When you picture office cubicles, initially you probably think of rows upon rows of workstations with walls so high you have to stand on your tippy toes to see over to talk to Joe next door. As office trends grow, cubicles have transformed and grown, and in most situations are referred to as “workstations” in the new design vernacular lately.
Collaborative work environments are on the rise. In fact, you’d probably be hard pressed to find a work environment that doesn’t encourage collaboration and interaction. Don’t get me wrong, they still exist. There are still some businesses that require complete and utter privacy between one employee and the next. But for the most part, collaboration is key to office success.
Think about The Water Cooler Effect. The water cooler used to be the place people went to socially interact in the workplace, to rest their eyes, and give their mind a break. And as designers began to study this phenomenon, it showed that social interaction supports behaviors that promote trust, collaboration and innovation! Projects move faster when people share knowledge. Solutions can be found quicker, because someone may already have it…rather than recreating the wheel. Collaboration is a great way to pass knowledge from one generation to the next. An intern will absorb far more information being able to sit next to, listen to, and observe how a senior level employee handles situations. With the growing popularity of collaborative work environments, younger generations are looking for this as they enter the workforce.
These environments also have potential to create less than ideal situations. They can promote too much conversation. They can promote too many distractions. This is how working with your designer can help you to create the ideal environment for your workplace. Herman Miller Ethospace offers flexibility to create limitless “environments” within your office space. You can have a fully private office next to a set of open plan collaborative workstations. You can add glass tiles for visual interaction while still providing audible privacy. Almost limitless frame heights allow for one workstation to have full privacy at their computer monitor, but roll a few feet in their chair and be able to talk with their neighbor! Work surfaces like “D-tops”, at the end of a station, can provide a “touch down” spot for workstation neighbors. The possibilities are endless with Ethospace, allowing you to create a collaborative, functional, and efficient workspace.