CommunityWork-life

What the tech giants could teach you about office design

When it comes to office design, it can often help to look to others for guidance, and who better to take ideas from than the biggest names in the tech world? These firms are renowned for creating innovative working environments that inspire employees and impress visitors. In this blog, we look at what some of the most successful brands are doing with their offices and how you can follow in their footsteps.

 

Open spaces are the way forward

 

Traditional office design dictates that bosses are separated from their employees. Many managers have their own personal work areas that are located away from the general office space. However, some forward looking firms are challenging the wisdom of these layouts. For example, Reed Hastings, the CEO of global streaming network Netflix, doesn’t have his own designated office. Instead, he moves about the workspace so he can connect with his staff. If you’re keen to change up your office’s layout, you could enlist the help of an expert. For example, office planning specialists www.k2space.co.uk offer services to help you plan and transform your workspace.

 

Going green is the new black

 

It seems that ‘going green’ has never been cooler, and more and more companies are doing their bit for the environment. For example, search engine Google boasts a 160,000 square foot interior space made from reclaimed and recycled materials, and the company even asked its office designer to remove as many toxic ingredients as possible from the textiles used in the construction of its offices. Fortunately, you don’t need to go to these extremes to ensure your office design is eco-friendly. For instance, installing energy efficient bulbs or a motion-sensitive lighting system is a simple yet effective way to reduce your office’s impact on the environment.

 

All work, no play is a big no no

 

Striking the perfect balance between work and play is a must if you want to keep your staff members happy, contented and positive. Although it’s important that they work hard, there’s no reason why you can’t provide your employees with the opportunity to relax once in awhile. While social media giant Facebook has its office space equipped with ping pong tables, games consoles, chess boards and outdoor basketball courts, there are a few simple changes you could make to your workplace so that your employees have somewhere to unwind. For example, you could create a breakout area furnished with comfortable seating, such as beanbag chairs and sofas. Whether workers need a place to eat their lunch or hold an informal meeting, having an area like this could be extremely beneficial.

 

 

Taking inspiration from the tech giants could help you create the perfect office space for you and your employees to enjoy.

Yoav Farbey

Contributing writer to the Startup Magazine.