Kinly’s Art of Productivity report: The secret to building great workplaces

The truth is that your employees have spent years perfecting their home offices. Now, they're being encouraged back into workspaces that feel jaded and uninspiring in comparison.

With outdated spaces and clunky tech rendering the office a second-choice experience, it’s clear something has to change.

This is where AV technology can play a pivotal role. By creating places that people genuinely want to be in and experiences they want to be a part of, the physical office becomes a much more enticing proposition.

Kinly's new Art of Productivity report shows exactly how this works, with real data on wellbeing, recruitment, retention and performance.

Why this matters now

Today’s best workplaces are designed with the employee experience at their core, equipping people with the tools and environments they need to do their best work. While home setups have evolved rapidly, many traditional spaces aren’t keeping pace and are falling short of this goal.

This is where the tide is turning. When done right, AV technology can make office spaces intuitive, intelligent and even beautiful. In fact, according to Trusted Connections 2025, over two-thirds (68%) of AV professionals now view their work as an art, as much a creative discipline as a technical one. It’s time our offices started reflecting that shift.

When asked about this shift in the industry, Tom Martin, CEO, Kinly, said:

“Creative environments fuel performance. Office design is no longer just an aesthetic choice, it’s a strategic one. Businesses have to give employees the tools they need to thrive and that includes providing an environment where they feel empowered and inspired.

Traditional offices are losing appeal for many employees, but implementing technology creatively can and will make a difference, both in terms of boosting office attendance and improving overall output.”

Using insights gathered from over 1,000 UK office workers and 425 enterprise AV professionals, alongside a physical experiment leveraging cutting-edge workplace facial recognition software, the Art of Productivity report explores how artistic, AV-enabled environments can help employees thrive in the modern workplace.

The talent wars are real

If businesses want employees back in the office, they need to offer more than just a desk, particularly as younger generations enter the workforce. The numbers speak volumes: one in three workers (34%) say they’d consider quitting over a dull or uninspiring workplace. This figure jumps to a staggering 46% among 25-34-year-olds.

The implications don’t stop at retention. Office quality now plays a decisive role in attracting talent, too. Nearly half (46%) of workers say that attractive office environments give companies a competitive edge when recruiting, while 45% think employers still underestimate the impact of design in hiring decisions.

Where people actually thrive

Attracting talent is just the start. Enabling people to thrive once they’re through the door is where workplace design really proves its value. Increasingly, AV is becoming integral to building environments where employees feel supported, less stressed and empowered to perform at their best.

• Three in four AV professionals say AV plays a direct role in supporting employee wellbeing.
• 69% believe that AV tech actively reduces stress levels at work.
• Over half of businesses (51%) are already using AV tools including digital art, adaptive lighting and dynamic content to elevate the everyday office experience.

AV is also critical to creating inclusive environments. Nearly one in three enterprises (31%) now use AV to support neurodiverse employees through features like accessibility-focused software and sensory-friendly design. Encouragingly, nearly half (46%) plan to follow suit, pointing to a broader movement toward more inclusive and thoughtful office spaces.

When function meets art

Businesses are rethinking how technology is used in the workplace, shifting from utility to creativity and engagement. Currently, over a quarter of (27%) companies use AV to showcase art and culture. In addition, over two thirds of AV professionals (65%) believe AV should serve artistic or aesthetic purposes, indicating a broader transition from functional tools to immersive and experience-led spaces.

Digital signage is a prime example of this evolution. While traditionally used for internal messaging, nearly half of enterprises (43%) are planning to repurpose it for aesthetic purposes in the near future to create visually engaging environments that inspire as well as inform.

This shift isn't just intended to make things look nicer. Over three quarters of AV professionals (77%) believe that beautiful workspaces lead to higher productivity, while 71% agree that attractive office design plays a vital role in encouraging employees back into the workplace.

Simon Watson, Global Head of Innovation, Kinly, said:

“If you want people to show up and do their best work, give them something inspiring to look at. More businesses are now using digital displays and moving art to improve office design and it’s helping people focus, feel better and get more work done. New audio and visual technologies are vital for creating those motivational environments.”

The bottom line

Office design has become a powerful lever for business performance, influencing everything from retention and recruitment to productivity and wellbeing. At the heart of this transformation is AV technology that’s so seamlessly integrated, employees hardly notice it. While unassuming on the face of it, AV is providing a significant and timely boost for how employees feel, collaborate and work. 

Ready to transform your workplace? To learn more about how AV can boost productivity, maximise ROI and enable your teams to thrive, read the full findings from our Art of Productivity report, here.