[bcsdi]

BRIEF I CONCEPT I SOLUTION I DOCUMENTATION I IMPLEMENTATION

The psychology of office design:

A function of productivity and staff retention

process & philosophy

BRIEF
This forms the basis of all discussions and agreements between the
client and [bcsdi] and is the interpretation of the client need
CONCEPT
Dissecting the brief and client needs [bcsdi] is able to visually
illustrate the brief in 3D the concept is [bcsdi]s interpretation

Customers
must
recognize
that
you
stand
for
something

SOLUTION
After all parties to the project have commented on the concept it is
evolved to the design solution which is shown in computer
generated models and animations with all materials & finishes
DOCUMENTATION
The success of any project relies largely on the level of design
resolution, research, and level of detail achieved in the technical
documentation. Technical Documentation, be it shop drawings or a
CI Manual are produced and circulated to all parties
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation is the go live stage of the project where the design
is realized through construction, manufacturing, prototyping and
procurement until handover to the client for use. [bcsdi] uses
project or construction management methodology as tools to
manage and communicate the implementation process

[bcsdi]

purpose
[bcsdi] is a really cool full turnkey interior design practice creating
innovative interior design solutions for open minded clients
[bcsdi] is an intellectual, competitive, creative & energized design
agency with an unrelenting & passionate desire to add value to
our clients bottom line, businesses & processes through our space
assessments, workplace planning, interior design & 3D BRANDING
solutions

A
brand
name
is
more than a
word. It is
the
beginning of
a
conversation

innovate

SPACE PLANNING
3D BRAND DEVELOPMENT
ARCHITECTURAL INTERIOR DESIGN
INTERIOR DECORATING

activate

SPACE ASSESSMENT
PRODUCT DESIGN
PROCUREMENT SOLUTIONS
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

[bcsdi]

projects

JHI
Spar
Ericsson
JD Group
Urban Ocean
Barclays Bank
Standard Bank
Deutsche Bank
Coke Chaywa
General Electric
Octane Properties
Schwartz Jewellers

corporate l leisure l retail l residential

Dubai
Egypt
Tanzania
Kenya
Ghana
Senegal
Mozambique
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Mauritius
Seychelles
Uganda
South Africa

content
1. Features
a. Noise/Acoustics
b. Thermal comfort
c. Lighting 3
i. Daylight
ii. Light Levels
iii. Light Contrast

Upset
the
status
quo
and propose
new,
more
agile
and
innovative
solutions to
client needs

d. Ergonomics
e. Color & Texture
f.

Workplace - Design Layout

g. Workstation - Design Layout

2. Benefits
a. Productivity
b. Well-being
c. Staff Retention

[bcsdi]

Frederick
W. Taylor

[bcsdi]

features
1.a. noise/acoustics

Design
is
not just what
it looks like
and
feels
like. Design
is
how
it
works

[bcsdi]

noise/acoustics
DO

Provide speech privacy

Block sound with absorbent surfaces

Provide a sound masking system

DO

NOT
Expose occupants to noise sources
Create small workstations with low partitions
Allow sound to be distracting

[bcsdi]

noise/acoustics
Workstation size:
Sound diminishes over distance : larger workstations reduce the amount of noise
Orientation:
Orientation of workstation openings and of occupants can reduce the level of noise
Office Layout:
Group noise-generating resources i.e meeting rooms, group discussion areas, lunch
rooms
Office Etiquette:
Introduce an office etiquette policy
Encourage open-plan office workers to speak more quietly, use headphones for music,
avoid speaker phones, etc
Steer clear of using wooden flooring

[bcsdi]

noise/acoustics
Research:
Noise and Stress
Loud noise is a stressor and affects physiological functioning
Exposure to loud noise - risk for disorders and health problems
Excessive noise causes loss of concentration, fatigue and headaches
Use of masking sound
The masking sound needs to be loud enough to effectively cover office noise, but not
so loud that it creates a disturbance itself 5Db
Partition height:
Partitions need to be high enough to block sound paths between
Partition heights greater than 1.7 m would be ideal.
Consider all aspects of the indoor environment when choosing partition height

