And the difference in wages between male and female cops
Working from home is becoming less frequent as more and more companies restrict remote working, opting for in-office mandates. With that, design trends are showing up more in offices, where the cold cubicles are being swapped for homey spaces. Spruced-up meeting rooms, comfortable corners to melt into your tasks, and truly innovative designs that make the office kind of feel like home is the future of these spaces.
Want to learn more about these trends? Click through the gallery.
A December 2024 Forbes article title asked its readership: 'Will 2025 mark the end of remote work?' This inquiry follows a trend in which more and more employers are urging workers to come back to the office.
Many employers that offered remote or hybrid work conditions are changing their tune, demanding that employees return to their cubicles.
Major companies like Dell and Amazon are mandating that workers return the full five days a week, in what's being referred to as the "return-to-office approach."
In the US alone, nearly 70% of employers offer some sort of work from home; 43% are hybrid models, which refers to some remote work and mandated office time.
Looking into 2025 work trends, studies show that employers seem to prefer a hybrid model, in which employees are typically required to spend a minimum of two to three days in-office.
Part of attracting employees back to the office is through the use of design. How can an office be a space that people actually want to spend time in?
A recent study demonstrated that creative office environments are not only more pleasant for employees to work in but also provoke more creative ideas and better work output.
According to Emma Apple Chozick, founder of gr8 collab and strategist to design-led brands, the strategy that companies are taking is to, ironically, make the office feel more homey.
Instead of peering out of your isolated cubicle, open workspaces with long, communal tables offering ease of communication between colleagues and lounges mark some common design choices.
Instead of companies just loading a van with products from Staples and IKEA, some are hiring interior designers to get an ideal look and feel.
For example, in 2024, Saie Beauty, a company that resells "clean beauty" products, wanted the office to feel like "an extension of the home."
Chozick also points to another example. WEDGE, a Montreal-based branding agency, wanted their offices to embody the "Danish way of life," pointing to a Nordic feel.
While these two companies offer examples of more common design trends reflected in the office space (i.e. minimalist, clean lines, open office), there are definitely unique examples out there, too.
Nordic fashion house GANNI tapped into their Scandinavian culture to push the idea of communal living in their office spaces. In-house chefs offer fresh meals daily to reinforce traditions of communal eating and life.
Alcohol company Ghia took the homey feeling to another level, by transforming a home into an office space, rightfully called the "Ghia house."
Mouthwash Studio, a research and design studio, also transformed its office space to feel very homey. A Southern-looking kitchen and long drapes behind large velvet couches are just some of the choices the company made in their space.
Music branding agency, Ceremony of Roses, also had their office space designed. Uniquely, they took their inspiration from the French Communist Party's headquarters.
Cosmos, a tech company that focuses on mood-boarding aesthetics, worked out of a vintage furniture store to get inspiration for the feel of the old and new coming together.
Big companies, too, are creating cool office spaces to attract workers and match their branding to the feel of their space. Pictured is Airbnb's office space in San Francisco.
Ogilvy and Mathe blends innovation and creativity in their office space in Jakarta, fostering out-of-the-box thinking, versatile workstations, and communal spaces.
Canada-based company Shopify has offices all over the world, but the Berlin office offers impeccable design taste. Each office space is designed in monochromatic divisions, prioritizing communal working.
Google's Zurich office is also a site of creativity and innovation, primarily focused on employee wellness. The office space features its own massive conference room where guest presentations can take center stage.
Creative software, Canva, has an inspiring office in Sydney. The space features a modern design in line with the brand's messaging, creative workspaces, and more private areas where employees can retreat for some quiet time.
Animation studio Pixar has a creative office space in Emeryville. Whimsical design concepts with bright colors and recreational spaces make the space prime for imaginative ideas.
Formlabs, a 3D printing company, certainly seeks to inspire its workers and to keep juices flowing. The office space in Massachusetts comes with an indoor climbing wall and plenty of gadgets.
Actress Gwenyth Paltrow's wellness brand, goop, has become a well-known name in the beauty industry. Their Santa Monica offices promote employee wellbeing, radiating in a warm and airy space.
Coca-cola's Bulgarian office is an open-plan space, that uses unique design innovations to reiterate the brand's iconic legacy, providing relaxing spaces, while still inspiring innovative thinking among its workforce.
UK-based company Autotrader's London office unsurprisingly has an auto theme. Vintage car pieces hang over open office spaces that give a cool, relaxed vibe. The office space has plenty of features for employee wellness, as well.
Unilever's Istanbul office features a great deal of natural light and eco-inspired design to drive home the brand's commitment to sustainability. Communal working spaces, wellness rooms that offer massages, and other features fill the brand's Turkish office space.
Sources: (Sociology of Business) (Forbes) (CALIBRO)
See also: Organic architecture: closing the gap between man and nature
Are office spaces at the forefront of design?
As remote workers return to offices, design innovation emerges
LIFESTYLE Work
Working from home is becoming less frequent as more and more companies restrict remote working, opting for in-office mandates. With that, design trends are showing up more in offices, where the cold cubicles are being swapped for homey spaces. Spruced-up meeting rooms, comfortable corners to melt into your tasks, and truly innovative designs that make the office kind of feel like home is the future of these spaces.
Want to learn more about these trends? Click through the gallery.