How to find the best office furniture

Diana, what demands do employees make of a modern workplace?

Oh, there are too many demands to count... the requests and ideas can be so wide-ranging. But if you combine them all and boil them down to a single message, they simply want to be able to work well. The modern workplace must therefore best meet the needs that arise from different ways of working above all, whether that be focussed work, sparring with colleagues, working methods such as kanban, spontaneous meetings or even larger team routines. Ergonomics and well-being play an important role too. If you can’t work well at your workplace and are distracted by external influences, whether audible or visual, productivity can suffer and this will ultimately have an impact on results.

Essentially, the greater the well-being, the higher the productivity. How can offices be designed so that everyone feels comfortable?

The important thing is to focus on the different ways of working and the requirements that arise from them. Knowing full well that a workplace cannot be all-singing and all-dancing in itself, we expand the spectrum of different ways of working to the entire office space, or even the campus, for example. This allows each employee to seek out the working environment most suited to their particular activity at any one time. A diverse office landscape is required that also includes scope for focussed solitary work when things get a little hectic elsewhere. Or think tanks nearby for spontaneous meetings - why wait until a meeting room can be booked when you can resolve a matter straight away. For me personally, think tanks are the most effective means of increasing my productivity.

If I can switch between workplaces, what role does ergonomics still have to play in this?

A very important one! With an ergonomic workplace that can be adapted to our own body and its requirements, we are supporting our health in the long term. The idea of activity based working has a positive effect too, because this approach involves more movement instead of spending the whole day sitting rigidly in front of a desk.

Taste and style evolve over the years. How must an office space be designed so that it is contemporary and modern on the one hand, but still attractive after a number of years on the other?

That’s a tricky question, and probably the biggest challenge for interior designers. If you’ve worked in design at all, it quickly becomes clear that it’s the simple, clean lines that endure over the course of time. Consequently we have to think very hard about where to place fashionable accents, as well as their form and colour. Objects that are intended to remain unchanged for ten to 15 years are usually classic in their design. Walls, for example, can quickly be repainted, but I would choose expensive special items of furniture carefully and opt for timeless designs. What we rarely see in fashionable trends is white in combination with natural materials.

What criteria do you employ when selecting furniture?

Ergonomics, design, cost and compatibility with the overall design. And as many people as possible should feel comfortable in that piece of furniture. A little anecdote as an aside: when we’re looking for furniture, we test it with a wide range of physiques - large, small, thick and thin - which allows us to ensure as far as possible that our selection isn’t going to crash and burn. In the end, the one we choose might not be to everybody’s taste, but that’s not the requirement we set ourselves.

More and more people are choosing to work from home. Do you have any simple tips as to how we can set up an attractive workplace at home?

Yes - absolutely. I myself work from home more often than not, and just yesterday I screwed a folding table to the wall so that I can now work standing up while still at home. And when I don’t need it any more, I simply fold it up and hang a picture in front of it. I also have a chest on wheels that I can store all my office clutter in, and if somebody comes to visit me I can use the chest as a seat instead. Apart from that, it is important when working from home to have a glare-free workplace. This means no light coming from behind or in front of you, as this either creates reflections on the monitor or tires your eyes more quickly. You should ideally sit or stand side-on to a window. I would particularly recommend a height-adjustable chair that allows for some flexibility and movement. Sitting rigidly on something like a kitchen chair is unhealthy in the long run. For anybody who doesn’t have the right kind of office chair, I’d recommend they change where they sit regularly. And definitely don’t forget to ensure there is adequate lighting. If you work in the evening, you should work with either a yellow or a blueish light. These are better for your melatonin production, enabling you to sleep better.

And now to sum up, what are your five tips to design a modern office that is as functional as possible?

• Think tanks, think tanks, think tanks
  
• Individually adjustable workplace furniture for ergonomics
• Furniture that provides privacy distributed around the office relatively concealed areas, e.g. high back chairs with a table and a power connection
• Social spaces located centrally on each floor with a supply of drinks - the best opportunity for networking of all
• Space for stand up meetings, ideally in sound absorbing lounges so as not to disturb the other teams