Alexander Twaddle
Hide Away Office
The pandemic has further accelerated the rising trend of remote work and is projected to become part of the New Normal. When incorporating the office into the home, it is important to keep them separate in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance. However, a remote worker’s well being can be negatively impacted if they live in a small space that does not provide room for a designated office. The effects of blending home and work space together can affect one’s ability to relax or focus. The product of this thesis provides a solution to create separation for work and life by converting the current living room space into a dual purpose space.
Remote Work is here to stay
1 in 4 Americans
Over 26% of the workforce will be working remotely through 2021
97% of workers would like to work remotely, at least some of the time, for the rest of their career
59% of workers are more likely to choose an employer who offers remote work vs those who don’t
The remote work force will grow by 16.8 million workers above pre-pandemic levels
Market Research
Custom solutions: Are tailored to user needs however the combined cost of design and construction comes at a premium
Prefabricated Solutions: Are able to fit more spaces as free standing units but still are cost prohibitive for the amount of material and installation needed
Furniture Solutions: Are adaptable to most spaces but do not provide sufficient spatial separation to create an office
The opportunity is to create a furniture piece that creates separation without remodeling or altering the existing space
Context
Apartments layout were collected to understand where a design solution could work across different spatial layouts. The living room was selected because it was the most consistent across multiple floor plans and was also seen as an underutilized space that was only useful at select parts of the day.
User needs
A visual survey was conducted to understand what people need when working from home
Final Concept
The hideaway office enables a person to transform their relaxing living room into a productive office environment.
Day in the life
This is Emma.
Emma is a freelance copywriter who is working remotely and living in a one bedroom apartment. The Hide away office enables to use her space to focus on her wellbeing in the morning and evening. When ready, she can reveal a workspace that helps her focus when she needs to transition to begin her focused work.
