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In the realm of design, color plays a vital role in conveying messages, evoking emotions, and influencing human behavior. Its impact extends beyond aesthetics and finds relevance in various fields, including the workplace. Whether you work from home or in a traditional office setting, understanding color theory can empower you to create an environment that enhances productivity, fosters creativity, and promotes a positive atmosphere. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating world of color theory and explore its application in the workplace. 1. The Basics of Color Theory: Before we explore the role of color in the workplace, let's establish a foundation by understanding some basic principles of color theory: - Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors from which all other colors are derived. - Color Wheel: The color wheel is a visual representation of the relationships between different colors. It includes primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. - Color Harmony: Colors that are harmonious together create a pleasing visual effect. Common color harmonies include complementary, analogous, and triadic combinations. - Color Psychology: Colors have psychological associations that can evoke specific emotions or reactions. For example, blue is often associated with calmness, while red can symbolize energy or urgency. 2. The Role of Color in the Workplace: 2.1 Enhancing Productivity: Selecting the right colors in your workspace can significantly impact productivity levels. Consider the following: - Blue: This color stimulates focus, enhances productivity, and instills a sense of calm. Ideal for high-focus tasks or brainstorming sessions. - Green: Associated with balance and harmony, green can promote a sense of well-being, reduce eye strain, and increase efficiency. - Yellow: A vibrant and energizing color, yellow is known to enhance creativity and optimism. However, use it sparingly to avoid overwhelming effects. 2.2 Fostering Creativity: Colors can inspire creativity and innovation in the workplace: - Purple: Often associated with luxury and creativity, purple can spark imagination and artistic thinking. - Orange: This warm and vibrant color promotes enthusiasm, energy, and can inspire brainstorming and idea generation. - Yellow-Green: Combining the benefits of both yellow and green, this color fosters creativity while maintaining a sense of calmness. 2.3 Promoting Positive Atmosphere and Well-being: Creating a positive work environment is crucial for employee well-being and satisfaction: - Neutral Colors: Shades of white, beige, and gray can provide a sense of balance and neutrality, making them ideal for collaborative spaces or areas requiring minimal distraction. - Accent Colors: Adding pops of vibrant colors, such as red or orange, to common areas or break rooms can create an invigorating and sociable atmosphere. 3. Applying Color to Different Work Areas: Consider the specific work areas and their purposes when integrating color into your workplace design: - Private Offices: Opt for colors that align with the occupant's work style. Balance focus and creativity by incorporating calming blues, stimulating greens, or inspiring purples. - Meeting Rooms: Encourage collaboration and engagement by using warm and inviting colors, such as orange or yellow. - Reception Areas: Create a positive first impression with a balance of warm and welcoming colors, combined with hints of professionalism. Conclusion: Color theory provides a valuable framework for designing work environments that optimize productivity, foster creativity, and promote employee well-being. Understanding the psychological impact of different colors empowers employers and employees to create a harmonious and inspiring workplace. By thoughtfully integrating color into various work areas, organizations can cultivate a positive atmosphere that supports the achievement of both individual and collective goals. Remember, color is a powerful tool—harness it wisely to unleash its full potential in your workplace.

As the dynamics of the workplace continue to evolve, organizations are recognizing the importance of creating collaborative workspaces that foster innovation, creativity, and teamwork. In today's digital age, these shared work environments are more crucial than ever in keeping employees connected, driving productivity, and cultivating a healthy working atmosphere. Research conducted by Deloitte reveals that employees with access to collaboration tools are not only more satisfied with their workplace culture but also believe that their employers genuinely care about their experience and morale. So, how can you create a kick-ass collaborative workspace? Let's explore five essential tips to get you started. 1. Incorporate Flexibility: Flexibility is the cornerstone of an engaging and collaborative workspace. By ensuring that your workspace is adaptable, you empower employees to move around and adjust their environment to suit their needs at any given time. Consider incorporating movable furniture on wheels or adjustable heights, enabling employees to feel comfortable while seamlessly transitioning between tasks or collaborating with others. This flexibility promotes a dynamic work environment that encourages creativity and supports various work styles. 2. Utilize Technology: Technology plays a vital role in facilitating collaboration within the workspace. Embrace a range of collaboration tools, such as video conferencing solutions, whiteboards, and real-time project tracking software. These tools not only help employees stay organized but also boost productivity by facilitating instant feedback from team members. Embracing technology ensures that your workspace is equipped to support seamless collaboration, regardless of physical distance or organizational size. 3. Create Zones for Different Activities: Efficiency is essential within a collaborative workspace, and creating different zones for various activities can greatly enhance productivity. Designate specific areas for brainstorming sessions, group discussions, or meetings. By separating activities into distinct zones, you provide employees with easy access to the resources they need, without disrupting workflow or hindering others. This approach fosters a harmonious environment where individuals can focus on their tasks and engage in collaborative endeavors efficiently. 