Work today looks very different from what it was just a few years ago. Teams move faster; collaboration happens in shorter bursts and focus time has become just as important as connection. Yet many workplaces are still shaped by older assumptions, where space is fixed, and people are expected to adapt to it. Then it becomes clear that existing spaces are often underutilized or no longer aligned with how work actually happens.
As the authorized dealer of Steelcase in Indonesia, Vinoti brings global workplace research into a more practical, local perspective. We help organizations rethink how their spaces can better support the way people work today.
Sometimes, the biggest shift doesn’t come from adding more space, but from rethinking how existing spaces are used.
Rethinking the Conference Room
Large conference rooms were originally designed to support formal, scheduled meetings. However, research shows that most meetings today involve smaller groups and occur more frequently throughout the day. As a result, these larger spaces are often underutilized.
By reconfiguring conference rooms into a series of smaller, more flexible spaces, organizations can better support a wider range of activities. These spaces can accommodate quick discussions, hybrid meetings, and focus on individual work when needed. This shift allows the same footprint to deliver greater functionality and higher usage.
Finding Balance in Open Workstations
Open-plan offices were designed to bring people together. But over time, they’ve also introduced new challenges especially when it comes to focus. With more virtual meetings happening throughout the day, constant noise and visual distractions can make it harder to concentrate.
Rather than moving away from open layouts entirely, the shift today is about creating balance. Simple additions like acoustic screens, subtle partitions, or nearby quiet zones can help employees stay focused without feeling isolated.
A good workspace doesn’t force a choice between collaboration and privacy; it supports both seamlessly.
Activating the Lounge Space
Lounge spaces are commonly included in the workplace to support informal interaction. However, many of these areas remain underused because they are not designed to support work activities.
To increase their effectiveness, lounge spaces can be enhanced with simple functional elements such as access to power, appropriate work surfaces, and more supportive seating. With these adjustments, lounge areas can support a broader range of activities, from casual meetings to individual work, while still maintaining a relaxed atmosphere.
This makes them more relevant to daily work patterns and encourages greater use.
Reimagining the Meeting Room
Not all meetings are the same. So why should every meeting room be?
Traditional setups with fixed tables and static layouts can feel limited, especially when teams need to collaborate in different ways. More workplaces are now embracing flexibility. Movable furniture, writable surfaces, and integrated technology allow teams to shape the space around their needs, whether it’s a brainstorming session, a workshop, or a hybrid discussion.
When a space can adapt easily, people tend to use it more intuitively and more effectively.
Moving Towards Activity-Based Workspaces
Perhaps the biggest shift is in how we think about the workplace as a whole.
Work is no longer one dimensional. In a single day, someone might need to focus deeply, collaborate with a team, join virtual meetings, and take a moment to recharge. A uniform workspace simply can’t support all of that. This is where activity-based design comes in. Creating a variety of spaces within the same environment, each supporting a different way of working. Instead of staying in one spot, people can move naturally throughout the day, choosing the setting that best fits their task.
It's more fluid, the human way of working, and one that reflects reality far better.
A More Thoughtful Way to Design
The workplace doesn’t need to be completely rebuilt to stay relevant. Often, it just needs to be rethought with a clearer understanding of how people work today.
At Vinoti, we combine Steelcase’s global research with hands-on expertise to help organizations transform their spaces into environments that feel more intuitive, flexible, and supportive. Because ultimately, a well-designed workplace isn’t just about how it looks-it's about how it works for the people inside it.
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Source:
Steelcase. Reinventing Five Essential Spaces: Before & After.
https://www.steelcase.com/asia-en/research/articles/topics/design/reinventing-five-essential-spaces-before-after/