Using space to support collaboration

Using space to support collaboration   So what is collaboration? According to M-W’s dictionary, collaboration is ‘the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole’. Collaboration is viewed as a very important employee behaviour that is critical to the businesses success and is considered to be…

How much does an office fitout cost?

How much does an office fitout cost? While there is no conclusive answer as to the costs of an office fit out, there are many factors that make up a new office space: Size of office Location of office Number of staff to be accommodated Technology As all businesses have different and unique ways of…

There’s a lot to be said for briefs

There’s a lot to be said for briefs Undoubtedly the most common description of work-space requirements from clients is some variant of the following: “Look the brief is simple; we want a space where people want to come to work”. Mostly aired with a philosophical deliberation as if they are a tribune of people on their…

Office lease expiry?

Office lease expiry? Wondering what to do? As businesses grow and develop over time, their space requirements and ways of working change, especially with evolving technology. If your current office lease is up for expiration, it’s a good idea to take the time to carefully appraise your current office space to determine whether you should…

5 Benefits of an Office Relocation

5 Benefits of an Office Relocation If you’re currently deciding to embark on an office relocation, it’s is an exhilarating time. Office relocations happen for many reasons, from company expansion to changing cities. Office relocations can be the catalyst for implementing innovative ways of working. Moving office allows your organisation to reassess how you work…

How do you find the right office space?

How do you find the right office space? Your organisation has outgrown is current office space and is planning to move office, and you have been asked to find the right office space – where do you start? How do you evaluate the many different office spaces available to determine which one is the best…

What is Workplace Strategy?

What is Workplace Strategy? Workplace strategy is about studying how people work and creating a workspace that supports the way they work based on the data and observations. While management level perception and understanding is a key part of the findings, observations extend far deeper into things like staff personality and what environments they are…

3 Must have Tools for Remote Workers

3 Must have Tools for Remote Workers As IBM is rolling out its new work program of recalling people to the office and abandoning people working remotely, here are three tools for remote workers to remain productive and effective: Workfrom For remote workers, digital nomads and people who have no fixed office location, Workfrom makes…

What is the best Colour to Paint your Office?

What is the best Colour to Paint your Office? If you are wondering what colour to paint the office, it is important to understand what the physiological effects colour can have on us at work. Colours in an office environment influence the emotions and behaviours of people within that space Green Incorporating plants around the…

What are the best plants for the office?

What are the best plants for the office? Plants and exposure to nature in general, boost both well-being and effectiveness among employees. The use of plants in the office helps to filter out indoor pollution and produce oxygen to help clear our minds. Plants in the office reduce stress in employees, purify the air and…

7 Inviting Reception Areas

7 Inviting Reception Areas The reception area welcomes clients, visitors and potential employees to your office and is the first step on the journey with your brand, setting the first impression and expectations about your company immediately from the design, texture, and flow of your reception area – the design of your office environment reflects…

Developing and Maintaining Employee Happiness

Developing and Maintaining Employee Happiness A study in 2015 at the University of Warwick found happiness made people around 12% more productive, whilst unhappier workers were 10 percent less productive.  The researchers concluded that “positive emotions appear to invigorate human beings, while negative emotions have the opposite effect”. Energised and happy employees are productive and…

Retaining your best talent and reducing attrition

Retaining your best talent and reducing attrition Employees thrive when their working environment supports them in reaching their goals and dreams, recognising that these goals of employees and having their work appreciated as one of the most effective ways to boost motivation in the office. The best employees for your business share your vision and…

Hydration and Productivity in the Office

Hydration and Productivity in the Office Hydrated employees are happier, healthier, more motivated, and more productive – which is why every company needs to know how to fit hydration into its overall workspace wellness strategy. When water loss in our bodies exceeds water intake, dehydration occurs. While this is most common during exercise or illness,…

Seven Benefits of Activity Based Working

Seven Benefits of Activity Based Working Activity Based Working gives employees a freedom of choice about how, when and where they work, recognising that each employee performs different activities and need a suite of work settings to complete their work tasks. This enables them to work more productively and collaboratively. What are the benefits of…

4 Desk Hacks to Improve your Productivity

4 Desk Hacks to Improve your Productivity By making small improvements to your workspace, will boost your productivity and focus. Download and install a notification blocking app. Notification blocking apps allow you to turn off push notifications, enabling you to focus on the task at hand and not get distracted by a large number of…

What is Multisensory Design?

