We spend a significant proportion of our waking lives in the office. So what is the perfect workspace? Science has the answers. Everything from our desk shape and workspace layout to the color of the office influences how we work.

2. 6%
vehicles
7%
outdoors
87%
indoors

3. The office environment influences
happiness and productivity
Acoustics Lighting
Heating
Ventilation
Air conditioning

5. Ergonomic Design: the practice of designing
products, systems or processes to take proper
account of the interaction between them and the
people who use them
A desk setup should:
1. Provide optimum comfort
2. Avoid stress or injury
3. Increase productivity
4. Promote clear thinking

6. Sitting in a circle
provokes a
collective
mindset

7.  Each setting rated in
terms of:
o Pleasure (how happy or
hopeful)
o Approach (how much time
they'd like to spend in the
room; how sociable the
room made them feel)
 Curvilinear (rounded)
furniture provokes
significantly higher
ratings
o More comfortable, inviting,
calming and pleasant.
Source: Dazkir, S. and Read, M. (2011). Furniture Forms and Their Influence on Our
Emotional Responses Toward Interior Environments. Environment and
Behavior DOI:10.1177/0013916511402063.

8. • Location and position
of a desk is important
• Furniture that team
members can
rearrange themselves
• Accessible, private,
soundproof work
areas
• Higher ceilings

10. Energy, attention to detail, alert,
aggressive
Promoting new ideas, comforting,
calming
Stimulating, bright, cozy,
brainstorming
Open, neutral, sterile
Intellect, wisdom
Creativity, sophistication

12. Dim
Idea
generation,
creativity,
focus
Bright
Analytical and
evaluative
thinking,
increased
productivity

14. Day
Light
is best.

15. Overhead lighting
 Headaches, eye
strain
 Fatigue
 Feelings of
sleepiness at the
end of the day
Natural lighting
 Boosts efficiency
 Workers sleep
better and show up
well-rested
 Increased
productivity

17. Sound is the most
scientifically-proven
workplace drain!
Higher levels of
epinephrine in workers
who were exposed to
low levels of noise,
when compared to
workers exposed to no
noise.
Source: Evans, G.W. and Johnson, D. (2001). Stress and open-office noise. Journal of
Applied Psychology DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.85.5.779.

18. • Negative moods
• Inability to concentrate
• Health Issues
• Stress: worsen all stress-related
conditions like coronary diseases, high
blood pressure, peptic ulcers or migraine
headaches.

19. There are all these
scientific formulas and
tools to identify a noise
problem

20. • Using noise-cancelling headphones
• Listening to music
• Providing a quiet place to go when
extreme focus is needed
• Installing acoustical ceiling tiles/wall
panels/dividers/carpet

22. • Cooler temperatures are the top cause
of afternoon productivity lags.
• 20°C or lower in an office increases
work errors.
• Above 20°C, typing errors drop by 44%
and typing output increases by 150%
• Workers are most productive in
temperatures between 21°C and 25°C.

24. ASHRAE sets rigorous indoor air quality specifications
Consequences of bad ventilation:
• Asthma
• Skin irritation
• Sinus congestion
• Headaches
• Allergies
• Coughing
• Dry throat
• Mould growth
• CO2 accumulation
• Increased accidents
• SICK BUILDING SYNDROME!

25. • Stuffy or stale conditions
• Odors
• Humidity, dampness, window condensation
• Pressure imbalances
• Noise or drafts from vents
• Dust and dirt accumulation
• Hot/cold spots
• Comfort or health issues
• High utility costs

27. Comfortable, well-lit, well-
ventilated, safe workplaces
increase
Productivity
by
16%
Job
satisfaction
by
24%
Staying
on task
by
15%