What offices are waiting for us in 2022

We still expect that the old way of life and work will become the same as it was back in 2019, but it’s time to understand and accept that the pandemic has become only a trigger for global change.

Managers are increasingly relying on people who can independently organize their work and not depend on external circumstances. But what’s the matter: the most independent people do not want to return to the office. What to do with it? – that is the question.

Some rely on the social package, others on blackmail, and there are those who are ready to provide the employee with “home comfort in the office.” If your vector is focused on comfortable design, then this article will be a useful checklist for you.

Yes, flexible workspaces have been around for a long time, but flexible working is an office design trend that has taken on a huge urgency in 2021 and is set to take off in 2022.

Quarantine measures have proven that many of us can work from anywhere, if you want to encourage people to return employees to the office, your business also needs to think about the design of its workplace. Instead of just thinking “we need N – the number of tables”, it’s time to think about how you can use your space to encourage different ways of working.

Since some employees still prefer to work remotely at least a few days a week, the second part of your team will come to the office on a regular basis. So, instead of giving everyone a separate desk, design an office with redundant workspaces, non-redundant flexible areas, task-focused workspaces, and modular furniture to accommodate a changing workforce.

In one of the Kyiv offices of an IT company, we thought of a kitchen that, if necessary, could be easily reformatted into a lecture hall or a zone for teamwork. That allowed to reduce the occupied area.

Giving employees different locations to work—depending on the type of work they do—gives your team more freedom, productivity, and engagement.

Agile design can also help with a sharp business scaling, namely a rapid increase in the number of employees or, conversely, a reduction in staff.

Another cultural shift in office design 2022 is centered around creating a workspace where safety is a priority. The pandemic has once again reminded us of the value of our employees and the importance of their health and well-being to the performance of any company.

The modern office has evolved into a more open and spacious workspace, while sacrificing privacy and noise levels. This noise is becoming an increasing problem for those working in these areas. The noise may not reach levels that can damage your hearing, but it can cause serious emotional problems. If office noise pollution is not kept under control, it can significantly undermine productivity or even mental health.

We designed our own office as an open space in the loft style, which implies the presence of non-hidden concrete walls, ceilings and columns. Of course, significantly reduces acoustic comfort. Therefore, our solution was to install a speaker booth – phone booth, and round acoustic elements were hung on the ceiling to help absorb noise from conversations.

Employees are becoming more demanding of their work environment, and rightly so: along with the aforementioned measures, bigger trends for 2022 include wellness-focused design elements such as phytodesign, quality ventilation and large areas of natural light. We see 2022 as the year we bring the benefits and comforts of home to the workplace.

Offices are no longer enough to be offices. They must be intelligent. Remote work has reinforced our dependence on digital information and the Internet. The smart workspace uses digital sensors to monitor and respond to things like air quality, daylight levels, room temperature, and more.

Integrated technologies can also help in the work: contactless doors will allow employees to easily move around the office without unnecessary contact with objects. Programs for booking workplaces or meeting rooms, similar to those that we designed in one of the capital’s offices, will not create conflict situations between employees. A high-quality acoustic installation in the meeting room will help to conduct ZOOM negotiations no worse than if they were live.

While this year will certainly continue to transform in terms of workplaces, one thing has become clear that the office is not a simple place with a table, but a full-fledged meeting place for friends. For many employees who are accustomed to homework and social restrictions, the working day has become an event, an opportunity to see friends, get inspiration, get together and socialize.

This trend means growth in the field of office design, which is closely linked to the hospitality and leisure industry. This new emphasis on convenience and shared experiences will be another way for companies to attract and retain top talent.

Most of their working time is spent indoors and therefore their connection with the outside world is often lost. One way to help employees reconnect with nature is to design biophilic designs.

Key areas noted in this design are windows (for sunlight and the natural environment), greenery (for example, planters in pots or living walls), texture or shades (for example, wood and concrete furniture, and natural colors) and physical connection (such as a small outdoor garden or rooftop patio). Nature-inspired office design can stimulate creativity and concentration, improve air quality and reduce stress levels.

Organizations that still continue to adapt to the current realities of work will be able to hire and retain the best talent, maintain the health and well-being of employees, increase collaboration and productivity, and get good feedback from their colleagues.

Successful workplace design is more than just a skill.

This is your culture!