At Most Interiors we pay attention to design trends but we discern from fads. And in our opinion, agile working is a trend worth paying attention to.
But what is it?
Agile working is a way of working in which an organisation empowers its people to work where, when and how they choose – with maximum flexibility and minimum constraints – to optimise their performance and to do their best work.
Agile working is a design concept that caters for a variety of needs.
From staff interaction and happiness in the workplace, to financially astute and forward-thinking space planning that will service your business needs with minimal disruption through periods of growth. It is the recognition that not all employees are in the office all of the time. And not all employees have the same needs when they are at work.
For example, a quiet office is a great environment if you need to concentrate, but it is not at all conducive to team building and group communication. The incorporation of working zones for different activities, flexible seating, moveable desks and sofas, soundproof booths and communal break-out areas mean that an agile workspace is as flexible as you need it to be. It is the recognition that your workplace hosts a variety of activity rather than just being a place that you go to sit, at one desk, from 9 until 5.
Fancy some fun? How about a boardroom table in the interactive zone that doubles up as a ping pong table when the team wants to have a bit of down time?
Below are examples of the transition to agile working and how you can maximise your space to accommodate an increasing team size.
Workspace zone designs must cater for the following:
Privacy and focus – employees will always need somewhere to make a private call or have a discreet conversation. And there will always be a time when your team need peace and quiet to concentrate on a task.
Display, collaborate and learn – Break-out areas where teams can discuss ideas, use technology to present concepts or sometimes just somewhere conformable to sit and spontaneously interact.
