The Office Design Strategies of Amazon, Samsung, Adobe and Others | WSJ Open Office

Amazon, Samsung, Adobe and other major companies have redesigned their offices to incorporate technology, collaborative work spaces and even nap pods to their offices.
WSJ talked to designers and business leaders on the reasoning behind their office design decisions.
0:00 Samsung
7:09 Linkedin
14:25 Adobe
20:37 Marriott
27:16 Cisco
34:26 Amazon
Open Office
Offices are as unique as the companies they house. This WSJ series takes viewers inside standout spaces to show the amenities-and quirks-that separate them from the rest, as designers and company executives explain the reason behind it all.
#Amazon #Samsung #WSJ

[@jeffb5798]

As a software engineer, when I watch stories like this, I know they are fluff pieces, and I question and wonder if their other articles are just as poorly researched. As an engineer, I HATE open office floor plans - you can't think because the office environment isn't quiet (and no, thank you, noise canceling head phones aren't a solution), there's no privacy, and meeting rooms are fully booked. It's funny how, there are a number of "workplace designers" who were interviewed, but not the people who actual work in these areas. And the argument that an open floor plan "breaks down walls and fosters communication" is BS!

[@huntercoleman1347]

Agreed. Open office plans are solely to please the bean counters. The idea that you will get more work done when you are surrounded by a bunch of people talking and laughing and coughing and farting as opposed to being in a quiet place where you can focus is laughable. Also, the increase focus on "forced fun" is getting to be a bit much. I'm not a 12-year-old. Why would having a foosball table be of any interest to me when choosing where to work.

[@stardustgirl1061]

I’m a software developer that worked in an open office once. It was awful for productivity yet you’re still expected to produce. Try coding when your sitting next to a sales rep whose on the phone all day. Or sitting next to a meeting room where groups of people are chit chatting outside the door before and after the meeting. Most office spaces are places where productivity goes to die.

[@derick3253]

100%. Which is why imo you go into the office to socialize and build connections with your coworkers and boss (1 or 2 days a week if that). The other 4 or 3 days a week you work from home where you can actually focus and get the work done.

[@yengsabio5315]

​@@derick3253Is your home paid as an office space if you're working from home?

[@barnabyhughes2084]

If a corporation argues a point that isnt "it saves us money" they are lying.

[@baconislove]

The fact it's so difficult to get staff back in the office tells you everything you need to know about what people really think of open plan and hot desking. Isn't it funny the highest paid employees still have private offices...

[@shonmorgun2029]

@@benarizola6609 and why "They should be requires to come in" ? Just to flex your authority as a manager?

[@duckies717]

I worked at Amazon as a software engineer. The spheres is beautiful to visit it once or twice but impossible to work in it. It’s very hot inside and there’s way too much noise and movement to really focus. Almost no one I know worked there

[@somerandomchannel382]

basically , free day to the green house & jungle exhibit ... then go home 4 days to finish work.

[@laranich]

Great points from other commenters that the lack of quiet, semi isolated or private space means employees cannot actually execute work without disruption, distraction or peace. Even the most collaborative offices still need spaces where employees ARE NOT fighting for quiet time to do knowledge work. I am WFH but I have colleagues that are hybrid. They are late to meetings because they constantly have to find new spaces to log into virtual meetings-they have no dedicated desk. It’s an unnecessary stress during the work day when all you want to do is concentrate.

[@mukkaar]

Dude, in office you are there to do work, that means you need privacy for yourself or your group that ACTUALLY needs to interact. Not some random people popping in for talk because they suddenly have something to say, closed spaces are good because if someone comes in, they have probably something meaningful to say. Open office design is utopia and designer thinking.

[@Runnifier]

Do they serve the needs of introverts as much as they do extroverts? Forced collaboration does not mean inherent productivity. Some of us need peace to do our best work.

[@yengsabio5315]

I agree. I'm not easily convinced that open-space offices are optimised for ergonomics. Open-closed hybrids may be the better way to go.

[@datnohi8612]

No they don't I currently work in one of these, I personally think it's a cheaper layout and the company gets more bang for the buck type situation, I literally can't see how people are able to work this way for a long duration of time hint maybe another reason they like this as well, every thing is designed to make things better for them financially

[@Avsfan23]

Team collaboration is just a way for lazy people to feel like they're doing something. In reality, only one or two people in the group actually get things done.

