8 Collaborative Workspace Design Ideas

There may be pockets of space in your office that you aren’t making the most of. If this is the case, consider bringing some furniture to encourage impromptu meetings.

For example, you could bring in a coffee table and comfortable chairs to an area that won’t get in the way of busy circulation routes. These will be perfect for short, casual meetings between colleagues to expedite workflow.

Ultimately, you want to optimise your space for productivity and profitability, and a few additions like these can make a big difference. For expert guidance on space optimisation, consult the help of office design contractors that specialise in space planning.

It’s essential that you keep up to date with technology to foster a collaborative working environment. This goes for companies working full time in the office and those that allow staff to work remotely. Here are a few considerations:

• Electronic Booking Systems — For a practical addition to your space, install electronic booking systems to your conference rooms. These allow people to book the rooms with ease and even show what time the next meeting is to avoid any confusion.
• Plug in and Play — One way to create a buzzing, collaborative environment is to enable employees to plug in their devices around the office. In addition to floorboxes and sockets on walls, you can get a range of furniture with integrated power outlets, from desks to pods.
• LCD Screens — High quality LCD screens are great for presentations and conducting group video chats with remote workers. You can also get stands that allow you to wheel in screens to accompany employees working in teams.

By embracing technology, you can foster a collaborative environment and project an image of a company that’s forward-thinking. Steve Jobs would be proud!

In recent years, workspaces have been moving towards a more agile model. This is where employees are given the choice of how and where to work within the space, with multiple “zones” to choose from.

If you’re looking to make your workspace more agile, then offering multiple collaboration zones is must. For practicality, it’s best to offer both open and private meeting areas.

Open meeting areas will allow employees to work together in a more casual, ad-hoc way. The only problem is that these aren’t exactly private, as nearby colleagues may be able to hear the ins and outs of the conversation.

If sensitive and private information is being shared, then this will be an issue. To support confidentiality, introduce private meeting spaces with frosted glass and sound absorbing wall panels as well. These offer employees the choice to discuss private matters without concern.

For more meeting room ideas, take a look at our projects here.

Thankfully, the days of employees being confined to enclosed cubicles are long gone. Such a set up was of course limiting for collaboration, and nowadays there’s an array of furniture that make the workplace more versatile. Here are a few ideas:

Modular Seating — Modular seating offers a higher degree of flexibility. For example, sofas can be broken apart into individual seats to set up an area for group work. Once the work is done, they can be made back into a sofa to save space.
Meeting Pods — Pods are fun, eye-catching and also offer an acoustic meeting space. These days, you can get a range of styles, from glass-fronted pods to pods with integrated LCD screens. The latter will be ideal for video chats with remote workers.
Standing Desks — Ergonomic furniture is great for health reasons, and it can also facilitate collaboration. For example, a standing desk can provide a point where small teams can gather and discuss ideas over a screen.

These are just some ideas, but there really is a plethora of office furniture solutions out there.

For some more ideas and inspiration, take a look at our case studies here.