4. Choose Comfortable Furniture: The right furniture is key when designing a collaborative workspace, as comfort significantly impacts employee productivity. Opt for ergonomic furniture that not only looks great but also supports employees throughout the day, regardless of their body types or preferred working positions. Incorporate height-adjustable tables, ergonomic chairs, and comfortable lounge furniture to ensure maximum comfort during various activities. By prioritizing comfort, you create an environment that promotes well-being, reduces fatigue, and enhances creativity. 5. Include Break Areas: While work is essential, so are breaks. Don't overlook the importance of incorporating break areas where employees can step back from their work, relax, and connect with colleagues over snacks or coffee. These designated spaces provide an opportunity for rejuvenation and foster better relationships among team members. By encouraging downtime and social interaction, you create a positive work environment that enhances overall morale and well-being. Creating a productive collaborative workspace doesn't have to be complicated. By implementing these five tips—incorporating flexibility, utilizing technology, creating activity-specific zones, choosing comfortable furniture, and including break areas—you can design a kick-ass workspace that promotes innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Remember, careful planning and attention to creating an environment conducive to both individual tasks and group activities are key. With these guidelines in mind, you are well on your way to transforming your workspace into a hub of productivity and teamwork. Best of luck! Need some inspiration to kick-start your collaborative workspace project? Check out our collaborative thought starters here.

I frequently talk about how companies can and should leverage the built environment to impact their overall success. Workspace affects culture and engagement, employee health, wellbeing, and an organization’s innovative nature. At no time has this discussion been of greater importance than it is right now. Until now, the term ‘Workplace of the Future’ has possessed an aura of unattainability. An almost ethereal idea of what could be. The past year has taught us an overwhelming amount of things, but one thing that sticks out. That Workplace of the future? It’s critical now. The landscape of the office and the definition of the Workplace has changed forever. Guess what? That’s a good thing! The old model has been slowly dying, and the need for innovation great. If you are a leader and your company fails to adapt to new working ways, your business will struggle. Nothing I’m writing here is a brand new idea. Over the past few years, many of these concepts have been gaining popularity. As in many instances, with popularity comes pushback. Some leaders detest change and swear whatever the idea; it just won’t work for their company. It turns out, a global pandemic punches holes in old excuses and accelerates innovation and adaptation. Below are the conversations I predict will become crucial to organizational growth over 2021. The built environment as a framework for wellbeing We’ve not seen a more significant health emergency in our lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a dramatic physical health crisis; it continues to push the boundaries and the resilience of our mental health. Before the spring lockdowns, people spent 90% of their time indoors. Ninety percent! That pre-pandemic number is crazy enough, and unfortunately, it’s not difficult to believe that many are now spending closer to 100% of their time indoors. With much of our lives spent in buildings, businesses, and our own homes, it’s no surprise that these spaces play a significant role in our overall health and wellness. Things such as indoor air quality, building design, the temperature of the area, light levels, and even the type of food served on-premises impact a wide range of physical and mental factors. 2021 is the year more businesses accept their role and responsibility for employee wellbeing. I foresee massive growth in organizations implementing programs like WELL Building Standard , Fitwel , and Living Building Challenge . Metric and performance-based, each of these programs focus on areas of the built environment that impact health and wellness, productivity, and overall wellbeing. Are you wondering if your company could improve in some areas? Click here to access this quick diagnostic tool. At the very least, I challenge you to learn more about these certification programs and how they can benefit your organization. Even if it’s not currently feasible to obtain official certification, there are practical and easily actionable standards that will positively impact occupants when implemented. Empowerment Through Flexibility In March of 2020, the entire world jumped into a forced mass social experiment. Seemingly overnight, coronavirus reduced our human connection to a digital existence. Business leaders who were firmly rooted in the belief that remote working was not feasible for their company were quickly proven wrong. The proverbial work from home genie is out of the bottle, and it’s not going back in. While remote work is undoubtedly here to stay, the physical office is not going away. We are social creatures, and there will always be a need for human connection. The physical office’s form and function will evolve to complement and support flexibility in many ways. 3-2-2 According to a 2020 Gensler Work From Home study, research showed that just 12% of people desire the ability to work from home post-pandemic. Instead, their most recent survey shows employees prefer a hybrid plan such as the 3-2-2 model, which offers three days in the office, two days of remote work, and two days off. By rotating staff using this model, you’re creating a positive environment in a few ways. First and foremost, it’s a simple way to bring your people back to the office safely. 