As the workforce evolves, the gap between designing for higher education and designing for the workplace continues to shrink. Higher education institutions are incorporating workplace-inspired elements to prepare students for the professional world, while corporate environments are borrowing from the campus experience to attract and retain top talent. This two-way exchange of ideas reflects a growing recognition that dynamic, choice-based spaces—where people can select environments that suit their needs in the moment—are key to fostering productivity, collaboration, and engagement.
Higher Education is Learning from the Workplace
Campuses are learning from corporate environments to better prepare students for their careers. Features like tech-integrated classrooms, co-working style study areas, experiential learning spaces, and the integration of solo- and group privacy pods for focused work are all designed to mirror the environments students will encounter in the workplace. By incorporating workplace-inspired design, colleges and universities help ease the transition into the workforce by ensuring students are more comfortable with modern workflows and collaboration styles from day one.
Collegiate Design Meets the Office
The transition from higher education to career is a major milestone, and workplaces that emulate the design principles of campuses can create environments that feel both familiar and inspiring to recent graduates entering the workplace. Research by KI indicated that many companies observe their new employees experiencing a "lost in transition" phase, typically lasting from 6 to 12 months, during which they feel overwhelmed and unable to adjust to their new work setting. [1]
This phenomenon of discomfort usually translates to higher turnover rates for companies, so many organizations are looking to new ways to attract and retain emerging talent. This data highlights the importance of creating workplaces that feel welcoming and flexible—spaces that are as much about connection and culture as they are about productivity. By implementing features like work cafes, campus-style social hubs, collaborative lounges, and adaptable furniture layouts, workplaces can foster a sense of community while allowing employees to choose how and where they work, much like they did on campus.
Work Happens Everywhere
One main takeaway from higher education design is the concept that students accomplish their work everywhere. [2] Campuses are increasingly creating environments that support a variety of activities, from focused study to group collaboration, often within the same space. Corridors, lobbies, and outdoor areas are being reimagined as dynamic, multi-functional zones with flexible furniture and integrated technology.
This philosophy translates seamlessly to the workplace. Employees benefit from having a range of options to suit their work styles throughout the day—whether it’s a quiet nook for deep focus, a collaborative lounge for brainstorming, or a standing desk for active work.
The Role of Choice in Dynamic Spaces
Choice is central to both modern campus and workplace design. Gone are the days of static environments where people are tethered to a single desk or workspace. Today’s students and employees expect the ability to adapt their surroundings to their needs, which can change throughout the day and can vary from person to person.
For instance, a student might start their day working independently in a quiet library corner, transition to a group project in a collaborative lounge, and finish with a casual conversation in a campus café. Similarly, an employee might begin their morning in a focus pod, move to a team brainstorming session in a flexible meeting area, and wrap up their day in a relaxed work café. Furniture and design that support these transitions—like modular seating, moveable tables, mobile charging units, and tech-enabled workstations—allow for greater adaptation and engagement.
KI's research showed that this dynamic, choice-driven approach to completing the tasks assigned to them is what new hires are used to and often expecting when first emerging into the workforce, and many recent graduates are shocked by the work environments they are stepping into instead. With this in mind, the modern workplace ought to consider the following when it comes to workplace design:
Choice of environment matters
Recent graduates are used to having choice around how, when, and where they accomplish their tasks. Consider creating varied work areas throughout the work environment to promote flexibility and choice.
Exterior spaces are not off-limits
Outside environments can become an extension of the office and double as a place employees can recharge and reconnect with nature.
Work and social interactions happen simultaneously
Modern students and employees can transition seamlessly and often instantly between individualized work and socializing or collaborating. Social hubs with functional seating and work surfaces can support this adaptable workflow.
Technology is critical
Implementing technology-enabled furniture and/or mobile charging stations is essential for the modern workplace. As employees’ work needs shift, the space they choose to work in should be able to adapt with them. [3]
A Shared Future
The future of design in both higher education and the workforce is about creating environments that support choice, flexibility, and connection. Whether it’s a workplace adopting campus-inspired elements to attract and retain top talent or a college emulating corporate design to better prepare students for their careers, the key lies in understanding that no two people work—or learn—the same way. By embracing dynamic, adaptable spaces, both higher education and workplaces are setting the stage for success in an ever-changing world.
Duet Resource Group
Working Together to Impact More
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