Enhancing Office Productivity With Ergonomic Workstations

FDT Bureau

Tim Larson, Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer, Asia, UNISPACE discusses ergonomic essentials, design trends, and employee-centric approaches for modern offices.

WHAT ESSENTIAL FEATURES SHOULD WORKSTATION FURNITURE POSSESS TO ENHANCE WELL-BEING AND PRODUCTIVITY?
The furniture market has adapted well to these needs. Ergonomics play a significant role, with the prevalence of height-adjustable desks to combat prolonged sitting. There’s a variety of work environments now, including comfortable seating and lounge-type furniture, offering employees flexibility in their workspace. COVID - 19 has highlighted the importance of comfort and hospitality experiences, influencing workplace design to include relaxation areas and spaces for employee connection.

MOVING ON TO DESIGN TRENDS, PARTICULARLY IN CEO CABINS, WHAT’S UNISPACE’S APPROACH TO DESIGNING SUCH CRITICAL SPACES?
Designing spaces for senior executives in this region has evolved with changing demographics. With an increasing number of startup CEOs, there’s a shift in expectations regarding office. While there’s still an expectation for senior executives to have wellappointed offices, there’s also a desire for parity between employees and executives. Flexible workspace trends have influenced this, leading to fewer traditional offices and more multifunctional spaces for senior executives. For instance, offices may double as conference rooms, promoting flexibility in space utilization. The emphasis now is on maximizing space utility while maintaining a balance between executive and employee spaces. Similarly, customer-facing spaces are also evolving, with a growing recognition of the value of employee experience alongside customer experience.



CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE EVOLVING DESIGN TRENDS IN WORKSPACES?
Certainly, traditional security measures like turnstiles are being replaced by camera and sensor systems, promoting flexibility and free movement within spaces. The emphasis is on creating multi-functional areas to accommodate various functions like collaboration, ideation, and meetings. This necessitates access to a broad floor plate, as singular spaces can’t cater to all needs. Additionally, there’s a growing trend of all-hands meetings and immersive spaces, facilitated by advanced audiovisual technology. Technology not only supports flexibility but also enhances security and access control, with innovations like facial recognition systems replacing traditional card-based systems. Moreover, technology enables the creation of versatile spaces that serve multiple purposes, eliminating the need for singular-use spaces.

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE TO EXISTING WORKSPACES IN INDIA?
’d advocate for a shift towards more employee-centric space design. Many workplaces prioritize density over employee experience, neglecting factors like sustainability and employee well being. Embracing an employee-centric approach across all sectors is crucial.

NAVIGATING INCLUSIVITY AND EXCLUSIVITY IN WORKSPACE DESIGN CAN BE CHALLENGING. HOW DOES UNISPACE ACHIEVE THIS BALANCE?
Achieving a balance between inclusivity and exclusivity involves ensuring accessibility while maintaining aspirational quality. While exclusivity denotes attention to detail and quality, inclusivity ensures everyone feels a sense of belonging. In regions like Asia, where hierarchical structures exist, we observe a shift towards a more balanced approach, where executives’ spaces are democratized, promoting inclusivity.

HOW DOES UNISPACE TAILOR ITS GLOBAL EXPERTISE TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE INDIAN MARKET?
All our employees in India are locals, ensuring an understanding of local culture and needs. While incorporating global trends, we filter them through the lens of what’s best for Indian employees, ensuring alignment with local preferences and culture.



DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS AND HUMAN EXPERIENCE ARE CRUCIAL IN DESIGNING DYNAMIC WORKSPACES. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THESE ASPECTS?
We can use data analytics to both support the human experience and maximize space effectiveness. Feedback from employees is an essential tool in making design decisions. Human factors, like wellness, well-being, a sense of belonging and community building can sometimes be missed if you are looking for data about space utilization and performance metrics. Our approach is to combine both data-driven analysis with insights from human-centric experiences to create dynamic workspaces that meet the practical business needs and also enhance employee well-being and performance.