Additionally, the biological need for cognitive offloading is often overlooked. The brain cannot hold everything at once; we need physical environments to \u201chold\u201d our thoughts for us. When you sketch on a whiteboard or pin to a wall, you offload working memory to the room, freeing your brain to process information rather than store it. A laptop screen cannot replicate this spatial canvas. It restricts our field of view, forcing us to scroll through isolated pieces of information rather than seeing them together. To untangle complex problems, the brain needs to see the whole picture at once to connect the dots effectively.<\/p>\n
Sustained Attention Response Task Study<\/h2>\n
Steelcase research reveals a surprising result: visual privacy helps people manage distractions \u2014 even noise. The most common complaint in the office is distractions, especially in open-plan layouts where people often sit at benches.<\/a> While intended to foster interactions and collaboration, too much openness can leave people overexposed and unable to focus. But Steelcase research, conducted in partnership with the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, found an easy intervention to help people manage a range of distractions: visual privacy.<\/p>\n Researchers measured \u201csustained attention,\u201d or the ability to focus on a task over time. Participants performed cognitive tasks in two different settings: a completely open bench and a semi-shielded individual workspace. Both environments played the same track of background office noise.<\/p>\n The results:<\/strong> Participants with visual privacy performed significantly better on tasks requiring sustained attention than those seated at an open workbench \u2013 even with identical noise levels. They committed significantly fewer errors and demonstrated superior focus compared to people working at a bench.<\/p>\n The insight:<\/strong> When we are exposed to visual stimulation, such as seeing people laughing or walking by, our brains burn energy trying to filter out the distraction. Our peripheral vision is especially sensitive to motion, which helps us detect threats, but also creates a distraction that our brains have to process. But screens, shelving units, or other privacy elements help reduce that cognitive load, essentially giving the brain the extra \u201cbandwidth\u201d it needs to filter out noise and allowing people to perform better at work that requires higher concentration levels.<\/p>\n For decades, we have operated in the Attendance Era. Presence measured success. If your badge swiped in at 8:00 a.m. and out at 5:00 p.m., you were considered productive. In our new reality, AI automates routine tasks, and the premium asset is cognitive capacity \u2014 the uniquely human ability to navigate ambiguity and exercise critical judgment. We have entered the Attention Era, where brain health is no longer \u201cjust\u201d a personal wellness goal but also a strategic business asset.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the Attendance Era, the office was a container for people. In the Attention Era, it must support concentration, collaboration and creativity. To solve complex problems today, we need environments that relieve the cognitive burden rather than add to it,\u201d says WorkSpace Futures researcher Patricia Kammer.<\/p>\n Many leaders are still optimizing for attendance mandates (\u201cAre you here?\u201d) rather than enabling performance (\u201cCan you think?\u201d).<\/p>\n We are moving from an era defined by where you work to one defined by how you think.<\/p>Patricia KammerSteelcase WorkSpace Futures Researcher<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n Here\u2019s what changes when performance is defined by cognition, not occupancy.<\/p>\n In today\u2019s brain economy, we need a new mindset about the role of design in our workplaces. We need to shift from thinking about reducing distractions to designing spaces that help people do their best thinking \u2013 solving complex problems, being creative and more resilient in the face of change.<\/p>\n For years, scientists believed the adult brain stopped growing. We now know that neurogenesis, or the growth of new neurons, and neuroplasticity, the brain\u2019s ability to rewire or strengthen new connections (synapses), are possible throughout our lives. Designing sensory-rich environments, including our offices, can boost this process. \u201cResearch suggests that environmental enrichment (social, sensory, physical and cognitive stimuli) can create new synapses in the brain, changing the brain physiologically,\u201d says Dr. Upali Nanda, global sector director of innovation at HKS and member of the Brain Capital Alliance. \u201cThink of enriched environments as a direct and powerful pathway to brain health.\u201d<\/p>\n We readily accept that we need ergonomic chairs<\/a> to support our spines. Today, designers can apply similar rigor to \u201ccognitive ergonomics,\u201d moving from simply supporting the body\u2019s posture to understanding how the brain\u2019s performance relates to its surroundings.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t about a single perfect room type. It\u2019s about a variety of spaces specifically designed to support the types of work people do while supporting what the brain needs to function at its best.<\/p>\n Community-Based Design, the approach Steelcase uses for its own workplaces, offers a diverse range of \u201cdistricts,\u201d or zones, composed of spaces that give people greater choice and autonomy over how they work. This approach creates an infrastructure for building social connections that improves cognitive health and decreases cognitive decline. It provides places for people to better manage their attention and emotions. Ultimately, it helps people thrive and organizations to be more agile.<\/p>\n \u201cFlexible workspaces are a prime example of how design can support brain health,\u201d notes Dr. Debbie Beck, principal, at Perkins & Will and a key contributor to The Building Brains Coalition\u2019s latest report. \u201cThese adaptable environments allow individuals to tailor their surroundings to fit their working styles and preferences, which can enhance focus and cognitive performance. By accommodating new technologies and work methodologies, flexible workspaces help keep the brain engaged and agile, promoting mental resilience and productivity,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1769200291\/25-0264724.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nFrom badge swipes to brain power<\/h2>\n
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\nToday\u2019s Workplace: A New Operating Model<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n <\/td>\n The Past: Attendance Era<\/strong><\/td>\n The Present: Attention Era<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Primary Metric<\/strong><\/td>\n Badge swipes + occupancy<\/td>\n Cognitive readiness + output quality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The Core Question<\/strong><\/td>\n “Are you there?”<\/td>\n “Can you think?”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Value Driver<\/strong><\/td>\n Accumulating knowledge<\/td>\n Synthesizing data + creating<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Office Role<\/strong><\/td>\n A container for staff<\/td>\n A generator of innovation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Management Style<\/strong><\/td>\n Mandate + control<\/td>\n Autonomy + stewardship<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nErgonomics for the brain<\/h2>\n
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There is a range of spaces organizations can explore to better support the brain:<\/h2>\n
Spaces for connection<\/h4>\n
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