[bcsdi]

features
1.b. thermal comfort

Upset
the
status
quo
and propose
new,
more
agile
and
innovative
solutions to
client needs

[bcsdi]

thermal comfort
DO

Provide adequate supply of outdoor air

Provide some individual control over temperature, air velocity, and/or air direction
Clean and maintain the ventilation system and the office space

DO NOT

Choose furnishings and equipment that emit high levels of contaminants

Place occupants close to contaminant sources
Block air diffusers or create draught
Use very high partitions
Ignore occupant complaints and symptoms

[bcsdi]

thermal comfort
Research:
Temperature
Research shows that a hot or cold environment reduces comfort and productivity
Winter and summer values of 20 to 24C and 23 to 26C respectively are comfortable,
Approximately 1/3rd of employee sick leave can be attributed to symptoms caused by
poor IAQ
Humidity
Humidity of at least 30%
Humidity is desirable, without it, occupants can experience problems with dry eyes,
nose, throat or skin, and static electricity
Excess humidity is also problematic because it increases the risk of infection, promotes
mould and bacteria growth, and amplifies discomfort
Personal Air Delivery
One study found that occupants with desk-mounted personal air delivery were more
satisfied with ventilation, odor, and thermal conditions

[bcsdi]

features
1.c. lighting
daylight
light levels
light contrast

The
reasonable
man adapts
himself to the
world; the
unreasonable
one persists
in trying to
adapt the
world to
himself.
Therefore all
progress
depends on
the
unreasonable
man

[bcsdi]

lighting
DO

Provide adequate task luminance

Provide access to daylight
Use fluorescent lamps with good color rendering
Provide some individual lighting controls

DO

NOT
Allow walls and ceilings to be dark and cave-like
Permit glare problems
Create a colorless, blandly uniform office
Use glossy surfaces

[bcsdi]

lighting
Lighting a Space for the Occupants
86% of respondents believed that improvements in lighting would reduce the incidence
of symptoms

[bcsdi]

lighting
Research:
Light Levels
Levels must match task demands and individual preferences
Ambient: 100 300 Lux
Focus: 300 - 700 Lux
Surface Appearance
The brightness of vertical surfaces, as well as horizontal task surfaces, is important for
occupant comfort
Ambient light quantity contribute greatly to the atmosphere of a space
Light walls create a perceptually bright, pleasant atmosphere

[bcsdi]

features
1.d. ergonomics

Design is in
everything
we
make,
but its also
between
those things.
It's a mix of
craft,
science,
storytelling,
propaganda,
and
philosophy

[bcsdi]

ergonomics
The science of fitting work and the work environment to people so they dont get hurt
and tired.
Consider the changing sizeboth numerically and physicallyof people in the work
force:
their tasks
work space
their safety
health
comfort
This involves an appreciation and application of ergonomics
Ergonomics is all about:
efficiency
safety
ease of use
ease of operation
It is equally important in terms of the company's competitive position
If you feel happy at work, you perform better and you contribute more to the company
or organisation you work for.

[bcsdi]

ergonomics
What Chair Design Can Do
Good seating design can improve anatomical performance by lessening ergonomic
stresses on the body
Seating designers attempt to alleviate stresses through the design of chairs
This is not a simple task; the interaction between body, posture, the work surface,
personal preference, and the chair can be complex
Chairs can have an impact on back comfort and health to the extent that they affect
the major ergonomic risk factors of sitting

[bcsdi]

ergonomics
Where a workstation is part of an assembly of furniture units, there must be a
minimum width of 80cm, with extra space on the left or right for putting things
Another important aspect is the depth of the worktop.
This is dictated by the total of the size of the keyboard, the depth of the monitor and
the distance between the screen and the worker's eyes
This viewing distance varies from 45 cm to 70 cm depending on the definition of the
screen and the operator's eyesight
Altogether, this means that an overall worktop depth of at least 80cm is standard.
Those wanting more depth can opt for 90 or 100 cm
It is understood that the height of the worktop is closely linked to the height of the
person
According to the official standard, a good worktable is adjustable over a 20cm range
between the heights of 62 and 82 cm
Short people must be provided with an adapted seat height and a footrest. Tall people
must have a worktop that has been adapted to their height

