Shaping the Future of Work Through Research and Design
As the workplace continues to evolve, Haworth’s research uncovers how people and environments interact to create meaningful experiences. From Culture and Affordances to the Evolving Workplace and Acoustics, Haworth’s insights help organization leaders and designers build spaces that inspire connection, focus, and innovation.
Culture
Culture shapes how people connect, collaborate, and create within an organization. Haworth’s research explores how the physical environment can reflect and reinforce company culture—driving engagement, innovation, and a stronger sense of purpose at work.
Dive deeper into Haworth’s research on culture in the workplace.
Discover Haworth’s Culture Models
Culture is the heartbeat of every organization—shaping how people connect, collaborate, and innovate. Haworth’s research explores how the four tenets of the Competing Values Framework—Collaborate, Create, Control, and Compete—influence the workplace experience. Discover how aligning workplace design with culture can strengthen engagement and performance.
Affordances
Affordances are the subtle design cues that guide how people move, think, and interact within a space. Through research, Haworth explores how thoughtfully designed environments communicate possibility—shaping behavior in ways that feel intuitive, supportive, and human-centered.
Dive deeper into Haworth’s research on affordances.
Understanding the Types of Affordances
Physical Affordances
How a space enables movement and use. Physical affordances guide how people navigate, transition, and interact with their environment—supporting comfort, accessibility, and ease of use.
Emotional Affordances
How a space makes people feel. Emotional affordances influence mood, connection, and belonging through elements like materials, light, and spatial relationships.
Cognitive Affordances
How a space supports thinking and focus. Cognitive affordances help people understand where to concentrate, collaborate, or reflect—reducing distraction and supporting mental clarity.
The Evolving Workplace
As hybrid work becomes the norm, organizations are reimagining how space supports people and performance. Haworth’s global research uncovers six key insights into how workplaces are adapting—from policy shifts to acoustic considerations—offering data-driven guidance for the leaders and designers shaping what’s next.
Explore what’s working today, and what’s still evolving, through insights gathered from organizations around the world.
Workplace Performance
As the workplace evolves, performance must be viewed through multiple lenses: human, organizational, and facility-wide. Haworth’s research examines how changing work patterns, hybrid models, and workplace design directly influence how people perform, how organizations succeed, and how spaces function over time. By understanding these interconnected elements, leaders can make more informed decisions that enhance productivity, engagement, and long-term value.
Workplace Acoustics
Acoustics shape how people focus, collaborate, and communicate at work. Haworth’s research explores how speech intelligibility, sound control, and integrated design strategies support clarity, privacy, and productive workplace experiences.
Discover the research behind creating environments where people can focus, connect, and perform at their best.
Designing for Acoustics
As workspaces become more active and shared, acoustic design plays a key role in balancing collaboration and focus. Intentional acoustic strategies help create environments where people can stay engaged, concentrate when needed, and work comfortably throughout the day.
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