Creating a Productive Workspace Environment

“How We Organize Design Files in Figma” (+ Figma Kits) (https://lnkd.in/e4i9aNcm). With practical guidelines for keeping project files and designs neatly organized. By Lee Munroe. Good organization starts with a good cover page. It includes status, name, date/quarter and people who are involved in the project. It also has an introduction for onboarding, link to product requirements, link to the main design page and a Slack channel for reference. Each project has a state of progress that can be indicated on the title card: 🛠 Designing — default and probably the most common state ✅ Ready for Dev — we’re waiting for development to start work on it 🐑 Shepherding — we’re working with development on it ⏸ Paused — something we’ve decided no longer priority currently 🔮 Future — something we’re thinking would make a good future project 💥 Discarded — didn’t use or not useful 🚀 Shipped — now in production In general, projects follow the following folder structure: 🎨 Designs ← Design work to be referenced, for engineers, PMs. 🧱 Components ← Local components, proposals or temporary work. 🕹 Prototype ← Interactive prototype to play and see how it works. ✏️ Wireframes ← Wireframes, sketches and early ideas. 🧪 Usability Testing ← User testing, prototypes with feedback. 🕵️ Research ← Screenshots of production, competitors, past studies. 🗄 Archive ← Abandoned things that we want to keep for reference. 🔖 Kit Template ← Examples of how to lay things out, internal tools. A wonderful reminder that a good organization can go a long way to not just help designers organize their work better, but also collaborate with other people on the team or other teams — by just having a well-established file organization practice in your company. Thanks for the write-up, Lee! 👏🏽 Useful resources: File Thumbnail Kit (Figma), by Joey Banks https://lnkd.in/eJ7Amf4n Mixpanel Annotation Kit (attached cover, Figma) https://lnkd.in/dDwJ-9gm Deliveroo File Management Library (Figma) https://lnkd.in/d3_Ur9wA Spotify Ways Of Working (Figma) https://lnkd.in/ek9ZzZQg The Library + Flow Approach For Figma, by Tess Gadd https://lnkd.in/eNX4HFEm How We Organize Figma Projects, by Lee Munroe https://lnkd.in/ec7KPH2n Hygraph Organization in Figma, by Darshan Gajara https://lnkd.in/eJNQrJMw --- ✤ Design System Organization in Figma Design System Structure for Projects and Files, by Luis Ouriach https://lnkd.in/eFZUjUCU DoctoLib Design System Organization, by Jérôme Benoit https://lnkd.in/eK7bhQeS Booking Design System Organization, by Nicole Saidy https://lnkd.in/edueYQPG How To Organize A Design System (Figma Kit), by Saurav Rastogi https://lnkd.in/dWV-Y6vv How do you organize your Figma files, and what templates do you use frequently? Happy organizing, everyone! 🎉🥳 #design #figma

Should we classify Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTRs) and all meeting/teaching spaces as small, medium or large? Maybe not? Here’s why. Room size is an attribute more than a classification. Many organisation are discovering that by equipping rooms according to their size can have damaging effects on the success and utilisation of these spaces. People don’t go into meeting rooms to have meetings - they go into meeting rooms to get things done, to achieve specific objectives. The important thing is to understand these objectives and design the space around these user needs. ‘Personas’ are a useful way of identifying any room’s workflows and functions. Will users collaborate, or present,  or train, or present to clients, or…? Only from such analysis can the workflows be identified and the room’s required functionalities be defined. Then, it’s a 2 Step Design process. First: design and configure the space for the users; this is emphatically a ‘pre-technology’ step. Second: specify the functions and performance specifications for the technology; this is emphatically a vendor-agnostic process. Use standards! At Greg Jeffreys Consulting Ltd  we work within the existing ecosystems of end users, architects, AV consultants and integrators to connect the room design and configuration to its technology. Based around Human-Centred Design principles and the latest environmental and AV standards, we help clients create exceptional user experiences - and save money in deployment and running costs. Please see link in Comments section below. #microsoftteamsrooms #avtweeps #hybridmeetings #avixa  #avusergroup  #ltsmg #schoms  

