Is Now the Time for Open Office Concepts

I've long been opposed to open-office plans. Every time I worked in one, they struck me not as creative or collaborative but rather as noisy and distracting. What's the point in building communal working spaces if everyone needs to wear noise-canceling headphones to get any work done?

But, with the rise of hybrid work, when more in-office interactions are explicitly designed around collaboration and focused work is done remotely, I'm beginning to shift my thinking. Well-thought-out open offices replete with conference rooms, whiteboards, private booths for calls, and maybe a foosball table make more sense today than they ever have.

One major downside remains - we have nowhere to put all our junk. Do you still want to carry around your travel mug three hours after you finish your coffee? Schlep your backpack from planning session to project update to client meeting? Maybe it's time to go back to high school.

Pair, the office furniture company, has released a new line of SOMA lockers that give employees a secure place to store their things. From this Fast Company article, the designs look great and they even include a USB charger so you can charge your personal devices while you work.

Maybe it's time to breakout my old Jansport and Trapper Keeper!

Read more from Fast Company.