Trends are defined as a general direction in which something is developing or changing. A couple of weeks ago, Danielle Hardy, one of our very talented interior designers, posted a blog that re-capped the office design trends we saw in 2013. Danielle discussed technology, workplace mobility, and collaboration. As defined, these trends are likely to continue to grow, and possibly change, in 2014, but what other trends are on the rise?
Some of you may have noticed that the Gen-Y or Millennial’s are finally beginning to make their mark in the workplace environment. If you haven’t noticed, you should - because this year they are set to make up 36% of the U.S. workforce. This group of employees is interested in creating the greatest workplace cultures possible. They want… no, they NEED holistic work environments with a sense of community. By now, most companies have incorporated technology into their workplace with the adaptation of laptops and wi-fi, but now the trend will be how to incorporate the latest “smart” technology into these environments. Products such as Haworth’s Workware are likely to help continue changing the options available to collaborate in the workplace.
Today's workforce needs to interact to create innovation, but privacy is still important for heads down, focused projects. Employees need collaboration areas in workplaces that do not have a designation. We call these "transformative spaces". Interior Design becomes an integral part of these transformative spaces; using Furniture, moveable walls, and floor covering to create a balance between the two.
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Over the past few years, we've seen companies who have changed their workplaces to achieve a more collaborative space, but decided to remove private spaces. These "heads down" spaces, or private areas, will be making a come back. Employers are starting to realize not all work can be in open environments, so they come to us to see what we can do to add privacy. We happily (and creatively) help them re-configure, or add to the space to make it a more functional workplace for their employees.
Another trend we will see in 2014 is incorporating wellness into the day. Employees want a healthy environment whether it’s the best ergonomic task chair or the free gym on-site. Ergonomics are meant to be preventative care and programs that employers can put into place can encourage a healthier diet and lifestyle. In a recent segment on WDIV Channel 4 Detroit, our CEO, Mary Ann Lievois, and Joel Miller, Director of Sales, talked about simple workplace changes that can improve job life. Also check out Humanscale's Four Pillars of Ergonomics to help understand how simple tools can change your employees day.For more information on these trends and more, check out Gensler's Design Forecast for 2014.
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Resources:
Photo/Video Credits:
http://www.haworth.com/home/walls/enclose
http://www.humanscale.com/form_function/fourpillars-video.cfm
