Courtesy of Boylegroup
By Natali Cobb
As we approach six years since the COVID-19 pandemic started, people are starting to notice the long-term impacts, and continuous aftershocks of this historical inflection point. About a year after the world shut down, people began to call this phenomenon “this generation’s 9/11”. Although I was just two years old when our country suffered the aforementioned tragedy on September 11th, I knew exactly what they meant. An event so impactful that history begins to be separated into timelines of ‘pre’ and ‘post’ event. We can draw many similarities between the post-9/11 and post-Covid worlds—heightened awareness of safety, generational rise in anxiety, shifting personal priorities, changes in travel, and cultural and workplace shifts. As a commercial interior designer, that last point is crucial to understand how people need to work and exist in this new world.
Human centric design revolves around just that—human beings. It explores the needs, comforts, and well-being of humans in the built environment, and aims to create spaces that increase productivity, foster connections, and improve health and wellbeing. We as people spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, yet it has only been in recent years that the health of the spaces we exist in has really been considered. We are seeing more and more companies push for employees to return to the office, but are being met with resistance. People have become accustomed to working in their homes, with limited peer interactions except through virtual conferencing platforms like Zoom or Teams. Employees in the post-pandemic world crave comfort and flexibility in their workplace, and they are demanding more from an office than just a desk and wi-fi.
Pre-pandemic offices prioritized efficiency of space over individual needs, but offices lined with cubicles are becoming a thing of the past. Some people thrive in buzz and collaboration, and others require quiet focus, and both can be true in the modern office. Flexibility in employees’ work environments has become critical to productivity—in Gensler’s 2024 Workplace Survey, employees who have a choice in where they work reported 14% higher productivity. This might include spaces like quiet zones, collaboration hubs, social lounges, and wellness rooms. Creating comfort in the workplace boosts creativity, reduces stress, and encourages employees to spend more time in the office.
Technology: an enabler, or a distraction? In the post-pandemic office, technology needs to flex with its users, and seamlessly integrate hybrid work environments. Built in video conferencing, mobile power, shared digital workspaces (i.e. Teams, Google Suite, etc.), and “touchdown” desks for visiting staff are imperative. Technology however, can be distracting. Good design should allow the technology to seamlessly disappear into the background, so that the focus stays on human interaction and productivity. A 2025 Gallup report shows 53% of hybrid employees say better tech tools are a top factor in their willingness to come to the office.
The return-on-investment of companies that have invested in their employees happiness in their work environment is palpable, and is growing with time. According to Gallup, companies that prioritize well-being see up to 21% high profitability. Along with this, companies that have adopted this post-covid mindset are seeing reduced turnover, improved recruitment, and stronger brand identity, while businesses resisting comfortable, flexible environments and the changing needs of their employees are seeing higher absenteeism and lower morale. The office of the future is becoming not just a place to work, but a destination that employees want to visit. This is the key to success in today’s world, and why office design is more important than ever.
The post-COVID world isn’t about returning to “business as usual” but embracing the ways it has changed how we think, feel, and act. Human-centric design is more than a trend—it’s a business model and a competitive edge. Those who adapt now will lead in attracting and retaining top talent for years to come.