The ROI of Design: Transforming Workspaces for Maximum Impact

An employee-focused office design yields an attractive return on investment (ROI). Today’s companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of office design as a strategic investment, and they’re gaining measurable returns from thoughtfully designed working spaces.

Now more than ever, employees are aware of how well your office reflects your company’s vision and ideals, and the design you choose impacts business performance as well as worker sentiment.

How Office Design Links to Employee Satisfaction and Productivity

Employees are evolving, and they expect that who a company says they are is reflected in how they’ve designed their offices. Employees also notice when there’s a discrepancy between who you say you are and how your office does or doesn’t reflect that claim.

The current workplace is dynamic. Technology, creativity and productivity all play a role in how offices are designed, which cubicles are chosen and whether an open-plan office will benefit employees and office culture. Offices using improved designs and keeping employees’ needs as the focal point notice various productivity benefits, indicating a definite link between design and efficiency. By using acoustic solutions, the appropriate lighting and strategic office layouts, you can create an innovative space that strikes a balance between privacy and collaboration.

When workers are comfortable in the office environment, they’re more likely to feel engaged. Employee engagement is one of the main drivers of business success — in looking at the ROI metrics for workspace improvements, companies in the top quartile for employee engagement may see up to 23% more profit, along with these other benefits:

• Reduced turnover rates
• Increased productivity in both sales and production
• Healthier company culture that creates a recruitment advantage

Constant recruitment and low productivity are costly, so reducing these factors represents significant advantages for a company.

Designing for Team Collaboration and Performance

The link between intentional design and innovative spaces is undeniable. An attractive, ergonomic space fosters free thinking and problem-solving, encouraging employees to engage in meaningful teamwork and brainstorming sessions. Try including some of the following to establish this type of space:

• Integrated technology: Use cloud-based working systems, virtual collaboration tools and file sharing.
• Flexible layout: Create a workspace where employees can cross-communicate while maintaining privacy.
• Adaptable layouts: Strategically balanced collaborative spaces with private zones to create dedicated focus areas for deep thinking.

Adding modular elements is one of the best ways to maximize creativity, efficiency and focus in different types of office environments.

Promoting Employee Well-Being in Office Design

As you consider how you want your office to reflect your company culture, remember that you have a virtually limitless palette of furniture, artwork and greenery to work with. Using biophilic designs, those that use elements of nature within your building, can come with numerous rewards.

Recent research shows that businesses can gain substantial returns when spending money on biophilic design elements. Some of the principles of an ergonomic office setup include using plants, faux grass, and natural-looking or ergonomically designed office furniture.

A few of the returns companies can enjoy include:

• Optimized space usage: Biophilic designs often incorporate thoughtful planning to maximize space.
• Boosted brand image: Using greenery and ergonomic elements shows a commitment to sustainability and employee well-being.
• Better productivity: Greenery and natural light can help reduce stress levels, contributing to improvements in employee health and happiness.

Create Holistic Environments With the Right Office Furniture

Office designs are changing, whether they’re open plans or traditional layouts. Employee privacy and well-being are as important as creative collaborative spaces, and maintaining them calls for innovative, modular designs that can change with your needs.

COE Office is a veteran of office design. We apply decades of expertise to your particular situation, tapping our extensive catalog of desks and mobile cubicles to create workspaces that reflect who your company is and where you’re going.

Call us today at 760-684-4633 or contact us to set up a free space plan and design consultation.