NEWS
Ask our Designer – Cultivating Culture through Workplace Design – with Michelle Turner
In the ever-evolving industry of office design, workplace culture and wellbeing have become increasingly important to contemporary workers. Where office spaces were once designed with efficiency in mind – getting “more bums on seats” for higher return-on-investment – companies are now prioritising the employee experience – and for good reason.
A 2024 study from Great Place To Work found that only 55% of UK workers report a high state of wellbeing at work. A survey by Peldon Rose revealed that over half (56%) of UK employees felt their current office “doesn’t meet their needs,” and 61% desired a better atmosphere in the office. Notably, 56% stated they would work from the office more often if the space were upgraded to better suit their preferences.
“Before you can design an office, however, you need to first understand what the company culture is, and to do this, you need to understand the company. How they work, what their current challenges are, where they’re going, and how they plan to get there” continues Michelle. “Then it’s about consulting the team to understand where they are now, what their needs are and how the workplace can be optimised to support their plans.
“If the culture is more focused and hierarchical, a closed office space may be appropriate. If you’re establishing a culture of creativity and inclusivity, with lots of brainstorming, consider going open plan, with breakout areas and lots of branding to inspire ideas. A company that focuses on brand application in the workplace, including displaying core values, can really help an employee connect with its purpose and immerse themselves in the company. Establish the culture you want to promote and draw your workplace brief from that.”
Company culture is created and developed through the interplay of a company’s ethos and structure, and the leadership styles of its senior people. Design comes in to represent and embed the culture you’re hoping to achieve, connecting staff to the shared purpose of the business.
According to a survey by Gallup, highly engaged, satisfied employees are 21% more productive and report 37% fewer sick days. One way to engage employees is to invest in a space that inspires people to do great work.
For Michelle, colours and textures are number one when promoting a positive company culture through office design. She explains that natural colours promote creativity, keeping your staff fresh and invigorated whilst bolder, brighter colours can bring energy to the space. Natural light also plays a massive role in productivity and helps foster creativity.
Another key thing to note when building company culture through design is the growing diversity within office spaces. Most companies cater to multi-generational workforces, neurodiverse workers, breastfeeding mothers and more. To build a culture that promotes positivity, wellness and collaboration, it’s important to make relevant accommodations for the needs of your workforce. Michelle suggests wellbeing areas and downtime zones that are different to the usual breakout spaces, stressing the importance of differentiating between these areas.
She says: “Wellness rooms should be lighter, with more neutral colours and integrated plants and feature lighting and temperature controls. Breakout spaces should be bolder, with funky furniture. It’s important the two spaces aren’t synonymous, as one promotes creativity and collaboration, or socialising with colleagues, while the other is a space for anyone needing some downtime during the workday to relax and recharge. Thoughtful design initiatives such as this one can benefit everyone.”
What would Michelle consider the most important thing to consider when building culture through design?
“It starts with space planning. The day-to-day employee experience is shaped by the interactions they have with colleagues, from collaborating on projects to discussing weekend plans while making coffee. So, integrating spaces that facilitate collaboration and encourage social connection is key. Then we look at things like colour, lighting and furniture to support the culture you’re trying to create.”
“You’re more productive when you’re comfortable,” concludes Michelle. “How to achieve comfort for your employees should be informed during an initial, people-centric consultation. It’s all about knowing your employees and their needs – some are more introverted and need more space, and others love to hot desk and collaborate. At the end of the day, it’s not just about maximising productivity anymore, it’s about maximising wellbeing too.”
Connect with Michelle.
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