What does it take to design a workplace where people truly thrive?

On May 15, 2025, industry leaders and professionals gathered at Conexus Studio’s Singapore office for our 4th Desk Dialogues session, "Rethinking the Workplace: From Presence to Purpose," to explore this very topic.

Held in collaboration with Haworth, the event brought together forward-thinking industry professionals to explore how offices are evolving to meet the demands of modern work. From reimagining office layouts to harnessing technology and prioritising wellness, the event spotlighted key trends shaping the modern workplace.

Here's a look back at the thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and ideas shared during the session.

Optimising Space in a Hybrid Work Era

As hybrid working becomes the new norm globally, companies are progressively rightsizing their physical office spaces to achieve greater efficiency, such as downsizing their centrally-located offices or shifting their back-of-house operations away from the city centre.

Alessandro Cesana, Director of Ideation International at Haworth, shared findings from Haworth’s recent global survey, where 54% of respondents say that their total office space is decreasing, while 48% indicated that their workplace density has increased. Going beyond size, organisations are delving deep into how they can do more with less by finding ways to enhance workplace productivity while reducing overall real-estate costs.

Exploring New Ways of Working

If work can be done anywhere, what role does the workplace play in this modern era? More than ever, offices are going beyond being a physical space to do work. “Modern workspaces are increasingly being transformed into places for connections,” said Alessandro. “Companies are weaving in more social, restorative and collaborative spaces to enhance the user experience, strengthen culture and boost productivity through a holistic approach.”

What are global firms doing to adapt? Here are some key trends from Haworth’s survey findings as companies strive to create dynamic workplaces:

Adding Social Spaces: Companies are introducing more community and lounge areas to foster collaboration and connection.

Flexibility Over Fixed Desks: The shift from assigned desks to shared and unassigned workstations gives employees greater freedom to work how they want.

Quiet Zones for Productivity: Offices are incorporating more focus rooms and phone booths optimised for virtual meetings.

Prioritising Collaboration: Meeting spaces are on the rise as companies prioritise collaborative areas over individual workstations.

Brainstorm in Privacy: Multi-person meeting pods are growing in popularity, as they offer a soundproof environment for confidential discussions.

Banishing Distractions, Boosting Productivity

Losing your train of thought at work due to the surrounding noise and chatter? You’re not alone. Findings from Haworth’s survey show that 70% of employees frequently lose their concentration, with 50% of employees saying that they will be more productive in a less noisy environment.

Having proper acoustics is key to a comfortable and productive work experience, helping employees focus better by reducing noise levels in the office. Alessandro highlighted some strategies which companies can adopt to improve their office acoustics, such as incorporating acoustic panels and soft furnishings to absorb sounds, and integrating electronic sound masking systems to mask distracting conversations with a subtle background noise.

Knowing What Employees Want

Tim Argent, Sales Manager at Haworth, urged companies to delve deeper into what their team truly needs. While there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, offices designed with an intentional, human-centric focus go a long way in making employees feel fully supported for optimal productivity. He shared interesting insights from Leesman, the world's largest workplace experience database, which highlighted 8 core functions crucial for post-pandemic offices. Results show that individual focused work desks, as well as spaces optimised for meetings, collaboration, relaxation and socialisation, are top on the list of employees’ priorities.

The Leesman Index, which measures the employee workplace experience, shed light on workplace design and its impact on employee behaviour. Responses garnered from more than a million respondents unveiled the factors behind what makes an office truly outstanding—a wide range of work activities, favourable culture, strong community, ergonomic furniture and good F&B options.

Sparking Ideas and Inspiration

Following the presentation, industry guests connected over refreshments, engaging in conversations about how modern workplace trends such as hybrid work models, digital collaboration, and evolving employee expectations, have influenced their own office design and experience.

Join us for our next Desk Dialogues session as we delve deeper into the intriguing future of work!