The impacts of the pandemic on interior design
We have already discussed in a previous article the correlation between societal changes and their impact on interior design, particularly office design.
While it is true that even before the emergence of the coronavirus, changing attitudes and other social phenomena were already forcing a transformation in our conceptions of office spaces, it is clear that the pandemic’s impact on interior design alone has been considerable.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to review the effects of the pandemic on workspaces and the questions that arise from this. In the second part, I will discuss more specific solutions for adapting corporate spaces to the (post-)COVID era.
When adaptation rhymes with distancing
At the very beginning of the pandemic, the redesign of office spaces was mainly aimed at creating distance or separation between workstations. The use of dividers and plexiglass screens meets an urgent need. Adjustments to the positioning of desks, signage reminding employees of health guidelines, and changes to traffic flow within spaces were added to bring workplaces into compliance with the new rules.
Impacts of teleworking on corporate design
Subsequently, the imposition of teleworking for sectors that can accommodate it has created specific needs in the home and caused an upheaval that calls into question the role of the office. This is undoubtedly where the pandemic has had the greatest impact on interior design.
In response to the fact that productivity depends, among other things, on a favorable working environment, there is growing demand for home office furniture: office chairs, desks, lamps, etc., even causing shortages that will take months to recover from.
1st observation
Working at the kitchen table, on a hard chair, disturbed by the noise of other people in the house… it’s not sustainable! We need to adapt quickly… people are redesigning their spaces and employers (not all of them…) are investing money to ensure the comfort and, above all, the productivity of their employees at home. At the same time, rapid digitization is essential.
2nd observation
There is a growing enthusiasm for teleworking. It saves time, is comfortable, and, to the surprise of many, boosts productivity! At the same time, however, it can lead to increased loneliness for people who live alone, a lack of human contact, and difficulties when collaboration is required. There is a palpable need for social interaction.
What about the office?
So, in general, people are productive at home, but they lack human contact. We also note that it is more difficult to generate a sense of belonging among employees to their company, and that corporate culture struggles to penetrate the homes of remote workers. This is inevitably even more the case for new employees.
One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic on interior design is that a hybrid way of working is shaping the future of work. Inevitably, workspaces must reflect this new way of working, which in turn must be reflected in a company’s culture. Working differently means that spaces must also change!
Solutions
Meanwhile, employers still have to pay rent for vacant or underutilized space. What should be done with these spaces? How can they be made profitable? Although the role that offices will play in the near future remains to be defined, there is a pressing need to adapt existing spaces. Although we continue to live with the uncertainties brought about by Covid, one thing is certain: even if it does not necessarily take the form we have known over the last decade, the return to the office, the real one, will eventually happen!
