After almost an year of staying indoors and working from home, 2021 brings a desire for normalcy in terms of freedom and a yearning for human contact. When the pandemic started, Indian work culture witnessed a massive transition from work from office to work from home. Everything became dependent on technology, be it daily feedback or team meetings. Now that we have welcomed the a balance between working remotely and working from office, we foresee shifts in how we view our work environments. We can now anticipate a demand for workspaces that are more considerate of employee well-being and wellness.

Working from home during the pandemic was initially successful largely due to the organizational community that was already established in the office. This community was a result of networking and connectivity which is a direct function of the workspace design. Now, we can expect emphasis on gathering spaces like conference areas. Space plans that direct traffic flow to these location would be appreciated more.

Design trends centered around access to natural light help encourage creativity. Biophilic design elements will also help promote a connection with the natural world and create a balanced work environment even when the weather does not permit us to utilize outdoor spaces. 

Assigned desks might no longer make sense now as hybrid schedules are being seen as desirable from both an employer’s and employee’s perspective. Hence, there may be increase use of hoteling or flexible workstations.

Even though we are longing to go back to office, the change of routine and the uncertainty surrounding safety can be a little anxiety inducing. Creating more inviting spaces where people can connect, if even at a distance, will be important now more than ever. 

As we move forward in the 2021, we will see greater investment in design that supports workplace wellness and work-life balance. These concepts were already there before the pandemic, but their importance have now been magnified even more.