Many organizations are working to make offices safe and healthy again. However, reorganizing space goes beyond translucent partitions and disinfectant.
Looking back a few months, after experiencing unimaginable events until then, we can conclude that we were in automatic mode for the many activities we carry out. The pandemic came like a handbrake. Overnight we were forced to rethink and reframe so many parts of our lives, especially the corporate workspace.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in May teleworking accounted for 13.3% of the working population, representing 8.7 million people. In the first week of July the figure remained the same, with 8.9 million people still working remotely. As a result of the relaxation of distancing measures, it is estimated that 700,000 people returned to their face-to-face jobs the following week, which is considered to be the first drop.
If we go through a time tunnel to look at the evolution of workplaces, we can see that the economy, culture and/or technology have been the major agents of the transformations that the corporate space has undergone:
The post-pandemic office
Undeniably, corporate spaces have evolved rapidly in recent decades. Experiencing a pandemic - followed by a global crisis, a change in culture and the acceleration of technology - we have certainly entered a new era in the way we work.
The resumption of space occupation, rehearsed by offices of all sizes, can be stressful and generate more anxiety than we already have working from home. After all, we know that today's dense offices are certainly agents of virus transmission. Just as many companies don't have the capital for investment, changes are necessary and with the highest priority for health and safety, with well-defined protocols. But of course, this is still the basics. The future of offices is yet to be designed and reframed, but we can already see transitions that are here to stay.
The hybrid model is here to stay
We've learned to work remotely, now it's real. However, there have also been questions about the indispensability of offices and about how much remote work influences the - high or low - productivity of teams.
None of this diminishes the need for corporations to have their own spaces. If today they are designed according to the company's objectives, the challenge from now on will be to design them with an emphasis on disseminating and strengthening - new - cultures. According to research carried out by Gartner, around 43% of companies will give employees the option of a flexible routine, alternating remote and face-to-face work. As such, offices will be points of value for the meeting.
Google, which has had its employees working remotely since March and the vast majority of which will remain so until July 2021, as well as Twitter and XP inc, have already announced that they will adopt the hybrid model in their corporations. Individual activities can be done remotely, and collective activities in person.
Technology comes into play to organize this new model. Through apps, it will be possible to schedule spaces - from workstations to meeting rooms - as well as having real-time access to sanitized spaces after use.
Biophilia applied to the corporate world
Never before has there been so much talk about health and well-being, both physical and mental. Emotional comfort is directly impacted by the physical spaces in which we live, work and visit. The concept of biophilia is to reconnect human beings with nature, incorporating features of the natural world into built spaces.
How to design healthy corporate spaces using biophilic design?
Offering spaces with comfort and biophilic design is not just about visual and sensory appeal, according to the Human Spaces report on the Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace, which shows that natural elements integrated into the environment have 15% higher levels of well-being and creativity, resulting in a 6% increase in productivity.
To dive deeper into the subject, listen to our podcast on the subject here.
The paradox between technology and human contact
The digital acceleration that we have experienced in this period in order to overcome isolation is not only in the sphere that we visualize and experience today. It will encompass physical spaces through automation in order to make them safer. Voice commands, light and sound sensors are examples of how touch can be minimized.
On the other hand, the more touchless and virtual environments become, the need for contact between people also increases. And people need to socialize in order to evolve as individuals; it's part of our nature.
The versatility of the spaces leads to improvements in the construction and integration of the spaces, as well as building deeper and more meaningful relationships with clients and inspiring collaborative interactions throughout the organization.
Transformations in the environment can be simpler than we imagine, all it takes is empathy and an assertive understanding of what the changing culture of each corporation needs at the moment or will demand. However, they all have in common the duty to keep people safe and healthy, and the key to survival is whether or not each company can cope with internal changes.
Cover photo taken from Unsplash
From ego to empathy
As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me. But in retrospect, I think that's because most people use "ego" to describe inflated self-importance, when it's really just a word that describes how we understand our personal identity.
The distinction is important because letting go of your ego can be a nuanced practice in empathy. It's not just advice for arrogant jerks, it's essential for anyone working professionally. As a designer, my thoughts, tastes and keystrokes obviously are part of the equation, but it took some time to figure out that I could not create work in a silo as a reflection of my "aesthetic."
To some of you this might sound like a bummer, but when you take on a client's challenges and their point of view, you will have to think differently. You will find new approaches and you will grow. But more on that later.
"As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me."
Ernst Neufert in "The art of architectural design".
OK, but what does this have to do with my brand?
As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me. But in retrospect, I think that's because most people use "ego" to describe inflated self-importance, when it's really just a word that describes how we understand our personal identity.
As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me. But in retrospect, I think that's because most people use "ego" to describe inflated self-importance, when it's really just a word that describes how we understand our personal identity.
From ego to empathy
As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me. But in retrospect, I think that's because most people use "ego" to describe inflated self-importance, when it's really just a word that describes how we understand our personal identity.
The distinction is important because letting go of your ego can be a nuanced practice in empathy. It's not just advice for arrogant jerks, it's essential for anyone working professionally. As a designer, my thoughts, tastes and keystrokes obviously are part of the equation, but it took some time to figure out that I could not create work in a silo as a reflection of my "aesthetic."
Famous last words
As a young designer you may have heard this phrase a lot. But what does it mean? As someone who is pretty empathetic and self-critical, I never felt like it applied to me. But in retrospect, I think that's because most people use "ego" to describe inflated self-importance, when it's really just a word that describes how we understand our personal identity.
Hope this answers some of your questions, Dmitro.
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