Hub Interiors Office Trends Forecast 2018
Hub Interiors Office Trends Forecast 2018
Informality is rapidly spreading across all work spaces with the ever increasing rise of start-ups and the shared economy model, where the suits are out, and the t-shirts are in. Many more workspaces will increasingly look like lounges and living rooms, or just be open spaces with a few scattered bean bags and open plan desks. The millennial generation has demonstrated that they prefer to work collaboratively in an informal setting and enjoy a mobile office rather than sitting down at the same desk all the time.
Well being of staff within working hours is all part of a productive work member. Companies have seen research demonstrating the more comfortable an employee is in their environment, the higher their output is. This includes work spaces having more break-out areas with coffee machines, lounge chairs, table tennis boards, and other recreational facilities. It improves the overall relationship between employee and employer and the general feeling of a workforce while improving morale.
Biophilic design is also a major buzz word for this year in office interior design. We have an instinctive need to bond with nature, and creating natural surroundings within your modern office can have a whole host of benefits. This bond with nature is called Biophilia, and has given rise to a whole new category of design called Biophilic design. Companies like Apple and Google have incorporated Biophilic design principles into some of their workspaces to great effect. Not all offices have access to outside spaces, therefore most offices incorporate Biophilic design principles in a subtler manner, increasing employee wellbeing without the need to construct a completely new building.
Technology is moving at a faster pace than ever, and in 2018 the emphasis will be on integrated solutions, where you can plug in laptops and tablets into all areas of your office. This means it will be easy to stay connected even if you are sitting around a table in a conference room. Beyond high speed Wifi and connected Dropbox, this means more plug sockets in more places, allowing mobility for workers and options.