Workplace Innovation Lab (Detail)

Workplace Innovation Lab

Challenge
The way we live and work has transformed in a blink of an eye. More than ever before, technology is the key to new possibilities for the future of work. Rooted in deep technology and network expertise, the client is uniquely positioned to become a thought leader for tomorrow’s workplace.How can we design a platform to reimagine how we experience and operate our future places of work?

Outcome
Leveraging a team of strategists, technologists, digital experience specialists, interior designers, and brand designers at Gensler, we developed the design and operational model for a workplace innovation lab. Throughout the project, we worked closely with the client to identify prioritized technologies to test, lab events and programming, and key personas and journeys to take into consideration. The lab is scheduled to be completed winter of 2021.

Client
Telecom Company

Methods
- Visioning Sessions
- Trends Research
- Design Concept Development
- Experience Strategy
- Operational Roadmap

Company
Gensler

Role
- Creative Direction
- Strategy Lead
- Project Management
- Client Engagement

Process

Over the course of 18 weeks, our team led a series of worksession for each of the 7 sprints on the design and operations of the workplace innovation lab. Client brainstorming and visioning sessions were held entirely online for the duration of the project.

Purpose

The lab is located on the client’s campus and is used for in-context testing for functionality, integration, usability, and resilience. Within the lab environment, our goal is to test technologies that add value to building operations and employee experiences. For example we can explore software and hardware solutions that improve building efficiency, analytics and sustainability, and enhance hospitality, choice, and wellbeing experiences for employees.

Design Principles

Work-In-Progress | Space empowers users to manipulate the space (DIY) and does not feel precious or museum-like

Authentic to Tech | Design does not obscure the technology and brings testing to the forefront of the lab

Organized Chaos | Highly-flexible and adaptable space that is organized in a systematic way

Purposeful Branding | Light-touch, integrated branding is expressed experientially and through digital means

The Concept

The Workplace Innovation Labs will bring internal and external innovators together. It consists of 8 components can be deployed in a scalable way across sites depending on specific needs and priorities.

Design Iteration

We worked with the client very closely to iterate and develop the concepts.

Concept Development

For the Flex Zone, we proposed a modular, movable wall system that can be used to install hardware and set up product prototypes quickly. Here, the team test computer vision systems, integration of multiple sensor types, and flow and motion detection hardware.

For the Mockup Modules, we envision a place where we can test future space typlogies, like advanced, digital meeting rooms, and enable user testing, like how employees engage with collaboration softwares. The truss system makes it easy to complete product installations.

Work in Progress

The lab is currently being built and the client is starting to use the space.