Designing your office used to follow this line of thinking, “how many computer and desk set-ups could I fit into my office space?” A great example of this outdated ideology would be the set of the hit TV Show The Office, where everywhere you looked you saw a boxy office cubicle and somebody who looked less than thrilled to sit in it. Thankfully, office design has come a long way. Now, more importance is placed on balancing function with design – and luckily one doesn’t have to dictate the other. In this article, our team of modern office designers will discuss how you can successfully incorporate both technology and progressive design elements into your modern workspace.
Workstations that Configure and Reconfigure First and foremost, we recommend really sitting down and planning out the ideal layout of your space. The floor plan is a major factor that influences your workflow – how your core teams collaborate and complete tasks for your business. This can be tricky, especially as your business grows and you start retaining more talent. With that in mind, you need office furniture that is flexible with the ever-changing work landscape. Sit-to-stand workstations are ideal because they come in multiple sizes and shapes and can easily be reconfigured if you decide to change your floor plan down the road. These desking systems are available in many different colors and finishes to complement your design aesthetic and incorporate technology that helps your people in more ways than one. The sit-to-stand feature adds more movement to the work day, so your employees are not planted in their chairs from 9 to 5. Adjustable height desks also have options to add pop-up outlets and other tech add-ons to ensure each workstation is fully optimized. Acoustic Elements to Mitigate Sound Another design element that can be overlooked is one you don’t see at first: sound. How does sound travel in your space? If there is a lot of echo and reverberation, don’t worry. There are ways to mitigate the sound that don’t involve constructing a permanent wall into your layout. Office acoustic products, for example, are a great way to marry technology and design within your modern work environment. There are non-permanent space dividers that are both visually appealing and buffer sound. There are ceiling acoustics that can double as funky light fixtures. There are even modern-looking structures that provide privacy, dampen sound and provide more space for storage. Not to mention, these acoustic solutions come in a plethora of colors and shapes to add a real “wow” factor to your business. First impressions are everything, and these design-forward products are a conversation starter that could make a lasting impact on new clients. Tech Solutions to Improve Employee Health If your people aren’t well, then your business will suffer – plain and simple. One of the only positive impacts of COVID-19 is the more serious attitude placed on improving employee health and wellness within the workplace. Business owners have become so dedicated to this aspect, that they have actually remodeled their office space completely to space out workstations, add more rooms dedicated to health and wellness, bought furniture with biotoxic properties, and put up more walls for separation. While we certainly don’t discourage a complete office remodel, we’re here to tell you this can still be done on a smaller scale through investing in the right products. For example, Dyson air purifiers are sleek in design, can fit into virtually any sized office space and can drastically improve the air quality for your people. Another option is installing UV lights into your space to not only enhance the lighting, but also to keep your employees comfortable with more warmth. Hi-Tech and Modern Office Design by BE Furniture in NJ The right office design promotes the mental, physical and social wellness of employees – not only to their benefit, but with a meaningful impact on your bottom line. Achieving this means approaching every aspect of the design – from commercial furniture to technology – creatively and with company goals in mind. Our team of office design specialists understand this concept fully, and will be with you every step of the way during your remodel. From removing your old office furniture to installation and final clean-up, BE Furniture is dedicated to creating complete business environments that prioritize the needs of employees and “wow” potential clients that come to visit. To learn more about our modern office design services and product offerings, please give us a call or visit our website at: https://www.befurniture.com/ The original blog is available at: https://www.befurniture.com/technology-and-design-it-doesnt-have-to-be-one-or-the-other/
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When we think about technology in the office space some of us may remember fondly (or not fondly) days when cool office ergonomics was limited to a desk with hole in the corner to pass all those cables. But as anyone who has shopped for office furniture in the last 20 years may have noticed, the offering has evolved into something far more complex, exciting and interesting. If you’re considering building out your new office space and are looking for some cool furniture tech, read on and you’ll understand some things about how all this works to make your office environment not just modern, but a dynamic space that people will want to come to.
It’s Not Just About Enough Space and the Right Tech The problem with shopping for office tech is that many furniture distributors will push it without much thought to the underlying design it is to be used in. Their goal seems to be to make sure you have enough furniture to completely fill the space, throw in some cool gadgets and call it a day. At BE, we think this approach couldn’t be more wrong, both for the client and ultimately the distributor. The joy of a cool motorized desk fades rapidly in a space that is poorly planned, poorly layed out for optimum workflow and collaboration, and visually uninspiring to employees. The office design your business needs promotes the mental, physical and social wellness of employees – not only to their benefit, but with a meaningful impact on your bottom line. Achieving this means approaching every aspect of the design – from furnishings, acoustics, lighting and technology, and your brand and company culture – creatively and with future goals in mind. In general we like to imagine where you’ll be at in 5 years, and design with an eye on that. Technology should be incorporated in a way that is fully integrated with your employee’s and how your business operates. It should focus on convenience, security and quick and effective communication. Employees are increasingly working not just at the office and at home, but in coffee shops and on-the go – making accessibility key to a functional and flexible office space. This is both an IT problem and an office design problem. The move to the more virtual work life is well underway and is being pushed by a younger workforce that prioritizes flexibility over traditional office design. This makes tech-integration and remote security a priority for businesses who want to attract and retain top talent. Impact of Tech on the Traditional Office Functions Contemporary office design is not just about revolutionizing traditional offices into collaborative, activity-based workspaces, it’s about changing traditional office functions too. Take conference rooms, for example – a traditional workplace staple used for face to face gatherings. Technology has had a huge impact here, through table top tablets, keyboard integrated chairs, integrated tabletop conferencing and networking, audio/visual integrations, not to mention privacy and secure spaces of the rooms themselves. Enter 2020 and the pervasive use of Zoom and other virtual meeting tools, and many companies are looking to repurpose some of these spaces, or at least use them as something other than a closet. With the help of companies like BE, investments in office technology can be preserved while designing the correct workspace for the new reality of workplace collaboration and technology. Design and Realize Innovative Contemporary Office Interiors in New Jersey BE Furniture is a full-service specialist in contemporary office interiors, and our experienced team can assist you with everything from conceptualizing your brand and working environment, to choosing new conference room tables and contemporary office furniture, to managing construction and fit-out of your office remodel. The integrated tech we have for your office is also state of the art and provides you the flexibility that the modern workforce demands. For more information about our products and services, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.befurniture.com/ The original blog is available on https://www.befurniture.com/how-technology-impacts-office-design/ |
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