New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/04C | Page 61

But it was technology companies that led the
backlash against remote working. Yahoo CEO
Marissa Mayer’s surprise announcement in 2013
that the company would require all employees to
work from a corporate office marked a sea change.
“People are more productive when they’re alone.
But they’re more collaborative and innovative when
they’re together,” Mayer explained
In March 2017, one of the most notable propo-
nents of remote working also reversed its policy,
when IBM informed over 2,000 of its US staff they
could no longer work from home. The company told
Bloomberg that bringing staff back into a traditional
space could lead to faster, more productive, more
creative workers.
“IBM’s strategy is about adopting the best work
method for the work being done,” a spokesper-
son said. “For example, small, multi-disciplinary
teams of engineers, coders, project managers and
designers work in close proximity, often directly
with clients or end users, continually generating and
refining ideas.”
Even the most technologically advanced com-
panies have been forced to recognise that remote
working has drawbacks and unintended conse-
quences, alongside the advantages of flexibility.
Research supports the view that the creative,
collaborative qualities of the office environment
can’t simply be replicated on the screens of our
smartphones, tablets and laptops. Studies by Justin
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