As we mark International Women’s Day 2024, Modus reflects on the recent history of female professionals in the workplace design sector. Over the past century, women have evolved from peripheral figures in the design industry to central forces, shaping the environments we navigate daily, and making these environments more accessible, welcoming, and productive for all. This article celebrates the indomitable spirit and invaluable contributions of women in workplace design, and looks to a future of innovative, empowering and inclusive working environments.
Design and build companies play a crucial role in shaping the environment in the construction industry. As sustainability becomes an increasingly important concern, we must stay ahead of the curve by understanding and adopting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) certifications.
Carbon Clean partnered with us to design their new workspace within The Forge, LandSec’s first net zero carbon building. The sustainable design, featuring ocean waste island units, flax seed flooring, and recycled fabrics, reflects Carbon Clean’s commitment to reducing emissions and meeting the SKA Gold rating. This innovative, adaptable workspace embodies the company’s vision for a greener, more collaborative future.
Activity-based working (ABW) is a workplace strategy emphasising flexibility, choice, and collaboration. The idea behind activity-based working is to create a work environment that supports the way people work rather than forcing them to adapt to a specific layout.
The increase in flexible working has resulted in a situation colloquially referred to as “The Mid-Week Mountain”, a phenomenon characterised by a peak in mid-week office attendance, book-ended by a noticeably quiet Monday and Friday.
There is an important human responsibility, as well as a strong business argument, for providing a workplace that facilitates all employees to produce their best work in comfort. People who are neurodivergent (meaning their brain functions, learns and processes information differently), can be real assets in the workforce due to their unique abilities and extraordinary creativity, but only if their environment assists them to focus.
The UK may have avoided a recession, but economic pressures continue to present challenges for the property market, making it more important than ever to offer the types of spaces occupiers are looking for. Sustainability, wellbeing and amenities remain deciding factors in the desirability of commercial real estate. This is how and why they’re continuing to shape the future of the property market.
Our design team had the opportunity to visit the Lighthouse in King’s Cross to attend the David Hockney: Bigger & Closer exhibition. David Hockney is a celebrated artist who significantly contributed to the pop art movement during the 60s. Through projection mapping techniques, the ‘Bigger & Closer’ exhibition allowed our designers to experience some of Hockney’s most iconic pieces through a new lens. The specialist software used maps of both 2D and 3D objects, creating a virtual environment that emulates the world within.
While the concept of future-proofing is nothing new, it’s becoming increasingly important given the growing pace of change in technology and employee priorities. New ways of working have placed office design front-and-centre when it comes to promoting employee wellbeing and productivity.
