Designing offices for people: The Hierarchy of Office Needs
The office is more than just the place you work, but a home away from home. That’s why, when it comes to a shiny new space, it’s important to remember who your office needs to be designed for. After all, any company’s biggest asset is their people, therefore it’s imperative to choose a design that supports them in every way possible.
Designing your office according to psychology
First things first, the diverse needs of your team must be considered. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs serves as a psychological hierarchy for personal development and fulfilment. In simpler terms, it’s a model for understanding the reasons why people do what they do. If we apply it to the workplace, many high performing organisations focus on the top sections of the pyramid, concentrating on success and
the office culture. Whilst these are important, we shouldn’t forget about our base needs: psychological, physiological and security. These include basic elements like shelter and safety, which must be fulfilled for us to achieve our goals.
We can adapt this theory, applying it to the modern-day workforce, with what we call ‘The Hierarchy of Office Needs’. This can be split into three key areas: technological, physiological and psychological, that when met, allow us to perform at our best.
Technological needs
The higher needs on our pyramid become completely redundant without efficient technology that is indisputably essential for staff to complete their work. Technology underpins everything we do and is vital to productive working and collaboration. Needs vary depending on a company’s day-to-day operations, but regardless of specifics, whatever technology is implemented should be reliable, compatible for the task at hand, and accessible for everyone that uses it.
For example, some members of your team might require a larger computer monitor, or multiple monitors, to manage several tabs at the same or for intricate tasks like coding, video editing or 3D visualisation. High-quality video conferencing tools are also becoming essential technology in the modern office, especially for those using hybrid working models or that communicate with other teams and clients around the globe. It’s also as simple as having a strong WiFi connection in your office space, alleviating tenuous loading screens and dreaded frozen Teams calls.
Once essential tools are in place to ensure staff can facilitate their day-to-day tasks, we can move onto fulfilling the next tier of office needs.
Physiological needs
The next tier up is our physiological needs, which relates to the physical office space. This is where the value of your fit out can really make a difference in providing a space that enhances your team and the success of your company, with the right furniture, facilities, and wellbeing considerations.
From standing desks that promote movement throughout the day, to solo pods for individual working, furniture is vital to help meet our physiological needs. For example, furniture can play a huge role in alleviating health concerns that come with sitting at a desk for a prolonged period of time. Ergonomic seating can provide lumbar support and encourage better posture, footstools can help create the right angle for your legs, and adjustable desks or computer stands ensure the head and neck aren’t tilted down when working.
Employee wellbeing has also been a major focus in recent years, which is why the best workplaces ensure their employees feel supported and safe when working. This can take form in a number of ways, from dedicated wellness rooms to maximising the office’s natural light to boost Vitamin D and serotonin levels. Biophilia has also become a major design consideration, with natural benefits such as improved air quality, wellbeing, and productivity.
In sum, providing employees with everything they could need throughout the day will improve your team's performance as it allows them to focus on higher tiers on Maslow’s pyramid: self-actualisation - the need to achieve success.
Psychological needs
So, your office meets your basic needs and sure, you can get on and do your job, but office fulfilment doesn’t stop there. Humans are social creatures by nature, therefore creating an office with ample space for collaboration and social interactions is a great way to increase productivity and encourage deeper connections within the team.
Office furniture plays a huge role in creating a human-focussed workplace. Rows and rows of desks just doesn’t cut it anymore – it’s crucial that a fit out incorporates collaboration tables, impromptu meeting spaces, and break out areas that empower teams to work together, creatively brainstorm and better communicate. The importance of social spaces, like a café or tea point area, should also not be underestimated – they provide staff with a place to catch up with colleagues and harness their working relationships, building the trust and connection that is integral to a cohesive team dynamic.
Another way to build on this sense of belonging is by weaving branding throughout the workplace. This doesn’t necessarily mean plastering your logo on every conceivable surface – there are a multitude of ways that brand identity can be seamlessly incorporated into a space to make it ‘yours’. An example of this could be using a company’s brand colours throughout the space in acoustic panels, soft furnishings or even accent lighting. Alternatively, companies can work with a designer to create bespoke feature walls with branded artwork, or subtle logo manifestations on meeting room glazing. However you choose to integrate your brand and culture into your space, it will help to create a sense of identity and belonging, bringing people together in pursuit of a shared purpose.
Top of the pyramid
Self-actualisation is only achieved when our base needs are met. From an organisation’s perspective, this manifests as an increase in employee engagement, a decrease in employee turnover and a boost in social capital. Your team will collaborate seamlessly, push boundaries and thrive both individually and as a team, all because your office fit out provides a space that caters for each and every one of their needs, strengthening your workplace culture for years to come.