[@asim.farooq]

@@Avsfan23 Well said, 100% agreed

[@nicoz4122]

The CISCO bit was very weird, almost Orwellian ! In any case, I do agree with most of the comments: open space is the worst configuration: it is exhausting, the noise level is always too loud, too many distractions... As a process engineer, I had to make some pretty complicated calculations so I had to put my noise cancelling and I hated that. I also think that the concept of not having an assigned desk is also annoying and leads to a time waste. Overall, this video looks much more like a PR operation for all the companies mentioned.

[@teekaa2520]

They all talk about "giving choice", but non off them seem to have asked their employees what they need to be productive.

[@Bash70]

Of course not, they need to hire overpriced BS consultants so they can expense this as a business expense so they can skimp their tax responsibility instead of just paying their employees more.

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

@@Bash70 - They also won't tell you the fact that open office spaces save many $Millions of Dollars in construction costs by not having all of the seperate offices people need to work productively. Other than that, these Tech Headquarters Office are a Architectural and Interior Design Liberal Utopia.

[@MilVukovic]

This is so out of touch by these companies. I am shocked at the amount of money wasted on these spaces. They are beautiful, but they are not for work. As an employee, I would hate the idea of not knowing where I'm going to sit every day (hot seats). And the amount of open floor plan, activity, and frankly options, just wouldn't suit a place for concentration and work to get done. More so, how would I know where my co-worker is sitting each day who I need to talk to regularly? Do I have to slack him/her each time to ask where they are today? And all those open floor plans--carrying my stuff around, making sure there is an outlet, not having multiples screens in the open spaces---just awful. I fear that in the very near future these buildings are going to be ghost towns, unless the companies mandate back to office. And then also make improvements to make the spaces more consistent with traditional assigned seats.

[@NyL3x]

I work in a similar but smaller scale company as these and I can confirm what they call "flex(ible) office" is BS. Everyone is trying to have their personal desk everyday so they can sit around people they like/they work with. No one wants to find or decide where to sit everyday.

[@carinaderoos576]

Wow I didn't know WSJ made such great commercials for big tech companies. This commercial looked to flattering on Samsung that it almost made me forget years worth of news on their factory workers jumping off buildings. I guess this building didn't need a safety net like the buildings for most of their workers. @WSJ do you have a link to the website for more information on how to hire you for a commercial like this one?

[@janellekiara7220]

Note that Samsung is a S Korean company so the American offices are likely taking notes on office design and employee efficiency from them. But they also have one of the highest suicide rates amongst young adults. This is attributed to a combination of things one of which is the pressure to perform and succeed. Something to keep in mind before praising these “innovative” office designs. Aside from that, I also work at a company with an open office plan and zero privacy, I mean ZERO. The entire building is basically glass. I deal with people coming straight to my desk sitting down on said desk and proceeding to start a conversation without any care of what I might be doing. It’s not always as collaborative as these CEOs would have you think it is. As an employee it’s often intrusive, stifling, and frustrating. Even the “focus” areas are top to bottom glass. Believe me, it gets tiring for many people.

[@infini.tesimo]

Love how they invest into places that most people rather work from home at. All for real estate gains lol

[@gettyyoung46]

Remember that practically all the offices in the story were built before the pandemic.

[@infini.tesimo]

@@gettyyoung46 while true, any investments at this point into places is the waste here because no one wants to work in an office for x, y, z reason.

[@willcookmakeup]

And these spaces are for corporate employees who make up a fraction of the actual number that makes up the majority of these companies payroll

[@ConnAndTheThings]

The Cisco one looks like an absolute nightmare

[@saranbhatia8809]

Great share great compilation great spaces grateful for this!

[@M1N43]

Wow, these are so well designed! I appreciate the way they offer flexibility so that employees can come in and collaborate or enjoy that social connection and amenities is AWESOME! Or simply go home to do focused work if you don't need to meet or collab that day. I love doing focused work at home but it can be isolating after a while, so having a communal workplace that is vibrant, trendy, and conducive to connection is exactly the type of opt-in work balance that I'm looking for!

[@EmpressNzingha]

What I've noticed, is the need for someone who understands the consumer. A room full of people who aren't average can't design around boredom from someone who lacks ambition, but the consumer doesn't work a meaninful job. The consumer works to pay for their leisure time. Tech workers tend to be invested in their product, cubicle workers tend to be invested in their benefits package. Making the work place fun is counter productive because, either you work from passion, which is fun, or you work for money, and you'd rather not be at work. Just an observation. I really like the plants, fresh air and sunlight though, that is a very useful idea. The farm to table is awesome!

