1. The Reality of Today’s Office Layout Design

Today, it is not difficult to come across offices that are visually impressive – harmonious color palettes, modern furniture, and inspiring open spaces have become increasingly common in workplace design. However, behind that polished appearance, many businesses still struggle with familiar operational challenges:

• Employees find it difficult to concentrate, leading to reduced productivity
• Spaces are either insufficient or not utilized effectively
• Noise spreads easily throughout the office
• Despite open layouts, teams still collaborate inefficiently
• Poor lighting distribution causes glare or inadequate brightness, affecting comfort and work performance
• Seating arrangements are not aligned with the nature of each role, resulting in workflow disruptions
• A lack of greenery, artwork, and relaxation areas makes the workplace feel rigid and uninspiring

According to research, employees working in noisy environments experience a 66% decrease in productivity and a 50% increase in stress levels (Nguyen Thai An, 2025).

These challenges are not simply caused by an office that is “not beautiful enough.” More often, the root issue lies deeper: the office layout fails to reflect the way the business actually operates.

At APES, we believe workplace design should go beyond aesthetics. A truly effective office must support workflow, collaboration, focus, and employee experience in a meaningful way. Let’s explore how the right layout strategy can solve these problems.

2. Solutions for Businesses 

In modern office interior design, a layout is no longer just about “arranging desks and furniture.” It acts as an operational map of a business. In other words, by looking at an office layout, you can understand how a company works, communicates, and operates on a daily basis. To determine whether an office layout truly fits a business, companies first need to answer a few key questions:

• What are employees’ primary tasks?
• Do they require more focus or more interaction?
• Does communication happen in small groups or across entire teams?
• How do people move throughout the office during a typical workday?

To better understand workplace layouts, we can break them down into three layers of logic:

• The first and most important layer is daily workflow – yet this is often the most overlooked aspect in office design. For example, in a creative agency where brainstorming and collaboration happen constantly, the workspace should prioritize flexible and open collaboration zones. Instead of rigid desk arrangements, the layout should encourage quick discussions, free movement, and stronger connections between teams. This highlights an important truth: there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” office layout. Every workspace should be designed around the way a business actually operates every day.
• Beyond supporting work itself, office spaces also shape the way people interact within the workplace. To design an effective environment, businesses need to understand how employees naturally behave and communicate throughout the day. To better analyze this logic, companies should ask questions such as:
  • Do employees tend to have quick discussions or longer meetings?
  • Do they prefer fixed workstations or flexible working styles?
  • How frequently do they move around during the day?

• Finally, after fully understanding the company’s workflow and workplace habits, the spatial aspect truly begins to have meaning. When allocating space within the work environment, the following questions need to be answered:
  • What percentage should be dedicated to focus areas?
  • What percentage should be allocated for collaboration?
  • Are private booths needed for phone calls?

At this point, the workspace is no longer just about “beautiful design” but also about performance within the working environment.

3. Case Study at APES: When Layout Aligns with Real Operations

In the project for the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the client’s brand identity was rooted in the intersection of tradition and modernity. This spirit became the foundation of our design direction: creating a workspace that embodies strong Asian characteristics while still meeting international operational standards.

( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Ha Noi Branch – Photo credit: Nguyen Thai Thach – Thien Thach Photo)

As a banking environment, the key challenge APES needed to solve was the demand for privacy and precision. At the same time, the workspace had to balance open areas with dedicated functional zones while still ensuring focus and effective communication. A banking office not only needs to look professional and visually refined—it must also carefully control the “quality of communication” within the workplace.

For this project, APES developed the following layout solutions:

• Clearly separated working areas, meeting rooms, and private discussion spaces.

( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Ha Noi Branch – Photo credit: Nguyen Thai Thach – Thien Thach Photo)

( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Ha Noi Branch – Photo credit: Nguyen Thai Thach – Thien Thach Photo)

• Integrated acoustic solutions such as walls, wooden slat partitions, and acoustic ceilings to control sound levels, minimize noise, and reduce sound distractions within the open workspace.

( Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Ha Noi Branch – Photo credit: Nguyen Thai Thach – Thien Thach Photo)

As a result, APES created a workspace that significantly improved employees’ ability to focus while still enhancing internal communication and maintaining the level of confidentiality required in a financial environment. An effective layout does not begin with drawings—it begins with understanding how a business operates every day.