3 Innovative Approaches to Glass Office Partition Design

Innovation is rarely easy.

While you’re busy thinking outside the box to create attractive and cutting-edge designs, commercial spaces are growing more complex—functionally and aesthetically. Nowadays, office designs have to accommodate increasingly human-centric corporate cultures, sustainable practices, and a growing population of remote workers.

The human-centric component is probably the biggest influence in office space evolution right now, calling for progressive designs that promote employee well-being and collaboration.

How office partitions are evolving

Glass office partitions play a huge role in this design trend. Balancing our needs for personal space with social connection and transparency, glass partitions can fulfill the contemporary office’s human-centric needs in many creative ways.

The question remains: how can you create glass partition designs with an extra “wow” factor to stand out among the rest?

Let’s look at three successful, innovative approaches to glass office partition designs.

1. Semi-open cubes

The designers of IKEA’s research lab crafted a creative alternative to the open-plan office in 2019: semi-open “cubes” that separated meeting rooms and workspaces while preserving the open, bright, and minimal aesthetic signature to IKEA.

Source: Hampus Berndtson 

These days, business leaders are moving away from isolated offices and closed-in cubicles. They’re looking for well-lit, open spaces that encourage socialization and flexible workspace arrangements. The research lab’s use of glass walls in cube form showcased a refreshing and innovative way to meet this need.

2. Dichroic glass partitions

Shape and layout aren’t the only ways to vary office partitions. Advertising agency Canvas has dichroic glass partitions that change colours when viewed from different angles. The film coating used on the glass material changes the colour of light as it passes through the glass.

Source: Canvas Worldwide

The brightly coloured glass is used to indicate collective spaces—boardrooms, meeting rooms, and more informal gathering places. Meanwhile, employee workstations are placed around the periphery of the building so that every worker gets natural light, which passes through the coloured glass and illuminates their office with bright hues.

3. Typographic designs

Just a few words—ones that reflect a company’s style, values, or attractive brand name, can completely transform partitions and interior glass walls.

Typography can make a big statement on a simple design. Or, it can serve a more functional purpose, helping offices differentiate meeting rooms from other workspaces. Whether you use type on translucent glass or on the painted walls, typography opens the door for many design opportunities. Your options are endless.

Keep modernizing your office designs

More business owners nowadays favour spaces that are dynamic, spacious, and comfortable. Internal office partitions fulfill this need with their mobile and multi-functional nature.

Partition designs that allow for more flexible workstation arrangements, open spaces, and employee socialization help businesses to work smarter.

Need more inspiration? Discover more design ideas in the Rampart projects.