[@simple3152]

If I Worked at Cisco right now I’d be leaving. Making the tables white to reflect light onto faces. I got blue eyes. N light doesn’t agree with them. I don’t want light directly shining in my eyes when I’m trying to work. Let alone when I’m in a board meeting.

[@shesaint_]

As a Marketer in tech who's extroverted but also has ADHD, all the open space is truly difficult to navigate. Instead of forcing everyone to do deep work in open spaces, we should just create beautiful, community spaces with an abundance of seating where we can opt in to communicate for meetings and bond etc. The only thing I think these companies got right was the leisure aspects and the natural light, the rest is great in theory but mid in practice. Instead of eliminating cubicles, surely there's a way to optimise them?

[@MayorMcC666]

being an interior decorator seems like such a lush gig

[@navin750]

Do the people who work in the cafe, the delivery drivers, and the gardeners get to use these things as well?

[@Withnail1969]

No because they will not be employees

[@afrosymphony8207]

mahn i'd love to work at that amazon sphere. such a cool escapist place. i love escapism, its really great for thinking. just wish these have more private spaces so it can be best of both worlds.

[@santoshkrishnavenuturupall131]

Smart way of sprinkling details and upselling your work strategically , btw it’s a great book have already bought it and definitely recommend it.

[@earthcandleco]

Love the Spheres!

[@larryl8676]

Wow, the Spheres is the most impressive place I like to come to visit someday! It has abandoned nature to take my stress away. However, at the end of the day, I like to come in to work at my assigned desk because I already have the same setup every day.

[@jokwonpope1561]

For me being a new software developer I I like the option for both sometimes I do go to the office very short time and might to get a little bit of work done. I don’t need an entire desk because I get most of my work done at home. And they do have places for you to be in more solitude well also options to be more open.

[@sijankolay6145]

wow! adobe office looks most fun place to work without even trying hard. Kudos to Engels

[@arrdenn]

Next time I’m in town I’ll be sure to visit 😊

[@devasish204]

standing desk is a must do you have that ?

[@elizabeth4689]

Just by the way you speak, makes me want to hire you as my personal consultant🎉

[@kuavi13]

it's legit guys! thank you so much!

[@jonyoung2057]

The Adobe lady is literally Sheila Sazs from Suits

[@Cristobal8605]

Open space is for hybrid work, not full time. I dont mind going into the office a couple of times a week to interact with colleagues but I wouldn’t expect the same level of productivity than being in my office

[@chirusinsight]

Cool spaces

[@CyberBuzz940]

Dear Companies, if you're considering a return-to-office strategy, it might be worth reconsidering the open-plan office concept. The growing popularity of remote work and employees' lack of enthusiasm for returning to the office may be attributed to a desire for a more private work environment. Regardless the efforts of this video trying to get people to drink the cool-aid. Many studies have shown open plan officers hinder collaborative atmospheres. Make no mistake-many trendy office additions seem tailored to encourage longer, unpaid work hours.

[@shenshirely7191]

The cafe looks great

[@NTL00]

Mann Amazon workplace is genuine, I would like to work there😊

[@VinceBelpiede]

Does it save the images in the tablet?

[@user-bv9vl8jm4r]

I prefer to work without distraction: high cubicle, office, or (best of all) from home. Collaboration happens via text, email, and zoom. Those “by-the-way” conversations make great emails or texts. #realproductivity

[@mosestekper7659]

34:54 this gives me Inception vibes

[@ionbotnaru862]

At 20:30 they say “gonna open in 2022”, and this video was posted a few weeks ago… when was it shot? 😮

[@amalianurhidayati4328]

The amozon office🎉 such a dream to work there

[@shashankreddy6216]

I like how people describe basic stuff with such excitement. Just give them work to do and pay them money to keep them happy. No one wants to go to office to collaborate or do something innovative so that shareholders can get richer.

[@mrgyani]

Amazon sphere is a work of art. Something I want to visit at least once in my lifetime (but don't think I will ever get to)

[@GoblinsAreAGirlsBestFriend]

I only hire staff willing to work on site. Their roles are incredibly fast paced and collaborative, I have seen too many WFH tiffs of people not communicating effectively remotely and I am not a kindergarten teacher; my team are all happy working on site and we take good care of them. We did lose a couple of good staff after the transition back in post-lockdown, who opted for fulltime remote roles; both of them said they are more at ease working alone at home - yet both of them, having kept in touch, also have confirmed their social anxiety has skyrocketed now that they never need to see people anymore and it's a struggle to even leave the house. Fulltime work from home is not healthy. People need extended community.