3-2-2 offers an easier way to maintain social distancing standards without having to make a single change to your current office environment. Second, the plan’s long-term flexibility offers a healthier work-life balance, which is proven to lessen stress and improve mental health, increase productivity and job satisfaction. Free Address Free Address is a concept that allows employees to choose their work environment within the office, depending on what type of work they need to complete at any given moment. Factors that may influence their decisions include the type of work they need to perform, their physical comfort within the space, and their current mood. By offering different work zones, different thermal and light ranges, and various furniture tools such as sit-to-stand options, you set the stage for high performance and high productivity. When To Work We’ve all been on a video call where kids, spouses, roommates, and pets have made their workplace debut. With everything that is going on, most people are inevitably juggling personal and professional lives more than ever before! By offering flexibility in when work needs to happen, you’re empowering your people to take control of all aspects of their lives and create a customized workday that allows them to perform at their best. The only caution is to set limits on late-night work. You don’t want to create potential sleep issues for your team! By putting an organizational cap at midnight, you’re still putting that employee’s health and wellness at the forefront. Let’s focus on a few essential work zones. A Focus Zone with increased acoustical support or sound masking to control noise is imperative for employees who need a space for “heads-down” work. A Restoration Zone will benefit employees by giving them a place to enjoy natural elements, meditate, and better manage stressors in the day. Free Flow Zone allows for collaboration and impromptu brainstorming. Another excellent alternative for companies that want to incorporate adjustable height features but don’t have a budget to fit out all their desks is to create a Movement Zone that contains flexible furniture. By offering different zones for different work types, you’re allowing your people to take what they need to balance themselves and produce outstanding results. While I have come to despise the term “new normal,” I think a new normal of the reimagined Workplace is brimming with positivity. Companies that adopt these practices will create an environment where their people and the organization will truly thrive. Stay tuned as I take a deeper dive into these topics and more in our Reimagined Workplace series.

Your office: Let’s talk about it. Is your current workspace truly optimized to inspire your team to greatness, and to keep them engaged and energized? Is it a place where both employees and the company as a whole will thrive? If not, you’re missing out. Big time! Your physical workspace is a tool. Just like a phone and a computer help get the job done each day, your office environment plays a role in affecting your company’s overall performance. It contributes to your company culture, your level of employee engagement, your people’s physical and mental well-being and how you attract and retain top talent. It even plays a part in how innovative your organization is. Ok, so maybe your space isn’t 100 percent perfect. You’re definitely not alone, and unless you’re getting ready to embark on building a new office space entirely, you may wonder what you can do to improve your current situation. Don’t worry! Below are some easy things you can do to impact your team in a positive way: Biophilic design This may sound intimidating to some people, but I assure you, it’s not. Biophilic design is the concept of bringing the outdoors inside through a variety of ways. Studies have shown that biophilia has a positive impact on your physical environment by helping to reduce stress and increase creativity and productivity. That’s powerful stuff! One cost-effective way to incorporate biophilia into your space is to add plants. Yep, plants, people—plants! Color theory There is a ton of science behind the physical and psychological effects of color on energy levels, mood, productivity and creativity. Thoughtful use of color is an easy way to gain these powerful benefits. Paint is a bold choice for maximum impact, but if that isn’t an easy option for you, look at ways you can incorporate color into your furniture or focus on the next item below. Art scene Artwork is an excellent way to incorporate color and texture into your space. (Pro tip: You can use it to include both color theory and biophilic design.) It’s also available for any budget. Seriously, even if you have zero dollars to spend. Hook up with local artists and work a trade (Kansas City has an incredible amount of local talent). The artists get to display their pieces, and you get to look at gorgeous artwork every day. Then, host an artist showcase event for your employees and clients. That’s a win/win/win! Illuminate If there is a way to upgrade your office lighting, this can have a significant impact on productivity and happiness. Natural light is a preferred first choice, but existing perimeter offices might limit you. LED retrofits are an excellent option if you have the budget; however, if the cost is an issue, then personal task lights are a fantastic alternative. Ergonomics Invest in your people! For as little as $750/person in ergonomic tools—such as sit-to-stand, a proper task chair, keyboard tray or monitor arm—you can see some serious return on investment. For example, by investing $750 in a $45,000/year employee, you can get a 300 percent ROI in the first year. Note, that’s using a conservative five percent increase in productivity. The median increase is around 12 percent. Proper training is critical; make sure to get everyone trained for maximum benefits. Repurpose Many companies have an empty office, unused conference room, or a handful of unoccupied workstations. You can repurpose these areas as casual lounge space or an impromptu collaborative area. Better yet, this can be a quiet place for your people to step away from their desks (or co-workers) and take time to recalibrate. Studies show that taking as little as five minutes to practice mindfulness can help with physical and mental well-being. If you have unused space you’re paying for every month, this one is a no brainer. Give your employees a getaway where they can restore and refresh. See how easy it can be? Now go forth and make some small changes that will lift your people up, not bring them down!