Design Smarter Open-Plan Offices

1. Design Smarter Open-Plan Offices Open-plan offices have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to increase collaboration and communication among employees. However, many people find them to be very distracting and noisy, which can lead to decreased productivity. In order to get the most out of an open- plan office, there are a few things that you need to do in order to create a more productive environment. Create a design brief Designing a space can be a lot of fun, but it’s also important to have a plan in place before you start. Having a design brief will help you to stay organized and on track, while ensuring that your final product is exactly what you had in mind. Here are a few tips on how to create a successful design brief for your next project! Design a space that is functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. At the end of the day, you need to consider both your employees and your clients when designing your offices, so it’s important to have something that looks nice but also makes sense for your work. Make sure there are no distractions

2. One of the main reasons people dislike open-plan offices is because they are distracting and noisy, which can make it very difficult to concentrate on work. You should create a layout that ensures employees aren’t distracted by noise and other factors. Figure out how much space you need The goal is to have a design that works for everyone, so it’s important to figure out what your employees are going to be doing and how much space they will need in order to complete their work. Once you’ve figured this out, you will know exactly how many people can fit in your space. Figure out the needs of each department Each department in an organization will have different needs when it comes to office layouts, so you will need to develop a plan that is catered specifically towards them. Once you know exactly what employees in each department are looking for in an office, you can design layouts that cater to their needs and ensure that everyone is happy. Create a design scheme Having a color scheme and style guide for your office can make it look very professional and cohesive, which clients will appreciate. It also makes it easier to maintain design continuity as you move through different projects. If you need help with how to create a design scheme, here’s some advice for you! Using the design brief that you have developed, create a number of options for your open-plan office layout. This will help you to figure out what works best for your company and how you can fit everyone in the space. Design the office layout When it comes to designing an office layout, there are a few things that you need to take into consideration. The goal is to create a space that is functional and aesthetically pleasing, while ensuring that there are no distractions for employees. You should also figure out how much space each department will need in order to complete their work. Once you have a plan in place, you can start to design the actual layout of your office. Here are a few ideas on how you can do this! Design with clusters Rather than having one long row of desks, consider breaking up the space into different clusters. This will enable employees to have their own personalized area, which they

3. may appreciate more. However, if people prefer to work out in the open, you could design an office with long rows of desks. Locate the office near windows If you have natural lighting, it can be beneficial to put employees closer to that space so that they can enjoy work with some sunlight. A decent amount of light will reduce fatigue and help people feel more active during their day, which is why it’s important to look for offices that have windows in them. Look for other amenities If your office does not have windows, you could put in skylights to ensure that employees feel like they’re working outside. Other things you can add include water fountains, exercise equipment and plants. Even if the space is small, it will give people a chance to get some exercise while they are at work. Create a noise buffer One of the biggest problems with an open-plan office is that it can be noisy and distracting, which makes it difficult for employees to focus on work. The best way to combat this problem is to create a noise buffer around the different departments that need quiet in order to get their jobs done. Double walls with insulation will help reduce the noise, while also making the office more energy-efficient. Design a more functional desk Even though everyone may be working in an open space, you still need to have a desk so that people can complete their work tasks. However, this does not mean that employees have to be stuck with a square table from the 1980s with an uncomfortable chair. Choose tables that maximize space The most common table shape is the L-shaped desk, which can be very useful when you are working in a tight spot or don’t want to allocate too much space for employees. This type of table will give workers plenty of leg room and storage space underneath the top. Another option is a U-shaped desk, which is great for teams that work closely together and need to collaborate on projects. Implement changes to the office space Implementing the changes to your office space design can be an exciting time. All the work you’ve put in to designing the layout will now come to life!

4. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you start to implement the changes: Be patient It’s important that employees feel like their areas were designed with them in mind. This means not rushing to make any changes and taking your time. Be sure to provide staff with updates throughout the process so they know what is going on. Incorporate company branding One of the best things about an open-plan office is that it allows you to showcase your brand. This means incorporating a company logo into the design and potentially even creating a theme for the space. You could paint your walls a certain color or include decor that matches what employees will be working on. Consider changes over time You may have initially designed the office with the idea that it would not need many more changes. However, as your company grows and changes, you may find that you will want to make some alterations. Your employees are also likely to grow out of their equipment or feel uncomfortable in certain areas, which is why it’s important to allow for changes over time. Address any issues Even if your office is open-plan, it doesn’t mean that people will want to talk all the time. Sometimes employees will prefer to be left alone and do their own thing, which means giving them an area where they can go if they feel like they need some quiet time to think about their work. This could be a conference room or simply a section of desks without anyone else sitting there. Designing your office space can seem like an overwhelming task, but it also has the potential to boost company morale and productivity when done right. Evaluate how it impacts productivity and make adjustments Once your design has been implemented, take the time to stand back and see exactly how well (or not) the new design is impacting your day to day operations. The open-plan office layout can be great for some companies, but problematic for others. If you’ve evaluated the current setup and determined that there are some areas to improve upon, simply optimise your design and make it work the best for you and your employees.

5. Conclusion If you’re considering remodeling your office space, it can be difficult to determine what will work best for everyone. Consider the different needs employees have and how they might want or need their workspace arranged before making any final decisions. You may also find that some changes are necessary over time as staff grow into new roles at the company or change departments entirely. Evaluating how an open-plan layout impacts productivity is essential to ensuring a successful design brief – one of our experts would love to help! Let us know if we can provide assistance with this process in any way. We hope that this article will help you design a more productive open-plan office. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us . We look forward to hearing from you soon! Why Choose Sydney Fitout Group to design a smarter open-plan office? Sydney Fitout Group is the best office design and office fitout company in Sydney and we know it! Offering everything from commercial office fitouts to office renovation and office makegoods, we are experts in all aspects of interior office design and commercial construction. We will work with you to understand your needs and provide a unique solution that works for you. Our passion is providing people with solutions they never thought possible at affordable prices without compromising on quality or service excellence – get in touch today! Our specialties include: Office Refurbishments Office Makegood Office Design & Builds Commercial Interiors & Receptions Boardroom Renovations Here at the Sydney Fitout Group, we know what makes a good office refurbishment and we’re always full of creative office design and planning ideas to make your next office refurbishment one to remember. With over 15 years of experience in the commercial fitout and office refurbishment industry, we know how to get the job done right, on time and within budget.

6. We are a team of experienced professionals who provide an exceptional level of service excellence – call us today for a free consultation! Content source