[@GoblinsAreAGirlsBestFriend]

And before anyone says "people can have community at home" - yes, they can. The majority of people, however, only have a nuclear family at home and are not frequently exposed to a variety of new people and challenging situations that help them grow emotionally. Particularly with fulltime work hours, wherever they take place.

[@al_masher27]

Does anybody know what program Samsung used for the computation script of the calorie-burn count of their employees?

[@Talia778real]

Cool 🤩

[@donnab.333]

It doesn't look like much work gets done. No wonder the quality of all things tech and/or electronic devices have gone down tremendously. Geez. Thanks WSJ for showcasing this lackluster fluff piece.

[@eduardobarca]

LinkedIn office looks quite empty. As designed?

[@im_Shlomi]

“This design is about connecting people” the sentence you use when you don’t have anything smart to say

[@donnab.333]

👍🏾👍🏾

[@hhydar883]

Just curious, are there no big tech firms from China in Silicon Valley?

[@melvinhoyk]

Is nice to see these building become an artifacts? After the pandemic, down-sizing and restructure happen. Work from home is the way.

[@BudzCyclist]

never in my life as a Software Engineer that I love working in Open Spaces. Quite solitary is where my mind is productive as we are not always do collaboration and discussions, we are focus on fixing bugs and implementing features and for me I need a solitary/quite place, NOT an OPEN one

[@markkaganovsky5676]

Honestly, a lot of these workspaces, maybe even most, seem pretty uncomfortable, I could not sit for multiple hours in most of these. Seems like they’re designed for the company image first and actual individual comfort second …

[@josephpiskac2781]

Amazing to see how extremely obsess Corporate America has become. WSJ Adam and Team fantastic job perfect.

[@user-dr4fg6rh7r]

good

[@01jbeals]

As an individual who self identifies as easily distracted, the open office is a sure fire way to get me to accomplish absolutely nothing of value. I can personally guarantee that I would be the least productive employee. 🏆

[@Withnail1969]

That's OK. With the hot desking they can fire you and hardly anyone will notice.

[@litoboy5]

Cool

[@chapelknight951]

As someone who works in a place that doesn't even have air conditioning... Interesting

[@sdkfgnrjdi]

I'm glad to see from the comments here that I'm not the only one who hates open source.

[@mnldgbD]

Cisco and Marriott looked so old school. Best for me was Adobe and well can't complain seeing my investments on Amazon though 😏

[@yeetboi268]

no WSJ office?

[@1986verity]

2:30 it does, ehm ehm... Me: Hmmm...

[@brokejaw]

Amazon office is on point

[@arpitjain2591]

Anything to avoid WFH

[@incyphe]

There are homes listed for $100-$200million in the U.S. It tells you how grossly overpriced they are.

[@louieuy7607]

Cisco first impressions, feels like big brother. Marriott missed opportunity, the innovation room aren't designed like bathrooms with porcelain seats

[@RICAv2]

This host asks good questions.

[@wargaeri]

great but still prefer wfh or wfa if bored

[@RebelPanda]

the pink dome... i know it smells crazy in there

[@codelessunlimited7701]

Open work place is an open privacy work place.

[@ScholarshipWinner]

This is cool, now design a building for introverts.

[@JENBEUGEN]

Drink a shot of tequila everytime the Samsung guy says "Actually".

[@systemaschagong-mp7md]

well well you a big idea

[@djtomoy]

I have the best office space, the one in my house 😊

[@nyikomawelela]

24:18 that's what she said.

[@anhnguyenhong8770]

Hedge Funds Offices in New York. Thanks.

[@operator8194]

A+

[@vawcreations5887]

MAN, THIS IS BRAIN WORKS FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE. WE NEED PRIVACY. NOT PIRACY.

[@systemaschagong-mp7md]

well​ well

[@JoseRodriguez-dx4pb]

My dumb brain: "by the way I'd like to say I'll be there, waiting for..."

[@thetrison]

Alternative video title: What big tech elites' workplaces look like.

