COVID-19 has brought unprecedented human and humanitarian challenges. Many companies around the world have risen to the occasion, acting swiftly to safeguard employees and migrate to a new way of working that even the most extreme business-continuity plans hadn’t envisioned.

As organizations are looking ahead to reopening, the leadership must act now to ensure that workplaces are both productive and safe.

The office experience probably won’t remain as it was before the pandemic.

“Returning to the workplace will be like reopening the economy. It will happen in waves and it will be stressful for both organizations and workers. It’s impossible to predict what may happen next, but we still need to prepare NOW”

Our View as Designers

The pandemic has changed how we design office workplaces and turned on its head. Offices were not being designed to mitigate the spread of a virus.

Trends such as collaboration and interaction are out of the window but the principles of workplace design remain true, and interior designers are best placed to provide solutions for this new way of working.

Our main objective is still the same: to create workplaces where staff remain engaged and productive, it’s just going to look a little different.

It is up to the individual behavior to combat Covid-19, but we can create an environment that encourages this behavior.

Business Approach

Businesses must seize the moment and think long term, not just look for the quickest and cheapest solution.

Time must be taken to engage employees to understand what their experience has been. Everyone has been expected.

Businesses have to hit the ground running. Those who adapt to the new working environment will be the most successful.

This is an opportunity to move your workplace forwards.

Organizational Approach

Employees will not return to an office if it doesn’t feel safe. The leadership must act now to ensure that workplaces are both productive and safe.

But what is safety? (Emotional, physical, cognitive

What will the post-Covid office look like?

The post Covid office will require employees to wear masks at all times, redesign spaces to ensure physical distancing, and restrict movement in congested areas (for instance, elevator banks, meeting areas, collaboration areas and pantries).

Design will be able to cater for these behaviors by adjusting space plans, use of smart offices to schedule resources, screens and protectors to encourage social distancing e.t.c

Our Post-Covid Design Focus

Employee safety and Wellbeing

Transforming the space plans

Physical distancing and Hygiene

Flexibility

Biophilic and Natural inspiration design

Touchless experience

Health and wellness

Smart Office and building applications

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