This document discusses how technology is changing the modern workplace. It finds that work is becoming more flexible, mobile, and humanized. Flexibility allows people to work anytime from various comfortable locations. Mobility reduces distances between people via technology. Work is becoming more humanized as personal lives are integrated into work through relaxed video calls and social media. This shifts work culture from isolation to connection. The document also discusses how technology frees up people's minds for more creative work by automating routine tasks. As a result, workplace design is shifting to emphasize comfort, social interaction, nature, and relaxation to support creativity. Technology and design evolve together, with technology performed by machines and design inspired by human creativity.

1. 1
THE FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE
–
April 2015
Prepared for

2. Are we working today the same way we used to work in the past?
Is technology taking over our lives? And our jobs?
Are we becoming less human? Too technical? More isolated?

3. 3
These are some questions
we’ve tried to answer via
qualitative research
14 in-depth interviews
Running
away
from
unconven1onal,
laboratory
se7ng.
We
carried
discussions
where
people
felt
more
comfortable:
cafes,
restaurants
Avoiding
SkypeJ
Discussing
with
open
minded
people
• Corporate
employees
• Small
/
medium
business
owners
or
employees
• Designers
and
architects
Various
fields
of
ac1vity:
pharmaceu1cals,
FMCG,
IT
&
telecom,
retail,
design

4. This is what we’ve discovered throughout discussions

5. Work conditions are definitely changing
Job time
anytime
FLEXIBILITY MOBILITY
HUMANIZING WORK
No distances
Work as humans
WORK IN HUBS
Design
Sales
Other industry
Actor
AccountantLawyer
YOU
HUB Lateral
thinking

6. 6
WORK FLEXIBILITY
Work
at
any
1me
of
the
day,
as
long
as
deadlines
are
met
Plan
more
thoroughly
the
day,
so
as
to
also
solve
personal
issues.
Do
not
postpone,
compromise
personal
life
Work
in
comfortable
places,
where
one
can
feel
more
relaxed
–
relaxa1on
rooms,
cafes,
hubs
Job time
anytime

7. 7
WORK MOBILITY
Shorten
distances
between
people,
wherever
they
are
in
the
world
Connec1on
is
borderless
There
is
no
space
limit
of
the
process.
One
could
be
in
one
place
and
several
places
at
the
same
1me
No distances

8. 8
WORK HUMANIZATION
Call
conferences
are
not
s1ff
and
serious
anymore.
More
relaxed,
could
hear
street
noises,
car
sounds,
kids
voices
as
background
sound
of
business
call
mee1ngs.
Life
does
not
stop
in
mee1ngs,
it
goes
on
while
working
Social
media
allows
access
to
humans,
not
just
works
colleagues.
People
get
to
know
each
other
as
people
which
makes
the
connec1on
stronger
(or
weaker,
in
case
of
people
incompa1bility
L)
Work as
humans

9. 9
WORK IN HUBS
Interdisciplinary
offices
to
encourage
lateral
thinking
Overcome
the
limits
of
my
own
thinking
and
competence
Work
in
complementary
teams
Lateral
thinking
Design
Sales Other
industry
Actor
AccountantLawyer
YOU
HUB

10. So what is actually changing with the way we work
PAST THE NEW, UPCOMING PRESENT
PEOPLE WORK
PEOPLE
WORK
Life stopped while working
Work put pressure on the individual
and built frustrations and inefficiency
Life goes on, flawlessly, while working
Work is part of life and defines who
I am

11. And consequences...
PEOPLE
WORK
More freedom
More creativity
More relaxation
BETTER RESULTS

12. How’s that possible if we live the era of technology? How’s
that possible for people to live more of their life if
everything is so automatized?
That’s ...
Technology does not steal the life of people
Technology gives it back to them
Technology helps people to get back in touch with their humanity
1st PARADOX OF TECHNOLOGY

13. Technological progress took over the pressure on the human brain to
operate with abstract, logistical, control tasks
And left room for creative, true human thinking
Technology is IQ, while people are EQ. Soft and genius
The 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration is SO OVER
Now INSPIRATION is taking over space of
human brain, grace to technological progress

14. HOW IS THAT IMPACTING WORKPLACES
From little boxes Endless horizons
TO

15. Impact on workplace design
Smaller working areas
Very comfortable chairs,
even personalized Relax
HOMEY

16. Impact on workplace design
BRAINSTORM

17. Impact on workplace design
SOCIALISE,
INTERACT

18. Impact on workplace design
PLAY & RELAX

19. Impact on workplace design (cont)
NATURE ELEMENTS /
OPEN AIR
Technology
upgraded design

20. Impact on workplace design (cont)
NATURE-INSPIRED BUILDING ARCHITECTURE

21. Impact on technology
• One single device (phone, photo,
computer, tablet)
• No wires, less plugins, wireless
charger
• Laptop 360
• Computer that filter the
huge amount on info /
personal agenda /
personalization

22. Impact on technology (cont)
• Minimalism (in size and volume)
• Touchscreens
• Design
• Increasing hardware capacity for
video storage

23. No doubt that technological progress has freed people
creativity
Technology does not replace people.
Technology frees them for becoming creative. The emergence of design
follows technological progress
Design is the product of the human creative brain, while technology is
the product of artificial intelligence
2ND PARADOX OF TECHNOLOGY

24. Smarter
Faster
Accurate
Lighter
Easier
TECHNOLOGY
Homey
Nature
Playful
Relaxed
Enliven
DESIGN
done by machines inspired by humans
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
GENUINE CREATIVITY
+

25. Visual
Art Freedom
Control
Order
Abstract
extroversion
introversion
individual
collective
DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY
Artificial
Intelligence
Genuine
creativity

26. THE MORE TECHNOLOGIGAL WE LIVE, THE MORE HUMAN WE ARE
THE MORE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, THE MORE CREATIVE WE BECOME
THE MORE THE TECHNOLOGY RELEASES US FROM MECHANICAL CHORES,
THE MORE TIME WE HAVE FOR LIVING

27. THE AMOUNT OF GOOD AND BAD IN THE WORLD IS CONSTANT
WHEN SOMETHING GOOD COMES UP, THE NEGATIVE ALSO ARISES
It is up on us, the humans, to chose on
what to focus
Technology will follow us through this new
journey

28. Now you know!
www.unlockers.ro
www.facebook.com/UnlockResearch
www.unlock-research.com
Thank you!