Want a workspace that feels like home? Here’s how to design for everyone’s needs

Your workplace often feels like a second home, and just like your actual abode, it should be a space where everyone feels welcome and valued. By focusing on accessibility, functionality, and comfort, you ensure that your workplace not only meets the varied needs of different people but also enhances their experience.

Workplace environments should be designed to make everyone feel welcome and engaged, regardless of gender, race, or ability, says Kunal Sharma, Founder & CEO at Flipspaces, emphasises. “Designing inclusive spaces is not just about compliance but about commitment. A well-designed environment reflects a company’s values and enhances the experience for everyone involved,” Sharma adds.

He suggests the following 7 key principles that help create inclusive workplace spaces:

Opt for universal design: These designs ensure that spaces are usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities. For example, designing wide, ramped entrances that are accessible to both able-bodied people and wheelchair users ensures smooth entry for all.

• Example: A co-working space with automatic sliding doors and smooth, wide ramps ensures that people with mobility aids or strollers can enter without hassle.

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Impartial use of space: A truly inclusive space allows people with different needs and preferences to use it effectively. For instance, creating flexible environments with adjustable desks that cater to both standing and sitting preferences helps employees work comfortably in their preferred position.

• Example: A tech company includes height-adjustable desks in their office, catering to employees who alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.

Form and function: Inclusivity involves acknowledging different work styles and preferences. Commercial spaces should balance form and function by including diverse areas that accommodate various needs; collaborative zones for group work, quiet rooms for focused tasks, and ergonomic workstations for comfort.

• Example: An open-plan office with a mix of breakout spaces, soundproof booths, and comfortable desks allows employees to choose environments that suit their tasks, promoting productivity and comfort.

Uncomplicated and easy use: Keep it simple and accessible. Clear signage, straightforward layouts, and intuitive designs should be prioritised. Say, a shopping mall could incorporate well-marked pathways and clear signs pointing to food courts, restrooms, and exits.

• Example: A retail store incorporates bilingual signage with simple icons, making it easier for international visitors or those with reading difficulties to navigate.

Minimise risk and errors: Safety is a critical element of inclusive design. By reducing potential risks, designers can create spaces that are safe for everyone. Features like automatic doors that open slowly to prevent accidents or tactile ground surface indicators for people with visual impairments help mitigate hazards.

• Example: An airport installs tactile walking surfaces and audible crosswalk signals to assist visually impaired travelers while also preventing accidents for all.

Accessibility standards: Meeting legal accessibility standards is essential, but it should be seen as a starting point rather than a finish line. This includes ensuring that doorways are wide enough for wheelchairs, installing ramps and elevators, and equipping restrooms with grab bars and ample space for maneuvering.

Also read | 5 workplace trends in 2024: Anti-work movement, pay cuts for remote work, manager squeeze and more

• Example: A modern office building includes ramps, elevators, and wide hallways, making it easier for those with mobility aids to move around while ensuring that all restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Consider size, space, and usage: Space planning is essential to making commercial environments inclusive. Designers should ensure corridors are wide enough, seating is spaced thoughtfully, and furniture is ergonomic and adaptable to all body types.

• Example: A conference center designs its seating to be flexible, with removable chairs to accommodate wheelchairs, wider aisles, and ergonomic seating to cater to a variety of needs.