Dealing with multiple document libraries in Teams? I've seen many IT professionals and team leads grapple with this, let's try and simplify things. SharePoint Views and Teams Tabs. Here's a straightforward method I've implemented with clients, with pretty good feedback and results. Here’s how it works. - Use SharePoint Views to organize documents (e.g., Approved, In Review) - Copy the URL of each view - Add a SharePoint tab in Teams, pasting the specific view link - Rename the tab (bonus: add an emoji for quick recognition) - One click, and you’re where you need to be. No endless searching. No frustration. This setup works even if your files live in different SharePoint sites! Plus, you can take it further by creating a file dashboard in SharePoint and embedding it into Teams for a seamless experience. I’ve implemented this approach with multiple clients—and the feedback has been amazing. More efficiency, less chaos. This simple adjustment can help bridge the gap between SharePoint and Teams, creating a seamless workflow. Try it out and let me know how it works for you! Question for you. What's your biggest challenge with file management in Teams and SharePoint? Have you found any hacks or solutions that made a difference? Share your experiences below—your insight might just help someone turn their workflow around. 👇

I recently traveled to Bengaluru for a project and to work during the week, I was searching for co-working space. As expected, a few familiar names came up in the search. Most of them checked the usual boxes - good location, decent amenities, functional setup. But the one I ultimately landed in stood out for a different reason: This post is dedicated to my experience from working out of the place. Read till the end, to know which one I am talking about. Here, the design felt like it understood the rhythm of a real workday. And I do not mean design in the superficial sense of stylish furniture or polished interiors. 𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿. The kind of design that gives you options depending on how your day is unfolding: -a private office when you need deep focus -a meeting room for a serious conversation -a collaborative area for working sessions -a quiet lounge when you need to reset -a phone booth for calls that cannot be taken from an open floor What also stayed with me was how the details were doing a lot of heavy lifting. Height-adjustable desks. Herman Miller chairs. Premium lounge seating. Seamless tech integration. A layout that felt intentional rather than dense. And a design language that felt globally consistent, yet not generic. That matters because in coworking, a lot of spaces can look impressive at first glance. Far fewer are actually designed to support how professionals move through a day - from focused work, to meetings, to quick calls, to informal conversations, to moments of pause. That, to me, is where the real differentiation lies. The more I reflected on the experience, the clearer it became that in premium flexible workspaces, design is not an aesthetic layer - it is part of the product itself. This co-working centre has won my heart for life and left me craving for more. The best operators are not just selling desks or square footage. They are creating an environment for flow, privacy, comfort, and credibility. And when you combine that with hospitality and a strong service layer, the difference becomes even more visible. The DRHP itself frames the premium positioning around location, design, service-oriented hospitality, and personalized service. So yes, I began this search simply looking for a place to work from for a week. But I came away thinking more deeply about what really sets a workspace apart. Not price. Not polish alone. But how intelligently the space is designed for the people using it. The space I chose? 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 #Coworking #FlexibleWorkspaces #OfficeDesign #WorkspaceExperience #FutureOfWork #ExecutiveCentre #DesignStrategy #PremiumWorkspaces

#Culturehacks - Office Design We Just Moved! 🏢✨ Welcome to the Hexa Climate's New Office! When designing an office, it’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about culture. As a strong advocate for open and transparent work environments, I firmly believe that office design directly impacts work culture. A well-designed space can foster collaboration, innovation, and a sense of belonging. Here are some key design principles we followed while setting up our new workspace at Hexa Climate: 1️⃣ No Cabins – Not Even for Me Cabins with an "open door" are still a door. We’ve eliminated them entirely to encourage direct communication, approachability, and seamless collaboration. No barriers—just conversations. 2️⃣ Open Office, Low Partition Walls We deliberately avoided high, opaque partitions—because eye contact matters. A quick glance, a shared smile, or an unspoken cue can do wonders for teamwork. For focused work? We have designated isolated workspaces. 3️⃣ Transparent Meeting Rooms All our meeting rooms have glass walls—because most discussions don’t need to be behind closed doors. Of course, privacy is maintained with strategically placed frosted sheets. But transparency? That stays. 4️⃣ Bringing the Outdoors In 🌱 Being a renewable energy company, sustainability is in our DNA. Our office is home to 200+ plants that add life, freshness, and a sense of calm. And, yes, air purifiers to fight Delhi’s infamous pollution. 5️⃣ Every Surface = A Brainstorming Space Tables? They’re whiteboards. Desks? Also whiteboards. Meeting rooms? More whiteboards. Ideas flow best when you can visualize them immediately. So, every surface in our office doubles as a brainstorming hub—because the best thoughts often come unplanned. ✨ More Than Just an Office – A Place to Belong We spend more waking hours here than at home, so why not make it feel like one? Our goal was to create a space where people feel comfortable, inspired, and empowered to do their best work. 🔹 What’s one office design element that has influenced your work culture? Share in the comments! #OfficeCulture #WorkplaceDesign #HexaClimate #Transparency #Collaboration #Innovation #SustainableLiving #Leadership

