August 23, 2016 by

Design News You Can Use— Office Ambience Edition

Looking for a major dose of news you can use? In this month’s edition of Design News You Can Use, Workplace Strategist Joelle Jach explores how to create the most productive office atmosphere. What’s the ideal temperature? Where should you sit? Do wellness programs incentivize hard work? For answers to workplace’s greatest questions, we’ve got you covered.

Consider it done: Ever have one of those days where you were super busy, but didn’t actually get anything done? You’re not alone. As it turns out, many people feel that work actually happens everywhere but the workplace. Jason Fried explains why, and floats an idea to bring work back into the workplace.
Take it easy: In recent years, workplaces across the country have implemented wellness programs, aimed at getting people to do everything from eat better to walk more. But are workplace wellness programs addressing something beyond physical wellness? NPR investigates.
Design for all: Many of us are familiar with inclusive or accommodating design. With legislature like ADA, design can reach a huge variety of people. But what would happened if we designed for disability first? In this wonderful TED Talk, Elise Roy examines how changing our way of thinking can actually make design work for everyone.
Take a seat: It’s no surprise that where you work can have a direct effect on work performance. Some people do their best work in a closed-door office, while others prefer the ambiance of a coffee shop. But did you know that where you sit even within the office can make you more or less productive?
Way off: When it comes to the office, we often hypothesize about what the workplace of the future will look like. From robots to ball pits, the predictions often range from the weird to the straight-up wacky— but much of what we predict is probably wrong, and here’s why.
Cold as ice: After a long, cold winter, many of us look forward to the summer heat, but we forget about the often frigid temps once the air conditioning kicks on. If you’re shivering at your desk and wondering if there’s there a way to make offices thermally comfortable for everyone, you’re not alone.
Focus up: We talk a lot about productivity at work, from ways to minimize disruptions to ways to multitask smarter. But is multitasking bad for your productivity? The answer may not be totally clear, but reducing distractions and focusing on fewer tasks is definitely worth a shot.
With a purpose: When we think about the workforce and the workplace, a lot of the conversation has to do with why people come to work. Are they chasing a paycheck, or are they contributing to meaningful personal and professional growth? A recent study examines both motives and unpacks what it means to cultivate a purpose-driven workforce.
Sit and stay: Many restaurants are packed during the dinner rush, but what about during the day? Preston Pesek had this very revelation, and helped to start Spacious. The coworking startup uses restaurant space during the day to host worker bees, and transitions the spaces back to restaurants when it’s time to eat.
The golden age: As millennials continue to dominate workplace demographics, work design tends to focus on millennial-specific needs and preferences. But what about Baby Boomers – are we designing for them anymore? Julia Bunch seems to think not.