Modern Office Spaces and the Future of Work

Summary

Ryan Anderson from Miller Knoll discusses the evolution of office spaces to on-demand resources, emphasizing flexibility and modern design. He highlights the importance of furniture in supporting the future of work, showcasing Miller Knoll's Design Yard as a space for experimentation and employee reconnection. The transcript also touches on creating inclusive spaces, like the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University, which prioritizes accessibility and comfort for all users.

Takeaways

• 💼 **Offices as On-Demand Resources**: The future of work sees offices as flexible, on-demand resources rather than mandatory daily destinations.
• 🌟 **Redefining Modern Work**: The mission is to redefine modern work spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also supportive of people's work activities.
• 🪑 **Furniture's Role in Work**: Furniture, like the Aeron Chair and Womb Chair, plays a crucial role in supporting the evolving nature of work, both in home and corporate settings.
• 🛠️ **Emphasis on Flexibility**: There's a new focus on flexibility in office design, aiming to accommodate the changing needs and preferences of workers.
• 🏢 **Design Yard as a Testing Ground**: Design Yard serves as both a workplace and an experimental space for MillerKnoll to test new office concepts.
• 🌈 **Social and Colorful Spaces**: The 'plaza' area in Design Yard is designed to be social and colorful, encouraging employee reconnection post-pandemic.
• 📋 **Variety in Meeting Spaces**: The facility offers a variety of reservable meeting spaces, each unique, to provide choices that suit different needs.
• 📈 **Evolution of Office Design**: Offices have evolved from being IT-centric to mobile-centric, influencing the design to be more worker-focused.
• 🏡 **Team Neighborhoods**: Instead of assigned desks, teams are given 'neighborhoods' consisting of desks, social areas, and project spaces to foster collaboration.
• 🧘 **Well-being Spaces**: Spaces are designed to support personal well-being, offering quiet areas for respite from the busy office environment.
• 🏫 **Inclusive Design**: The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University exemplifies inclusive design, considering a wide range of users including those with disabilities.
• 🔧 **Adaptable Workspaces**: Workspaces are becoming more adaptable with features like hydraulic desks that can be adjusted for height to suit different users.
• 👥 **Importance of Inclusive Consultation**: It's crucial to consult with people with disabilities to understand their needs when designing office spaces.
• 🌐 **Community and Variety**: Office spaces should encourage community by providing a variety of spaces that support social interaction and a range of activities.

Q & A

What is the future of offices according to Ryan Anderson?

Ryan Anderson suggests that offices will become on-demand resources, meaning that the traditional assumption of people needing to be in the office all day, every day is no longer valid.

What is the role of furniture in supporting the future of work?

Furniture plays a crucial role in supporting the future of work by providing flexibility and comfort in various work settings, such as home offices, corporate offices, and living rooms.

What is the significance of the Aeron Chair in office environments?

The Aeron Chair is highlighted as a product that has been widely used in both home and corporate offices worldwide, indicating its importance in office furniture.

What is the purpose of the Design Yard facility mentioned in the script?

The Design Yard facility serves as a workplace for MillerKnoll employees and a space for experimentation with new office designs and concepts.

How does the 'plaza' area at Design Yard contribute to employee well-being?

The 'plaza' area is designed to be social and colorful, aiming to provide a space for employees to reconnect after working in different spaces during the pandemic.

Why is the variety of reservable meeting spaces important at the Design Yard?

The variety of reservable meeting spaces is important to give employees choices, allowing them to find a space that suits their specific needs.

How has the design of offices evolved from the era of desktop computers?

Offices designed in the era of desktop computers were essentially designed around IT networks, focusing on where computers and their necessary infrastructure would be placed, with people coming in later. As work became more mobile, the design started to shift to accommodate this change.

What is a 'team neighborhood' and how does it function in the office?

A 'team neighborhood' is a concept where instead of assigning everyone a desk or having all desks shared, each team is given a dedicated area consisting of desks, social areas, and project spaces that are shared among the team members.

Why is personal well-being considered important in office design?

Personal well-being is considered important because it allows employees to have moments of quiet respite away from the office buzz, which can contribute to their overall comfort and productivity.

What is the significance of the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University project?

The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center is a project that aimed to create an inclusive space for a wide variety of people, taking into account the needs of both disabled and non-disabled visitors, reflecting the legacy of Senator Tom Harkin, the principal author of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

How does the design of the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center accommodate different needs?

The design includes extra-wide hallways and walkways for side-by-side movement, hydraulic desks that can move up and down for adjustable height, and individual tables for better eye contact, creating what's called 'deaf space' to accommodate the needs of diverse users.

What is the importance of consulting with people with disabilities when designing office spaces?

Consulting with people with disabilities is crucial to understand their specific needs and ensure that the office spaces are designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone.

How should office spaces be designed to support social interaction and community?

Office spaces should introduce social spaces and provide more variety and choice within the environment to support a broader array of activities, fostering social interaction and a sense of community among employees.