Why are so many offices still making the first five minutes feel like the least important part of the experience? You know the area … formal lobby, empty waiting chairs, oversized reception desk, a space designed to look impressive for five minutes but sit underutilized the other eight hours of the day. That model doesn’t make much sense anymore. Real estate is expensive. Space is limited. And every square foot should earn its keep. The smartest workplaces are rethinking the front-of-house entirely. We’re seeing the rise of hospitality-infused workplaces where reception is no longer just a check-in point, it becomes a living part of the employee and guest experience. Why now? The trends are pointing in the same direction. Gensler continues to emphasize that employees now expect offices to deliver engagement, experience, and real reasons to come in, not just rows of desks. Modern workplace reports also show growing demand for spaces built around specific use cases: collaboration zones, breakout areas, huddle rooms, hospitality spaces, and social connection. One build I led combined all of this into a single multifunctional hub: ☕ Reception + coffee barista experience 🤝 Interview rooms steps away from the energy 💻 Flexible seating for employees who work best with café buzz and movement 🎤 Community space for town halls, launches, happy hours, wellness sessions, or team gatherings Why it worked: - Candidates no longer sat in a silent waiting room staring at walls. They grabbed a coffee, felt the company’s energy, and immediately got a sense of culture. - Guests felt welcomed like visitors to a hospitality space and not processed through airport security. - Employees used the area throughout the day for informal meetings, solo work, coffee chats, or a change of scenery from their desk. - Recruiters loved it because interviews started warmer and more naturally. - Leaders loved it because the same footprint could host all-hands overflow, celebrations, or client moments. Instead of one static lobby used occasionally, the company gained a high-performing social hub used all day long. The best workplaces today aren’t asking, “How should reception look?” They’re asking, “How should people feel when they arrive?” If you’re rethinking your office this year, start there. How is your company using reception space today? #WorkplaceExperience #OfficeDesign #EmployeeExperience #HospitalityDesign #WorkplaceStrategy

Everyone talks about using AI for writing. I use Claude to run my day. It’s not a tool. It’s an operations partner—if you give it the right prompts. Here’s exactly how I use Claude as my assistant (connected to Gmail, Drive, and Calendar): 1. Morning Briefing Prompt Start the day with clarity. “Check my calendar, unread emails, and recent docs. Summarize today’s meetings with prep notes. Pull any open loops or tasks from emails. Suggest a time-blocked plan for deep work + admin. Flag anything urgent or out of alignment.” I open Claude before I open my email. 2. Pre-Meeting Prep Prompt No more last-minute scrambling. “I have a meeting with [Name] about [Topic]. Pull key context from emails, docs, and last calendar invite. Extract action items from last call. Draft talking points and 3 smart questions to ask.” Perfect for client calls or collabs. 3. Research & Synthesis Prompt Working on a project? Claude becomes your researcher. “I’m working on [project]. Pull relevant threads from Gmail. Scan docs with [keyword] and summarize insights. Build a timeline of progress + open items. Draft a quick project update I can send or post.” This alone has saves me 3 hours a week. 4. Workspace Organization Prompt Your brain, but with folders. “Find all docs related to [project]. Suggest categories or themes. Create a folder/tag structure that makes sense. Highlight outdated files or duplicated info. Build a cheat sheet with links + purposes.” Perfect if your Google Drive looks like a tornado. 5. Smart Inbox Prompt Catch up without the chaos. “Find unread emails from VIP contacts. Summarize key threads and flag what’s urgent. Draft quick replies where possible. Link any emails to related docs or calendar events. Build a follow-up plan so nothing slips.” It’s triage for your inbox—with logic. Claude isn’t just for content. It’s for operations, decisions, and daily momentum. Want more tips like this? Join 3,400+ readers of 9-To-Thrive → https://lnkd.in/gXMzXweK

