Great office design is increasingly seen as a competitive advantage in the war for attracting talent, but the benefits should also extend to helping a business’s employees work more efficiently and collaboratively.

Adrian Norman

Head of Design

Monday, 18th November 2024

4 minutes read time

About Adrian

What is evidence based office design?

Evidence based office design in the workplace involves gathering factual data through observation- such as how long employees work in certain spaces- surveys and workshops. This data helps shape design decisions, ultimately aligning a workplace with the genuine needs and desires of a business.

A search for truth

A well designed office considers how people interact both socially and professionally, how people spend their time and the types of spaces required. It emphasises the importance of relying on hard evidence, rather than assumptions as individual perspectives on the needs of the business may vastly differ from reality.

In doing so, a desire for more meeting spaces might actually be a need for more spaces where small groups can chat in a cosy breakout space. Or maybe there’s plenty of big meeting rooms but only a few people use them at a time, so the space needs to be reallocated more evenly.

Data gathering for workplace design doesn’t have to be impersonal. Holding focus groups and workshops are a great and informal way to gain insight into how people work and their requirements for a workspace.

By examining different teams or ‘neighbourhoods’ within a business, it’s possible to understand the various types of spaces required and how they can positively impact work habits. For example, Bionic wanted a dynamic space that provided a range of work environments for their staff. From vibrant open plan spaces that provide a lively community, to secluded spots infused with a sense of calm for solo tasks.

The next step would be identifying positive elements within the space – what helps optimise productivity and collaboration? This also helps reveal any pain points that currently hinder organisations to reach their full potential; these can then be improved through clever design.

Communal space with bleacher seating at Bionic

Bionic's Luton office

Bionic's Luton office

Bionic's Luton office

Evolving ideas

After gathering evidence, the data needs to be analysed and interpreted. For example, if only 60% of desks are occupied at any given time, where are people spending the rest of their time? This helps identify spaces to consider in the redesign, for example more meeting rooms or quiet rooms. These findings are then shared with designers to help the decision making process.

Great design is often subjective - not everyone likes the same colours or finishes- but evidence based design means that any changes can be backed up with conclusive data. However, the beauty of evidence based office design is the collaborative effort, ensuring that the data gathering process gives everyone the opportunity to contribute ideas and share experiences.

Evidence based office design at Bionic

The collaborative process doesn’t stop at the initial stages though. Design workshops provide decision makers with the chance to visualise their ideas, sharing any feedback to ensure the perfect workplace for that company.

The test of great office design is how people finally use the completed space. Bionic praised the design team on “encapsulating what Bionic is and what [their] colleagues are all about”. This was all made possible through gathering evidence from their employees, resulting in a workplace that transforms how they work.

Contact our design specialists about how you can transform your workspace with evidence based office design.