Interior designers' strategies for creating social office space

Area of Science:

• Workplace Design
• Interior Design Psychology
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• The shift to remote work emphasizes the need for office environments that support social well-being.
• Existing knowledge on designing social office spaces is limited, creating a gap in practical application.
• Understanding how to foster employee connection within the physical workspace is crucial for modern organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and identify strategies used by interior designers in creating social office spaces.
• To address the lack of explicit knowledge in designing for employee social well-being.
• To provide a framework for designing offices that enhance social interaction and connection.

Main Methods:

• In-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen experienced interior designers.
• Means-end chain theory was applied to analyze the interview data.
• Qualitative analysis identified common design approaches and their underlying objectives.

Main Results:

• Designers aim to foster informal social interactions by creating appealing, spacious, recognizable, and integrated breakout areas.
• Strategies such as communicating group identity, enhancing visibility, and providing a cozy atmosphere were identified.
• These elements collectively contribute to a greater sense of connectedness among employees.

Conclusions:

• The study provides actionable insights for designing social office spaces that promote employee well-being and connection.
• Findings offer valuable guidance for both experienced and novice designers.
• A framework of design components, affordances, and objectives can improve communication among designers and stakeholders.