busy city street, colored vinyl on glass doors and collaboration rooms with writable glass surfaces.
Thoughtful design choices tell a story from the moment employees walk in. Beyond sending a message, these spaces embody brand values, set the tone for corporate culture and create a more enjoyable atmosphere overall.
The shift toward office environments with nature-inspired details is gaining steam as employers recognize the benefits of incorporating the outdoors. In a list of key trends changing the modern workspace, Bizcommunity highlights nature as an increasingly significant factor in building development and mentions the rising preference for natural textures, patterns, lighting and live plants.
Forward-thinking organizations are going beyond adding a pop of greenery, integrating biophilia in varied ways. Work Design Magazine delves into ADP Architects’ transformation of an old warehouse into a “nature-infused fashion park” for Vietnam-based Asmara Limited Company. With meeting areas inspired by an outdoor park, features include “social hubs” and natural elements like grass, trees and stone pavement.
The New York Times features the Manhattan offices of CookFox architects, describing “plant-fringed havens” and terraces with native trees, vines, grasses and bee apiaries that workers can maintain. The benefits – beyond aesthetic improvements – are clear: Allwork.Space explores research showing that natural details enhance people’s ability to function effectively.
Read more about biophilia here.
In a roundup of expert predictions, Work Design Magazine shares how organizations will provide more education and development opportunities in the future. Furthermore, Metropolis Magazine emphasizes the need for communal settings that facilitate mentoring and collaboration and discusses recent Gallup research indicating that “less than one-third of millennial employees are actively “engaged” with their jobs.”
Beyond employee enrichment, Work Design Magazine also examines the importance of stress-management offerings for workers, such as yoga and meditation. Allwork.Space echoes this sentiment, noting the rising consideration of mental health, in addition to physical wellness, as a core focus for employers in 2018. We discuss wellbeing in greater detail and how to design spaces for wellness here.
Organizations that strive to provide the best possible experience positively impact employee satisfaction while improving the business bottom line. These employers create environments that are not only places for work – but also for education, wellness, recreation, enrichment, social support, mentorship and much more – with curated spaces to accommodate these diverse endeavors.
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