However creating environments that work for the employees and the various tasks they carry out, while facilitating workplace efficiency requires careful planning.
Designing for success
There are several things to consider to ensure workplace designs deliver spaces in which employees can flourish; from layout to decoration, air quality to natural light.
The colour palette used in a work space also has a profound effect on employees, with recent research suggesting it can affect mood and the ability to perform even the simplest of tasks to the full extent. Discussing the psychology of colour, Leslie Harrington, executive director of the Colour Association of the United States, said: "We have an innate reaction to colour on multiple social and cultural levels. (Huffington Post)
The colour blue, for example, encourages productivity, while red tones increase anxiety, making them less suited for use in spaces where quiet, focused concentration is required. (WSGN Colour Trends report) Green on the other hand has cool, refreshing qualities and promotes feelings of restoration.
Green is also used in design to emulate and reflect nature and inspire creativity. In fact, research suggests that simply seeing the colour green can lead to measureable improvements in creative tasks. (The Body Odd)
Wave trend for example is inspired by bold, high-octane colours to establish a brightness that appeals to younger employees, particularly millennials.
However, it should be noted that there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to design, and the effects of one colour over another are not universal for all people or all spaces.
Design and distinguish
To make the most of workplace design, it is important to create ‘zones’ that meet the various needs of employees and the demands of the various tasks they do throughout the day. For example, a space designed for concentration and solo working should look different to a space in which collaboration and creativity are required. The modular flooring manufacturer Interface makes it easy to create these distinct areas by offering a huge variety of colourways. One of its latest carpet tile collections, Multichrome features bold colourways, futuristic textures and intricate weave structures and can be used to differentiate between one space and another.
By aligning colour psychology with design trends like Hygge and Gluggadedur, and creating distinct work zones, companies can create flexible and productive environments while giving employees the freedom to choose where and how they work best.
As the ways in which we engage with work continue to evolve, so too will the design of work spaces. Focusing on work place designs that enhance well being and increase performance deliver win win situations for both employers and employees.
Visit www.humanspaces.com for the latest research and news on how the built environment affects health and wellbeing.