Less than 10 mins
The Future of Workspace: Human-Centred Design Solutions
In an era where the boundaries between personal and professional lives are increasingly fluid, workplaces must evolve beyond providing mere desks and Wi-Fi. Modern workplaces need to nurture emotional, physical, and mental well-being, fostering environments where employees feel connected, inspired, and purposeful. This shift aligns with findings from I-AM’s latest Insight Report, KIN-NECTION, which highlights the growing importance of emotional, social, and cultural bonds in all facets of life, including the workplace. Drawing on insights from the Workplace Trends report by I-AM, this article explores how contemporary workplace design can meet these evolving needs, creating spaces that prioritise wellbeing, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.
Productivity today is not just about output; it’s about how valued and balanced employees feel. According to the Future of Workspaces study by Accenture, employees are driven to physical workplaces for reasons beyond work tasks: 29% seek face-to-face collaboration with colleagues, and 23% appreciate the routine and ongoing benefits of a structured environment. Additionally, 22% are motivated by visibility to leadership, and 23% seek non-traditional spaces that foster innovation and ideation. These insights reveal that offices must offer unique experiences that homes cannot replicate—community, creativity, and spontaneous connections.
This mirrors our KIN-NECTION philosophy, where employees seek workplaces that resonate with their values and provide a sense of belonging. Remote and hybrid work models have granted flexibility, but they’ve also raised the bar for physical offices. Companies can begin by accelerating modern HR practices, designing work around people, and leading with humanity. This human-centric approach is essential for creating workplaces that support diverse needs throughout the workday.
Employees experience a spectrum of needs during a typical workday—focused solo tasks, collaborative brainstorming, and moments to recharge. Best-in-class workplaces address these needs through thoughtful design. For instance, WeWork’s global spaces emphasise a homely, eclectic feel with kitchen bars as focal points, fostering social interaction. Similarly, The Commons in Australia prioritises functionality with noise-free zones and central gathering areas, catering to both focus and collaboration. These examples demonstrate how varied zones—social, collaborative, and quiet—create dynamic environments that adapt to employees’ shifting energies.
I-AM’s design for Ford Otosan’s agile office embodies this approach, creating a living system that encourages movement, spontaneity, and collaboration. Open zones spark co-creation, while quiet spaces support concentration, ensuring employees can flow seamlessly between social and solitary moments. This design reflects the latest trends, such as hackable spaces that transform for different purposes, such as shifting from work areas to event spaces. Moreover, workplaces like Adidas HQ in the USA and Google HQ in London integrate outdoor greenery and natural light to enhance wellbeing. Adidas’ park-like communal areas and Google’s planned rooftop park create airy, playful environments that feel like an extension of nature. These elements align with the trends that focus on outdoor spaces and greenery, which promote calm and reduce stress, allowing employees to take a breath and reset.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of the modern workplace, highlighted in the recent Johnson Controls and Randstad survey, where executives strongly agree that collaboration drives employee effectiveness, creativity, innovation, and performance. Spaces like Fora Spaces in London, which emphasise collaborations, events, and wellbeing, and Kiln in the USA, with its community-focused, relaxed atmosphere, illustrate how design can nurture these connections. Central bars, communal tables, and multi-purpose atriums, as seen in Ennismore Group’s Hoxton in London, create hubs for interaction, making employees feel part of a vibrant community.
I-AM’s work on the RCU (Royal Commission for AlUla) workspace further exemplifies this. By weaving local cultural rhythms into the design, the space reflects both regional identity and universal human needs for flexibility, expression, and calm. This approach ensures employees feel culturally connected and supported, enhancing their sense of purpose and belonging. Technology is a key driver for workplace attendance, with 27% of employees valuing easier access to tech than at home. Hyundai’s Seoul office leverages technology while offering computer- and Wi-Fi-free zones to encourage disconnection and focus. Similarly, Spotify’s Stockholm office uses colour-coded zones to separate collaborative and quiet areas, balancing tech-enabled productivity with spaces for reflection.
These designs align with I-AM’s philosophy of creating workspaces that flow between structured and spontaneous moments. By incorporating support facilities like storage, lockers, and movable kits, workplaces to become adaptable, empowering employees to tailor their environment to their needs. This flexibility is crucial for fostering a sense of agency and well-being.
The workplace of the future prioritises collaboration, hackability, socialising, focus, and support facilities. Employees use offices for socialising, collaborating, focusing, and accessing resources, with hackable spaces enabling seamless transitions between these activities. This vision aligns with I-AM’s approach to creating workplaces that are not static but dynamic, responding to the human need for connection, purpose, and balance.
Whether in retail, healthcare, or corporate settings, the principles of KIN-NECTION and the insights from our Workplace Trends report converge on a universal truth: people need spaces to breathe, belong, and thrive. By designing workplaces that support wellbeing, foster community, and adapt to diverse needs, companies can create environments where employees don’t just work—they feel present, inspired, and part of something bigger.
