{"id":3897,"date":"2021-06-02T23:14:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T16:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreamplex.co\/?post_type=blog&p=3897"},"modified":"2023-08-20T18:26:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T11:26:00","slug":"how-do-we-design-more-innovative-workplaces-in-the-new-normal","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/dreamplex.co\/en\/blog\/how-do-we-design-more-innovative-workplaces-in-the-new-normal\/","title":{"rendered":"How do We Design More Innovative Workplaces in the New Normal?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How do We Design More Innovative Workplaces in the New Normal?<\/h1>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For many companies in Vietnam and abroad, innovation is a key pillar to grow and be competitive in the market. However, how can office design create more innovation? And how can innovation create better offices? To uncover this topic, Dreamplex partnered with AIA Vietnam to host the \u201cInnovation at Work\u201d webinar series and discussed the issue with key experts across the Asia\u2013Pacific region.\u00a0<\/b>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Across Workplaces, People, and Technology, Dreamplex explored the why, what, and how of \u201cInnovative\u201d Workplace Design. In the first episode covering the topic \u201cHow do we design more innovative offices?\u201d, Dreamplex discussed the issues with 3 guest speakers: Jessica Carr (Workplace Director APAC, Sodexo Singapore), Tuan Le (Founder at Lab Saigon, who designed the AIA Head Office) and James Woodburn (Head of Real Estate Asia, WPP Hong Kong).<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

A New Definition of Innovative Workplaces Design<\/b><\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3930″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]According to global management consultant McKinsey, innovation is at the top of the business agenda and it\u2019s also clear that it will play a key role in social and commercial recovery from the pandemic. Good workplace design pays, therefore tech companies all over the world invest heavily in the design of their workspaces to enhance creativity.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo clarify the concept of innovation in the workplace, at the beginning of the webinar, Daan van Rossum, Chief Experience Officer at Dreamplex raised the question: \u201cWhat is innovation in the workplace?\u201d. From guest speakers\u2019 experience in creating innovative workplaces in Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, they shared different perspectives about innovation that can\u2019t be found elsewhere. Not only creativity and ideas, innovative workplace design is also the harmonization of 3 critical criteria:<\/span>\r\n
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  1. Effectiveness:<\/b> As <\/span>Jessica Carr said: \u201cInnovation is something new, such as a product, service, process change which helps people become more effective.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Authenticity: <\/b>From the experiences of setting up AIA headquarters, <\/span>Tuan Le shared: \u201cIt needs to be authentic to your culture, to your company, to your vision. Think about innovation in the longer term: it\u2019s a process. It should be authentic. Doesn’t make sense when creating an environment-friendly office when selling plastic.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t
  3. People:<\/b> \u201c<\/span>Really for us, innovation is the people who are doing it\u201d – James Woodburn revealed his wisdom of creating innovative workplaces for corporations with more than 30,000+ employees.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nContrary to the normal norm, the definition of innovation at work is not only thinking of new ideas. It\u2019s a logical process of combining three perspectives into one flow: Innovation at work is to become more effective, focusing on employees\u2019 needs first and being authentic to the company\u2019s vision.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

    What is The Core Factor of Innovative Workplaces Design?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are hundreds of factors to keep in mind to design an innovative workplace, but everything has to start with a few core elements. Talking about the most essential factor of designing an innovative workplace, Jessica Carr shared her secret leading to successful projects for large Singapore companies: \u201cLet\u2019s begin with what\u2019s the key moments that matter in a person\u2019s day. When thinking about office design, we think about physical space. Obviously, it\u2019s to think about because it\u2019s tangible. But now let\u2019s think broadly. What factors can support people doing their best work? What do they need to get their work done? Don\u2019t forget the services that activate it, such as creating a coffee that encourages people to meet in groups.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nBesides, Jessica emphasized on creativity: \u201cIt doesn\u2019t need to be brand new entirely. It could be new to you. Not to your neighbor or the next-door tech company.\u201d Last but not least, don’t rush and lose patience in the creative process as Jessica concluded: \u201cIt takes time to mature and innovate at work.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

    How to Convert Employees’ Key Moments into Effectiveness?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Effectiveness at work is always a concern and headache of CEOs and senior managers and is also a key goal of workplace innovation. Therefore, designing a workplace that makes people more effective is a must-have. On this topic, James shared his simple but spot-on answer accumulated in his process of designing offices across 19 countries: \u201cTo enhance effectiveness, after gaining employees\u2019 key moments in a day, let\u2019s create seamless interaction between them backed by technology\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe seamless interaction means that employees can work in a smooth flow in 8 hours without a hitch. Technology plays a key role in making this possible. For example, automatic doors help employees enter the office smoothly and eliminate unnecessary movements, therefore their minds can focus on daily tasks immediately from the moment they walk in.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAnother is that the company data system automatically synchronizes information, from desktops, laptops to employees’ phones to help them stay in touch with colleagues and update the latest changes of the team, and suggestions from their boss.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn fact, seamless interaction has proven to be amazingly effective at work, with Apple as the most vivid example. By creating the smoothest experiences across their devices, from iPhones to iMacs, they have raving fans from all over the world.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n

    3 Steps to Design an Innovative Workplaces in The New Normal?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Over a year has gone by since the WHO declared coronavirus as a pandemic. Thanks to numerous efforts to control the pandemic from Asian governments, Asia Pacific is first getting back to normal. But a few things have changed, as Daan van Rossum pointed out: \u201cPeople need to rethink the role of the office\u201d since more and more people are now working from home. An innovative workplace is no longer just a physical office, it is now linked with a home workspace. Even so, companies can still design innovative workplaces following 3 steps below.<\/span>\r\n