[@ambition112]

The Office Design Strategies of Amazon, Samsung, Adobe and Others | WSJ Open OfficeThe Office Design Strategies of Amazon, Samsung, Adobe, Marriott, Cisco, and Others: Creating Collaborative and Nature-Inspired Workspaces for Hybrid Work | WSJ Open Office1:13: 🏢 Samsung's futuristic headquarters in Silicon Valley is designed to connect people and promote collaboration.5:23: 💼 LinkedIn's flagship office space in Silicon Valley has been redesigned to accommodate hybrid work, with a variety of seating options and a focus on trust and flexibility.10:27: 💼 LinkedIn and Adobe are experimenting with flexible office spaces and technology to accommodate hybrid work environments.15:29: 💼 Adobe's office redesign focuses on creating a vibrant and balanced workspace that promotes collaboration and innovation.21:12: 🏢 Marriott's new headquarters is designed like a hotel, with flexible workspaces and amenities, to attract its hybrid workforce.24:47: 💼 Marriott and Cisco showcase their tech-driven office designs with a focus on hybrid work and collaboration.29:22: 🏢 Cisco's office uses cameras to track foot traffic and monitor space availability, with a focus on collaboration and digital equality.34:01: 🌿 The X conversation discusses the use of technology and nature-inspired spaces in the workplace, highlighting the benefits of bringing people together and creating a link to nature.38:09: 🌳 The Spheres project aims to reintroduce nature into the city and provide alternative places to work.Recap by Tammy AI

[@baronvonstanislaw9651]

Adobe literally has a monopoly on how legal documents are filed in courts. Law firms don't need a tech vibe or whatever, they need reliability. Adobe's "new layout" was a total bomb with attorneys who need consistency on a program they have been using one way for 20 years (Acrobat Pro). Attorneys have to deal with tens of thousands of pages of documents in the fastest but accurate way possible.

[@keleniengaluafe2600]

❤❤❤❤

[@laqissalem-iq2dy]

We Work

[@joshhoffman1975]

I like Adobe best! 💝💯😃

[@gaveintothedarkness]

Adobe - you need to buy a subscription to use each one of our services.

[@enagickangenwaterlifeandsc3200]

And show me the skyscraper too.

[@JohnSavage1984]

Every Amazon employees?

[@GirlGeekLovesStampin]

Isn't LinkedIn now Microsoft?

[@MrWAZZUPJoey]

sooo... cubicles?

[@HeroDai2448]

Samsungs Building looks insane

[@M1N43]

I'm honestly shocked how negative people are about these beautifully designed workspaces.. just goes to show, some people will never be satisfied - even with state of the art amenities/ luxuries within their company building.. (it could be so much worse..)

[@M1N43]

Since these are still experiments to see which improve the work-life balance most effectively for employees, perhaps their next evolution will involve a form to opt-in to an assigned seating section where it could be designated to individuals that express a clear need for uninterrupted space within the office due to the inability to work effectively from home/anywhere else in the open concept parts of the building. That way there can be both the collaborative and social spaces as well as separate "quiet zones" that include those who chose to have assigned seating.

[@enagickangenwaterlifeandsc3200]

Create and show me the modern office building full of presidents, business people, managers and ceos that wears a clean and covered suit. Show me that 3 videos only

[@danrussell_official]

Wait Cisco films and surveils its employees?! Jesus

[@PaulGSmith-hh8rw]

I see that BYD has had a huge quarter, with 100% increase in EVs sold YOY. China Observer covered this last week, and reported that something like half of these cars are not being insured, instead they are bought by dealers and parked on huge lots with little to no chance of selling and instead are being used as collateral for bank loans. There’s huge lots of EVs collecting dust and depreciating. The focus of the piece was on Nio, but I would be wary of the BYD numbers as well. The conclusion was that the fallout will go on the Chinese banks, because they will not recoup their bad loan loses when the cars are repossessed and auctioned. Today the news is Tesla sold a record number of vehicles along with this competing story about BYD’s sales numbers. That is why I am making the off topic comment here on your latest video. Never take investing advice from comment sections folks. Consult an industry professional, which I am not.

[@Paradox484]

Amazing! Look at all of these great places to slap on headphones and ignore everyone to get some real work done. Must be great to walk half a mile in your own building to buy an overpriced wrapped sandwich all while trying to avoid your boss. Then popping those headphones and eating atyour desk because you dont have time to sit 70% reclined in an orange armchair and laugh with others like a stock photo. Dont forget the final insult of paying 20 bucks for parking. Really makes you leave with such satisfaction knowing that you're helping the commercial real estate market.

[@JakeTapeWallets]

Imagine if Kurt Cobain knew one day his picture would be framed in a corporate office gimmick room… He would be disgusted.

[@enagickangenwaterlifeandsc3200]

Create and show me your modern office with full of chinese business people there and full of entrepreneurs walking in your modern office. I want to see that.

[@elpina587]

It’s kinda like a jail facility with a designer touch