Employee appropriation of virtual multispace offices diverges from designer intent
Employees actively adapt and redefine virtual multispace office environments based on their actual work practices, rather than adhering strictly to intended usage patterns.
Aaltodoc (Aalto University) · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Office space is not a static container but a dynamic force that shapes user behavior.
- 02Employees actively appropriate and adapt office spaces to their emergent work practices.
- 03There is a significant divergence between the intended use of multispace offices and how employees actually utilize them.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must observe and understand how users *actually* interact with a space to create environments that are truly functional and supportive, rather than relying solely on pre-defined intentions.
How to apply
When designing or redesigning workspaces, conduct ethnographic research (observations and interviews) to understand current work practices before finalizing design concepts.
Project actions
- 01When designing a space, think about how people might use it in ways you haven't considered.
- 02Observe people using existing spaces to understand their real needs.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Employs a practice theory perspective, offering a nuanced understanding of the social and material interplay.
- +Utilizes rich qualitative data from observations and interviews.
Limitations
The observed practices might be unique to the specific company or type of office studied.
Reliability & validity
The validity is strengthened by the use of multiple qualitative methods (observation, interviews). Reliability might be a concern due to the subjective nature of interpreting user practices.
Think critically
How can designers create spaces that are flexible enough to accommodate unpredictable user adaptations while still maintaining a coherent design vision?
Design Principles
"Design for emergent use: Spaces should be designed to accommodate and facilitate evolving user practices rather than dictating them."
This highlights a critical gap between the conceptualization of flexible workspaces and their lived experience. Designers and organizations must move beyond prescriptive layouts to understand and support the emergent, dynamic ways users interact with and shape their environments.
What This Means for Your Design
People use offices differently than designers expect, and they change the office as they use it.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this to justify observing users in your design project to understand their real needs and how they interact with prototypes or existing solutions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2015). Lifting the curtain on contemporary office: Expected versus actual practices of virtual multispace office. Aaltodoc (Aalto University). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/3bf61f15-caba-454b-85a0-7a20473bacc5/employee-appropriation-of-virtual-multispace-offices-diverges-from-designer-intent
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that user practices are dynamic and can significantly diverge from initial design intentions in multispace office environments. My design process will incorporate iterative observation and user feedback to ensure the final solution effectively supports emergent user behaviours, rather than relying solely on prescriptive design concepts.
Source
Aaltodoc (Aalto University)
Lifting the curtain on contemporary office: Expected versus actual practices of virtual multispace office
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about employee appropriation of virtual multispace offices diverges from designer intent?
- Designers must observe and understand how users *actually* interact with a space to create environments that are truly functional and supportive, rather than relying solely on pre-defined intentions. Evidence: Aaltodoc (Aalto University) (2015).
- Why does "Employee appropriation of virtual multispace offices diverges from designer intent" matter for design?
- This highlights a critical gap between the conceptualization of flexible workspaces and their lived experience. Designers and organizations must move beyond prescriptive layouts to understand and support the emergent, dynamic ways users interact with and shape their environments.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must observe and understand how users *actually* interact with a space to create environments that are truly functional and supportive, rather than relying solely on pre-defined intentions.
- What were the main findings?
- Office space is not a static container but a dynamic force that shapes user behavior.. Employees actively appropriate and adapt office spaces to their emergent work practices.. There is a significant divergence between the intended use of multispace offices and how employees actually utilize them.
- What research method was used?
- Practice theory-based fieldwork, including direct observations, interviews, and informal discussions..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Aaltodoc (Aalto University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or redesigning workspaces, conduct ethnographic research (observations and interviews) to understand current work practices before finalizing design concepts.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's findings may be specific to the particular organizational culture and type of virtual multispace office investigated.
- Is there evidence that virtual multispace affects design outcomes?
- The study found that employees don't use office spaces as intended; instead, they dynamically adapt the space to fit their evolving work needs, demonstrating that the physical environment and user practices are deeply intertwined. This highlights a critical gap between the conceptualization of flexible workspaces and t Source: Aaltodoc (Aalto University) (2015).
- Where does this office research apply?
- Contemporary office environments, specifically virtual multispace offices. It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
virtual multispace design research · evidence on virtual multispace · does virtual multispace improve design outcomes · office studies for designers · virtual multispace and office findings · user-centred design research evidence