What is Multisensory Design? Multisensory design recognises that humans experience and react to a work environment in many ways, subtle and obvious, consciously and abstractly. It allows for a rich experience by creating a ‘conversation’ between designer and workspace user; this leads to intentionally designed workspaces that can be successfully measured. Multisensory design has been…

Reflecting your brand through colour choice

Reflecting your brand through colour choice Colours have the powerful ability to connect people to an organisational brand or image through ideas, feelings, and connotations. Many business and organizations will spend thousands of dollars in ensuring that this is achieved with the public, but often overlook using the built environment as a branding tool.  …

Inspiring Wellbeing at Work to Boost Engagement

Inspiring Wellbeing at Work to Boost Engagement Creating a culture that allows your employees to flourish is key to running a successful organisation. How do you maintain engagement with your staff, realise potential and get the best out of them? Poor staff wellbeing impacts the bottom line, in costs incurred through absence, as well as…

Three Ways to Create an Invigorating Workspace

Three Ways to Create an Invigorating Workspace Check out these three simple ways you can inject positivity and energy into your workspace to make it a more pleasant place to work: Add some Greenery: Plants and exposure to nature in general, boost both well-being and effectiveness among employees. The use of plants in the office helps to…

The Informal Workspace

The Informal Workspace Today’s office environments are all about communication, collaboration, and flexibility, to increase productivity and boost morale in employees. Visual and acoustic privacy is the most commonly cited problem in open plan workspaces today. Employees in open plan offices complain of distractions and request focus areas where they can concentrate on their work…

“We are out of space” I hear one say.

“We are out of space” I hear one say. It’s Tuesday morning, five minutes to 10 o’clock as I enter the lobby and make my way to the elevator. I step inside and quickly ascend to level 6 to meet my 10 O’clock appointment. The client is a Melbourne based Business Services company with 35…

What makes a great Break Out Space?

What makes a great breakout space? A breakout area is a space that is away from the main office working environment open to employees. It is an environment serving multiple purposes; for relaxation and collaboration as well as being a place of work that’s flexible and can be used productively for informal chats or internal…

7 Reasons Why Organisational Change Fails

7 Reasons Why Organisational Change Fails Why does organisational failure occur at such a high rate? What can you do to avoid it? 1. Lack of Communication No, it’s not that management fails to communicate what the change is or what it should look like, but rather, they fail to communicate why the change is…

The Story Behind The Change

The Story Behind The Change The Aspect design and strategy teams have been working with brand consultants and designers to formulate a fresh and inspiring new Aspect. We see the new look as integral to facilitating the next phase of our growth. It has been a long and exciting process but on the 18th November…

What is Coworking?

What is Coworking? Coworking is defined by Harvard as, membership-based workspaces where diverse groups of freelancers, remote workers, and other independent professionals work together in a shared, communal setting. Coworking spaces differ from a traditional office, in that they consist of a community of members who work for a variety of different organisations, projects, and…

Maximise Employee Potential Through Workspace Design

Maximise Employee Potential Through Workspace Design A hot topic lately has been about increasing employee productivity in the workplace while also increasing satisfaction. There are a lot of factors that go into the ability to get things done amidst distractions galore. Whether it’s a conversation between  colleagues at their desks, your phone buzzing with communication  alerts,…

London Offices Promote Wagamama-Style Seats

A few companies in London are promoting the use of shoulder-to-shoulder seats in their offices for the better   All of us had those amazing ideas while chatting to our colleagues during lunch time, but have you wondered why that ‘light-bulb’ moment didn’t strike while working at the office? Well, according to Sketch Studios, a…