Traditional workspaces are a thing of the past ‘In modern offices, rigid team structures and working conditions have disappeared,’ says Stefan Diez, an industrial designer highly experienced in setting up creative workspaces. ‘The need now is to enable temporary collaborations and flexible working conditions.’ His passion for the future of workplaces has led to a project with IKEA to help renovate and expand the head offices in Älmhult, Sweden, next year.

Design for a thriving work ecosystem From autumn, Diez and his Diez Office studio will begin testing prototypes with IKEA designers. What’s in store? Highly flexible solutions that lie between architecture and furniture. ‘We’re working on a modular space frame that you can intuitively transform – with functions for working, presenting, storing and relaxation,’ says Stefan. ‘I imagine the working environment as a fluid and organic ecosystem, and our solutions as the coral reef that supports it.’

The power of sharing our ideas Collaboration is at the heart of good teamwork. For Diez, that means not only bringing people together but also encouraging them to show their work in a physical format. ‘We work so much on the computer these days, and my fear is that when we have no tangible manifestations of our ideas, we lack inspiration,’ he says. ‘When we expose our work, we open the door to others, we confront them, perhaps sparking bigger, more daring ideas.’

How will it all work out? Watch this space!