Archives for October 2015

Love them or hate them, cubicles have played a big role in the life of the white-collar American for 50+ years, with no signs of slowing. In the beginning, cubicles were invented to 1) maximize floor space and, 2) give employees their own little slice of office to call their own.

Basically, the cubicle was an invention born from our innate desire to control our workspace. Lecturer at Leeds University Business School and workspace design specialist, Dr. Matthew Davis points out that, “We have a really innate instinct about space and making things our own.”

The Great Debate: Open Offices vs. Cubicle Farms

Cubicles have been the basis of inter-office debates for years now. Some say they waste space and have the potential to stifle creativity, and prefer an open workplace environment. However, there’s a lot of research out there showing that open office plans can actually be disruptive to individuals’ focus, morale and health, for introverts especially. So how do you decide on the perfect office layout for your company’s needs?

The key to choosing the right type of workspace design, elements and layout depend on a number of factors, but the most important one you’ll want to pay attention to is balance. Keeping the wants and needs of your employees in mind will help you strike that perfect balance between privacy and proficiency.

These private offices from the Steelcase and Susan Cain collaboration allow for workers to focus amidst office distractions. (source)