[bcsdi]

features
1.f. color & texture

In today's
fast
paced
economic
environment
, if you do
not
stand
out you sure
are
insignificant
ergo
you
loose market
share

[bcsdi]

color & texture

The more we understand color the better use we can make of it
Joy Through Color Absent from Offices
Historically the use of color was to manipulate people in the workplace
We Perceive Colors Depending on Whats Around Them
EXAMPLE: We are all well aware of how grey carpets seem to shift in color, depending
on the surrounding wall color
This occurs because our perception of one color becomes tinged toward the color
around it
Some Colors Make Objects Appear Closer
We tend to perceive warm-colored objects as closer than cool-colored
Consider using light colors for large areas, such as partitions, with stronger or darker
accents to provide visual interest

[bcsdi]

color & texture

Language Describes Colors and Their Effect on Us
Non-measurable, attributes, such as shocking pink and clear-sky blue, are more than
just adjectives
They are terms we use to explain the effect a color has on us
Users should first respond to the question
What should the space feel like or what mood do you want to create?
Blue brings down blood pressure and slows respiration and heart rate
Orange evokes excitement, enthusiasm and is an energetic color
Purple is associated with luxury as well as creativity
Red raises a rooms energy level
Crimson can make some people feel irritable
Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness.
Green is considered the most restful color for the eye
Neutrals (black, gray, white, and brown) are basic to the decorators tool kit

[bcsdi]

color & texture

Roger S. Ulrich
The findings suggest that stressed individuals feel significantly better after
exposure to nature scenes rather than to urban scenes lacking nature
elements including feelings of affection friendliness, playfulness, and elation
The major effect of the urban scenes was to increase Sadness
There was also a consistent but non-significant tendency for the urban scenes toaggravate feelings of Anger/Aggression, and for the nature scenes to reduce such
feelings
The results suggest that outdoor visual environments can influence individuals'
psychological well-being, and therefore should be given explicit attention in planning
and design decisions
A related implication is that location and design decisions for some activities and
institutions such as high stress workplaces and hospitals should assign
considerable importance to providing 'through the window' contact with nature

[bcsdi]

features
1.e. workplace design
- layout

A business
based
on
brand
is,
very simply,
a
business
primed
for
success

[bcsdi]

workplace design - layout

Energizing Office Design
Q: Why did office design and planning get stuck?
A : For mainly three main reasons:
Everyone involved in the process has lost sight of the true customer THE OFFICE
WORKER
Inadequate models were used - Simply derived from the hierarchy of the organization
chart
Management consultants rarely focus on the importance of physical space and the
benefits it has on the companys bottom line or return on investment

[bcsdi]

workplace design - layout

90% of US office workers believe that better design leads to better overall performance
You can increase work output by 21% if their office environment is better designed
Surprisingly, a great workplace environment can even be enough to make employees
agree to an extra hour of work each day
Nearly all top executives (90%) said that a better office environment is key to a better
bottom line
Because people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and much of it in their
workplaces, the physical environment in offices should be carefully designed and
managed
So what constitutes good workplace design?

[bcsdi]

workplace design - layout

Dr Francis Duffy author of The Changing Workplace
1.
2.
3.
4.

The
The
The
The

HIVE - open plan, humming with activity

CLUB - 18th-century coffee-house style, for deals and ideas and bonding
DEN - for intense communicative work among a small number of people
CELL - where an individual works in a contemplative sort of way

These methods, researched and implemented over more than thirty years, are entirely
appropriate for the general purpose planning of office space.

