The Superhuman Office: Future-Ready Workplace Design in an AI-Enabled World

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FUTURE

- READY WORKPLACE DESIGN IN AN AI- ENABLED WORLD

Senior Design Strategist

Kristina Koch
Perkins Eastman
Rupert Breheny
Cobalt AI Advisor
Ex-Google Engineer
Civilization advances by extending the number of operations we can perform without thinking about them.
Alfred North Whitehead

Early 20th Century

20th

Preparing for the next steps in the evolution of high-value human skills

out of top 15 'skills on the rise' are soft skills

Uniquely human capability or attitude

Hard or technical skill

73% of respondents said it is important to ensure human capabilities in the organization keep pace with technological innovation.

Just 9% say they are making progress toward achieving that balance.

Source: 2024 Global Human Capital Trends

Introducing…

How might we enable...

Collaboration & Connection

Creativity & Divergent Thinking Curiosity & Lifelong Learning

Today

Focused thinking to get stuff done

Divergent thinking for creative solutions

“Best humans still outperform artificial intelligence in creative divergent thinking tasks.”
Source: Mika Koivisto & Simone Grassini
“Companies that promoted collaborative working were 5× as likely to be high- performing”

Source: Babson College Study

Both 'weak' and 'strong' ties are key to the future of work, boosting culture, productivity, wellbeing, and innovation.

Weak Tie INNOVATION

Strong Tie CULTURE, PRODUCTIVITY, WELL-BEING

Is your office supporting the need for accelerated learning?

Source: Vivisum Partners LLC

Curiosity: The Currency Of Progress

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
Source: Albert Einstein letter to Carl Seelig (1952)
to help boost enduring human skills in an AI- enabled world

Design for Every Mind

Inclusive design unlocks human potential by helping everyone perform at their best, enhancing creative thinking and team collaboration.

Nature Elements

Biophilic design helps reduce stress and enhance focus

Lighting

Diffuse lighting provides even illumination, reduces glare and creates a calming ambience

Sense of Separation

Cocoon like furnishings help minimize distractions and reduce sensory overload

Zoning & Neighborhoods

Different zones for focused work, collaboration and relaxation allow employees to choose an environment suited to their tasks and preferences

Encourage Play

Play is a precursor to learning, creative thinking, and motivation.

A Place Where

People Want to Be

Welcoming environments bring people together, make them stay longer and deepen social bonds and help forge new connections

Novelty & Surprise

Unexpected design elements like bold color palettes, unexpected seating options (hammocks, anyone?), or hidden nooks & crannies add a sense of playfulness

Playfulness, Connection & Flow

Diverse space types and furnishings invite playful engagement and promote collaboration.

Feel ‘at home’

Employees are more confident and learn/think best when they have a 'stress-free' sense of ownership and control over their workspace.

Privacy

Interactions in open office environments can lead to social fatigue. Feeling watched "kills" creativity.

Comfort

A comfortable work environment that can be modified reduces stress, which helps learning

Objects of Identity

Allowing for personalization promotes creative thinking

Human art director (have ideas)

AI photographer (execute ideas)

46% of meeting attendees leave without understanding the next steps.

Impact: $37 billion in lost productivity.

Source: Association of Talent Development

How many AI images did you spot?
There's no fate but what we make for ourselves

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