Whether you’re renovating a kitchen or designing a car, every step in the process is defined by the intended outcome. Where should the stove go to make it easier to cook a meal? What extra features will keep passengers safest on the roads?
Designing a functional, adaptive workspace is no different. Starting with the very first step in the conceptual phase, input needs to be included from all stakeholders so that the final product meets their needs. By envisioning its future use through the lens of sales, marketing, engineering, and so on, it’s possible to create a space that works optimally for all involved. Here are some considerations to include in the initial planning process.
Ask the right questions
Thinking about how the room will be utilized is far more important than what it will look like. Design can always follow function, but the reverse can mean incurring hefty additional costs associated with retro-fitting equipment into an already completed space. To make the most of early-stage collaboration, pose function-based questions to stakeholders rather than design-focused ones. Walk through scenarios; where will the screen catch the least glare during a daytime presentation? In a full meeting, where is the most convenient location for a control panel? If someone needs to plug in their own device, where should that happen? By envisioning business activities playing out, glitches can be spotted and better ideas generated, long before the first hole is drilled.
Consider the guest experience
In addition to soliciting input from internal stakeholders on how they will utilize the space, ask them about guests they may bring in as well. In this era of BYOD, it’s not only hybrid workers who might arrive at the office with a laptop or tablet; visitors are likely to do so as well. Depending on who comes to mind, designs may need to include PC and Mac compatible components, multiple charger types, and specific networking setups to accommodate anyone smoothly. Screen placement relative to data input can be optimized for guests and workers alike. Design elements like storage cabinets and seating arrangements can be planned out for comfort, hospitality and functionality.
Double down on audio
After two years of zoom meetings, we all know the pitfalls of virtual gatherings. While it’s relatively easy to set up a room where everyone – on site and remote – can be seen, the difficulties almost always lie in the ability to hear or be heard. Those farthest from the microphone sound muted, especially if they’re talking through a mask. Those closest to it can cause feedback by talking near an output device. The list goes on. By delving into the functional needs and potential glitches of audio setup, AV tech professionals can account for the needs of all employees when planning out, for example, speaker options and microphone positioning. Even accounting for the sound spread in a room can help determine what materials are used for curtains and panels. There is no such thing as overplanning for audio.
AV has grown to be an integral part of overall office design and workflow. By working closely with internal stakeholders from day one, tech designers and installers can create a space that offers both eye-catching aesthetics and first-rate functionality the minute it’s complete.
