Looking to boost productivity? Check out the latest office design trends

The days of everybody coming into the office every day are over in many organizations, but the office remains key to getting work done. Even with all the change workplaces have experienced in recent years—the rise of remote and hybrid work, open-concept spaces, etc.—offices will face even more transformation in the years to come. And design experts are at work floating ideas to make the transformation productive.

What’s fueling change?

There’s no denying the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world of work. Technology enabled businesses to continue their work even while offices were totally shuttered, but “Zoom fatigue” and a lack of in-person communication took its toll, making many yearn for a return to the office.

Even before the pandemic, workplaces were taking on a new look as employers tried to entice and engage employees with “fun at work” features such as foosball tables and free snacks. An emphasis on collaboration also led to open-concept offices where coworkers had easy access to each other, but the tradeoff was an environment not conducive to individual work.

In January, Hushoffice, a company offering workplace acoustic products, released a list of trends including statistics showing a large majority of employees value private spaces—and their productivity depends on those spaces. Employees also say they need flexibility, not just in terms of work hours and locations but also flexibility and control over their workspace within the office.