Khushboo and Kunal
"The intangible represents the Power of the Universe. It is the Seed of the Tangible" – BruceLee. The work place of today can be defined by this very statement. Office design has taken a 360 degree turn: from just Function, Form and Aesthetics, the modern workspace now revolves around experiential spaces, conceptual and collaborative tasks, activity-based working – involving technology and the natural environment in every aspect of human behaviour possible.

Workplace design has become an extremely important element of any company wherein the focus is to create spaces where people don’t just exist – but co-exist with the space. With the line between work, home and social life becoming increasingly blurred, the stress is on a work environment with a high happiness quotient.

Technology is enabling people to work from anywhere within the workplace with plug and play spaces. Artificial Intelligence and IoT allows for zoning of spaces to be done without actual physical boundaries through automation, lighting and barrier-free screens, creating flexible work environments.

With the advancement of Technology, Artificial intelligence and awareness of sustainability and green building systems – these tangibles have pushed the envelope to create the intangible aspects of workplace design

The idea for the New Workplace is to have varied options of spaces with activity-based working– Open Collaborative spaces and Meeting areas, Sound proof spaces, Quiet areas, Think Tank Spaces, Lounge areas - each catering not just to the function but more to the sensibility and intangible requirement of the person and the task at hand. This allows for more efficient work practices and calmer mindsets in the workplace.

Khandelwal Design Inc

Collaborative workspace design breaks free from simple "breakout spaces" to open spaces with flexible comfortable seating, mobile screen panels and dividers with a possibility of transforming and changing the nature of spaces effortlessly. Meeting rooms have been reimagined to more open spaces, creative zones, amphitheatres, thinking areas with varied seating options, lending a sense of informal within the formal.

Graphic and wayfinding design has become an integral aspect of workplace design as more "rooms" get broken down into "workspaces", giving each space its own creative identity and a sense of belonging to the workers. Transparent walls opening to green balconies, vertical landscape garden walls, planter boxes create a connect to nature and enhance a sense of wellbeing, and, thereby, a better work environment.

"Thinking out of the box", "All Work and no Play", "Working to make the World a Happier Place" are not just taglines anymore – they are what workplace design is all about today.