We worked with Grigoriou Interiors to develop the design and management strategy for a new co-working space in London by Huckletree. The designers sought our human factors expertise in crafting a workspace that would encourage collaboration, innovation, and sustainable behaviour, as well as supporting occupants’ well-being.

Co-working spaces are unique in that there is no one company policy for workers to adhere to, so management policies must be carefully communicated to foster community. We applied recent evidence on social norms and behaviour change to guide the “Huckletree etiquette”, playfully encouraging occupants to be respectful of shared resources in the space and the world at large through design elements, signage, and visual imagery.

We also leveraged key environmental psychology factors to design for productivity and well-being, creating a space full of quiet nooks and busy meeting hubs. Several months after opening we returned to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation, and were happy to find that 80% members felt working at Huckletree supported their well-being and productivity. Our design strategy also achieved high rates of satisfaction with control over elements like sound and lighting, and 70% of members said they loved the sense of community. Further findings from the Post-Occupancy Evaluation are informing the roll-out of further branches of Huckletree across London.