[bcsdi]

workplace design - layout

"Our first, immediate reaction to our surroundings is of an emotional nature
Importance of Third Places
With the growth of self-employment and home working, the need for a 'third place' to
meet clients and to spark ideas becomes more important
Offices With Ambience
The idea: Create comfortable places and it will significantly affect employees
productivity, creativity and attitudes about their work - employees will work longer,
harder and more profitably
Designing green
Theres a push to use materials that are friendly to the environment, such as using
bamboo instead of mahogany

[bcsdi]

features
1.f. workstation
design layout

Foundation
design is a
search, not for
the
right
answers, but
for
the
significant
questions

[bcsdi]

workstation - design layout

Research:
Musculo-skeletal Pain
The human body is adaptable, but it has limits. Workstation set-ups that fail to support
the body, or that require unnecessary repetitive motions, can cause pain and disability
Personalization
The items that occupants display express their identities and contribute to others
impressions of them, thereby playing a role in social relations
Workstation Size
Workstations that are too small also lack storage and surface space, which can directly
impede the work process
Workstations which are too large can result in long distances to shared resources and
may increase social isolation
Research recommends workstation sizes of 6.3 m2 or greater

[bcsdi]

content
2. Benefits
a.

Productivity

b.

Well-being

c.

Staff Retention

Upset
the
status
quo
and propose
new,
more
agile
and
innovative
solutions to
client needs

[bcsdi]

benefits
2.a. productivity

The greatest
challenge
to
any thinker is
stating
the
problem in a
way that will
allow
a
solution

[bcsdi]

productivity
What is Productivity?
An organizations productivity is the value of its output relative to the value of its input
Office Space and Organizational Productivity
Designers, facilities managers, and organizations must think more broadly about the offices
that they provide
Good design and operation will help to alleviate problems and ensure that modern office
designs promote, rather than inhibit, organizational productivity.

[bcsdi]

productivity
A well-designed, employee-friendly office boosts productivity as much as 25%
Business leaders should take account of the links between good workplace design and
improved business performance
Poor workplace design, by contrast, is linked to lower business performance and higher
level of stress experienced by employees
Through research, it has become clear that improvements to the office can influence
employee:
Innovation
satisfaction
commitment
task performance
health
comfort
These employee outcomes are essential to an organizations success

[bcsdi]

benefits
2.b. well-being

I
prefer
design
by
experts - by
people
who
know
what
they
are
doing

[bcsdi]

well-being
Indoor environments strongly affect human health.
The cost to the USs workforce of upper respiratory diseases so far back as 1995 was
$35 billion in lost work
The study estimates that more healthful office environments could reduce these costs
by 10%-30%.
Psychological well-being will have positive impacts on:
work effectiveness
stress reduction
job satisfaction
organizational commitment
Reap the fiscal, physical, and psychological benefits of healthy buildings & offices

[bcsdi]

benefits
2.c. staff retention

Design is in
everything we
make, but its
also between
those things.
It's a mix of
craft, science,
storytelling,
propaganda,
and
philosophy

[bcsdi]

staff retention
Well-designed workplaces can be a valuable recruiting and retention tool
The business world is becoming more competitive
Employees are working in optimally designed office spaces
Due to a shortage of workers, businesses have to attract and retain qualified, educated, and
technology-savvy employees by providing enticingly positive, energetic, flexible, and dynamic
workplaces
Present-day work environments are being designed more for employees and their work needs
- added team spaces, larger computer monitor screens, furniture systems, break-away areas,
informal meeting rooms, hot desking to name but a few
Those employers who ignore the evidence of office design as an enabler of staff satisfaction
and performance risk the loss of key staff and ultimately business success
If your office design is uncompetitive, youll lose both staff and recruits
Something to think about : In a generally positive atmosphere, people will value the quality of
their work experience higher than pay. The converse is true: if morale is poorpeople focus on
their money

[bcsdi]

Thank you!

www.bcsdi.com
info@bcsdi.com

[A quantum leap has occurred in Spatial Interior Design with contemporary society and its consumers become
more discerning and sophisticated. Businesses, aware of the increasingly visually astute customer, are up
against a sea of competitors to gain brand loyaltyCutting edge design once only seen in bars and hotels is
spilling into office & retail design; Despite the power of introducing strong design statements into these environments,
attracting customers and building brand awareness are still the principle concerns of the design process]