Office spaces shouldn’t be boring. Because spaces can do more than just exist, they can inspire, connect, and energize the people who use them. After designing several office spaces, one thing has always stood out to me — most corporate setups are functional but lifeless. They get the job done, but they don’t spark anything beyond that. Rows of identical desks, white or monotonous walls, and harsh lighting. It all starts to feel mechanical. Now think of offices like Google or Zappos which are filled with color, creative zones, breakout areas, and visuals that reflect their culture. They’re not just beautiful, they’re interactive. And that makes all the difference. So here's how you can make offices more interactive and engaging - ✨ Breakout corners – small, cozy spots that encourage quick conversations or brainstorming without booking a meeting room. 🎨 Use of color and art – adding vibrancy through wall graphics, murals, or even materials that reflect the brand’s energy. 🪴 Biophilic design – plants, natural light, and earthy textures instantly lift moods and reduce stress. 🪑 Flexible layouts – movable furniture and zones that adapt to different tasks or moods. 💡 Feature elements – like writable walls, pin-up boards, or idea zones that invite interaction and creativity. ☕ Community spots – cafes or informal lounges that bring teams together naturally. Because when design invites people to interact, it does more than just look good — it shapes culture, boosts creativity, and builds connection. Stop creating offices that only exist. Create ones that involve. #commercialinteriors #interiors #designers #talent #officedesign #success #turnkeyinteriors

As a data analyst, it can be hard to stay organized with countless projects and data requests. So here are 4 simple things I do to stay organized. 1. Good file naming conventions As a data analyst, you’ll likely have many folders containing many files with SQL code, Excel workbooks, and Tableau/Power BI reports. Therefore, it is crucial that you name these files well so that you know what each file holds just by the name. Do this even if you don’t think you’ll ever need that file again! (You never know.) For example, if you write a SQL query for an ad-hoc data request that pulls west region sales data for January, don’t name the file “SQLcode7484”. Give it an appropriate name like “January_West_Sales_SQL” so that you immediately know what the file is without opening it. 2. Write searchable email subject lines There is often a lot of valuable information included in email exchanges, and you never know when you need to go find a past email. So give your email a subject line that will help you search for it if needed. Continuing the above example, if you emailed out an Excel file and insights related to the above data pull, similarly you could use the subject line “January West Region Sales Report”. I don’t know if it’s the same for every data analyst, but I search through my inbox quite often to reference old emails. 3. Document project progress in OneNote It’s an all too familiar story for a data analyst to be working on a project on a Friday, pause for the weekend, then come back Monday and forget where they were. Therefore, as I’m working on a larger project, I like to keep notes about what I’ve done so far and what still needs to be done. This helps me get a quick start on the project on Monday and saves a lot of confusion. (If you don’t know, OneNote is Microsoft’s note taking app. If you don’t work for a Microsoft organization, you can keep your progress using something else.) 4. Write goals for the following day It’s easy for me to get overwhelmed when there are 15 tasks in my queue to complete. It helps me to prioritize these by writing down 3-5 things at the end of the day I want to prioritize the following day. I try to break down bigger projects into smaller tasks to make progress more visible. Then, if I finish early then can move onto whatever else you want to. These four tips are nothing too crazy or technical, but they go a long way to help me stay organized. What do you do to stay organized?

As someone juggling multiple projects and needing to stay on top of everything, I know how overwhelming it can get—especially when your desktop looks like chaos! Here’s my setup: 📂 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐰: For files I’m actively working on, like presentations or ongoing programs. 📂 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: High-priority items that need my attention soon. 📂 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐬: Resources I need when preparing or presenting demos. With this system: ✅ I spend less time searching for files. ✅ My mental clutter is reduced (a clear workspace = a clear mind!). ✅ It’s easier to focus on what’s important now. For me, the real benefit, it’s in reducing the mental load that comes with clutter. It’s a simple system that works with my brain, not against it. 💡 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦: 1️⃣ Use a desktop wallpaper with zones to visually organize your files. 2️⃣ Label the sections based on what makes sense for you (projects, deadlines, etc.). 3️⃣ Clean up weekly to maintain order. This small change has saved me hours each week and helps me stay focused on what really matters. 🌟 And it gives me joy every time I look at it.