Page 24 - Designing Ways 287
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AT THE OFFICE




































             Looking ahead, office design is becoming

             more intentional, balancing function with

                aesthetics and individual preferences.


                                 by Stienie Greyling


                rom   creating  environments  will actually be used.  Companies must
                that encourage movement and   focus on what employees actually need to
           Fcollaboration   to   integrating  be most productive.
           technology for remote-first work, the   The shift to flexible work points
           office landscape in 2025 will be defined by   represents a seismic change in how
           flexibility, sustainability and user-centric   we  utilise  office  spaces.  Sometimes,
           design.                            employees need private spaces. Sometimes
             Embracing the right workplace trends   they  need  ‘official’ collaborative  spaces,
           is always top of mind for companies   and sometimes they need places for
           that want to stay competitive in today’s   impromptu  brainstorming  or  to take
           increasingly complex market.       breaks when needed. That’s why it’s up to
             The workplace is always changing,   companies to figure out how best to design
           with or without the global pandemic to   office  space  that  are  fit  for  purpose  and
           contend with. The reality is that the shift   in line with whatever flexible workplace
           towards more hybrid and flexible working   strategy they are using. Ideally companies
           was picking up speed long before anyone   will actually consider employee feedback
           had heard of COVID.                in their design plans.
             The  hybrid  workplace  and other   The implementation of smart office
           complex work environment types are no   technology, while promising, raises valid
           longer the ‘future of work’, they are here   concerns around employees and visitor
           to stay. This makes these environments a   privacy. As smart offices collect and
           present reality for many companies.  process vast amounts of data, it’s crucial
             The days of endless cubicles are out.  So   that this data is handled responsibility
           too are large, open offices that don’t serve   and ethically.
           the people who use them. The biggest   Transparent  data  collection  practices,
           trend in workplace design today is creating   robust security measures and clear
           offices that are designed around how they   data usage policies are essential for





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