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End of remote work? -

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. 

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Employers changing their tune -

Many employers that offered remote or hybrid work conditions are changing their tune, demanding that employees return to their cubicles. 

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Return-to-office approach -

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."

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Statistics -

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. 

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Employers prefer hybrid model -

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. 

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Using design -

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?

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Creative office environments -

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. 

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Making the office feel like home -

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. 

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Common design choices -

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. 

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Interior designers -

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.

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Extension of home -

For example, in 2024, Saie Beauty, a company that resells "clean beauty" products, wanted the office to feel like "an extension of the home."

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Nordic feel -

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. 

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Common design reflected in office -

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. 

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GANNI -

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. 

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Ghia -

Alcohol company Ghia took the homey feeling to another level, by transforming a home into an office space, rightfully called the "Ghia house."

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Mouthwash Studio -

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. 

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Ceremony of Roses -

Music branding agency, Ceremony of Roses, also had their office space designed. Uniquely, they took their inspiration from the French Communist Party's headquarters.

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Cosmos -

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. 

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Airbnb -

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. 

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Ogilvy and Mathe -

Ogilvy and Mathe blends innovation and creativity in their office space in Jakarta, fostering out-of-the-box thinking, versatile workstations, and communal spaces. 

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Shopify -

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.

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Google -

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. 

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Canva -

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. 

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Pixar -

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. 

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Formlabs -

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. 

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goop -

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. 

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Coca-cola -

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. 

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Autotrader -

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. 

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Unilever -

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

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