Fleen

Part of

Lifestyle

Work outdoors and flow into green

MA 22/23

Keywords

well-being, work-life balance, work-from-home, nature-based, company culture

Overview

Remote workers face creative blocks, digital fatigue, and disconnection from prolonged work in the same environment. They may not know the importance of breaks for productivity and lack support from their company to make changes to their work environment, making these issues worse.

We aim to help companies develop a work-life balance culture that supports remote workers. Fleen offers a nature-based well-being service package that empowers companies in London who wants to help their remote workers achieve work-life balance and improve mental health by providing an inspiring and relaxing outdoor working experience. Our package is designed to use the natural setting of the urban green space to enhance creativity, reduce stress, and create social connections.

Fleen encourages companies to recognize the positive impacts of nature on well-being and performance, creating a supportive work culture that prioritises the mental health of remote employees.

Collaboration

We are delighted to announce our partnership with An Darach Forest Therapy and RCA's HR Department for our final project. Both of these esteemed partners have graciously agreed to validate our insights and engage in co-creation with us.

An Darach Forest Therapy will be actively involved in our upcoming podcast channel, where we will have the privilege of hosting Hugh Asher, the owner of this esteemed nature therapy business, as a key guest on our podcast. We are excited to have him share his expertise and insights with our audience.

Additionally, RCA's HR Department has generously offered their support to pilot our scheme. Their collaboration and guidance will be invaluable in refining and testing our service to ensure its effectiveness and success.

We are honored to work alongside with both of them and we look forward to a fruitful partnership as we collectively contribute to the advancement of our project.

SECTION ONE SECTION TWO STATEMENT SECTION THREE SECTION FOUR

CONTEXT

People are suffering from WFH

In the era of work-from-home (WFH), many individuals are facing challenges that come with the lack of separation between their personal and professional lives. This has led to a growing concern for their well-being and productivity. Recognizing the need to address these challenges, we are embarking on a project to develop Outdoor Working Oases specifically designed for remote workers.

As the UK Government continues to encourage those who can work at home to do so, a new survey reveals that:

80% of Brits feel that working from home has had a negative impact on their mental health
30% have been finding it difficult to separate their home lives from their work lives
36% of home workers feel unable to take a break and step away from their workstations; they feel they always have to be at their computer to respond quickly due to not being in the physical presence of colleagues
27% report difficulties switching off at the end of the day or working week
25% say they are finding it difficult to cope with the mental challenges of loneliness and isolation from colleagues

WORKPLACE TRENDS: OUTDOOR WORKING OASES

Outdoor spaces that were once considered a quick destination for fresh air are now becoming a functional extension of an office’s space, and it’s easy to see why.

The benefits of outdoor space are undeniable. A 2018 survey of indoor workers from L.L. Bean regarding their first-ever outdoor co-working space found that:

86% would like to spend more time outside during the workday
82% like or love the concept of an outdoor space
77% would be most likely to do creative work outdoors
74% have improved moods from working outdoors
71% had reduced levels of stress from working outdoors
64% reported increased happiness from working outdoors

MISSION & VISION

An enjoyable, remote working day in the open green space.

Our goal is to help individuals experience the benefits of nearby open green spaces while fulfilling their work responsibilities, so that they can fully enjoy the benefits of remote working.

INSIGHTS

Who is suffering?

Through the interview with WFHers and the online survey, we have identified a specific group of individuals who are particularly suffering from the WFH arrangement. These individuals have a strong sense of responsibility for their work and often find themselves stuck at home for extended periods. To alleviate their challenges, it is crucial for them to gain consent from their company to take breaks and change their work environment.

Why are they suffering?

Through the interviewing and mapping out of their living area, we found that the key factors contributing to their suffering include living alone in a flat without alternative workspaces and lacking essential social connections.

Additionally, employee assistance programs (EAP) provided by their companies is more likely to be online service and often exacerbate their digital fatigue.

DESIGN DIRECTION

How might we help the company develop a work-life balance culture by offering a supportive outdoor environment and experience for their WFHers who live alone at a flat in London to experience the positive effects of working in a natural setting?

SERVICE PROPOSITION

Fleen offers a nature-based well-being service package that empowers companies in London who wants to help their remote workers achieve work-life balance and improve mental health by providing an inspiring and relaxing outdoor working experience.

Our package is designed to use the natural setting of the urban green space to enhance creativity, reduce stress, and create social connections.

Service Feature

Fleen Monthly Outdoor Working Event:

Fleen's flagship offering is our monthly outdoor working event, held on the last Friday during the summer in London's beautiful parks. This event is tailored for companies with 5 to 100 people, providing their remote workers with an inspiring and relaxing environment to work amidst nature's embrace. By leveraging the natural setting of the park, we stimulate creativity, reduce stress, and foster social connections, enhancing the overall well-being and job satisfaction of participants. As more users join, the subscription fee per user decreases, making it a cost-effective solution for companies of all sizes.

Fleen Pro for Larger Companies:

For companies with over 100 employees, Fleen Pro offers a customized outdoor working event that goes beyond our monthly offering. We collaborate closely with the company to conduct workshops focused on improving work-life balance awareness and integrating outdoor working practices into their corporate culture. Through these workshops, we co-create a personalised outdoor working event that aligns with the company's values and goals, delivering a unique and transformative experience for their remote workforce.

Guided Podcasts for Better Working Outdoors:

Our curated series of guided podcasts offers remote workers practical tips, techniques, and insights on how to optimize their outdoor working experience. From mindfulness exercises to productivity hacks, our podcasts empower individuals to harness the benefits of nature and create a more fulfilling and effective work routine.

Fleen Coach for Personalized Guidance:

To further support individuals in achieving work-life balance and fully integrating nature into their lives, Fleen offers personal coaching services. Our experienced coaches provide one-on-one guidance, helping remote workers develop tailored strategies to plan their schedules effectively, prioritize self-care, and create sustainable work habits. With the guidance of a Fleen Coach, individuals can unlock their full potential, leading to increased productivity, improved well-being, and a more fulfilling work-life balance.

VALIDATION

We are grateful for the support provided by RCA's HR Department during our validation stage. This phase involves testing and analyzing the value proposition and effectiveness of our concepts. To accomplish this, we will host a co-creation workshop with our target users, facilitated by the HR Department.

The workshop consists of four main sessions:

Introduction to our project
Sharing the challenges faced during remote work
Creating an ideal outdoor working space using Lego
Refining and expanding upon our initial ideas

The valuable insights, preferences, and concerns gathered from this co-creation workshop will shape the development of our concept and services offered by Fleen. Subsequently, we will prototype another workshop with potential users to further test our services, in collaboration with the RCA HR Department.

SPECIAL
THANKS

We sincerely thank all the interviewees for their valuable ideas. Your contributions have provided a foundation to build upon. Special thanks to Diana Liu for her insightful input at the project's inception.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our unwavering support tutors, Dr. Nicolas Rebolledo Bustamante, Dr. Qian Sun, Carolyn Runcie, and David Eveleigh-Evans. Thank you for helping and guiding us through the project. We are also grateful for the feedback from our service design tutors.

To Hugh Asher of An Darach Forest Therapy, thank you for collaborating on the podcast section and inspiring us with your expertise in mindfulness.

We extend our gratitude to the RCA HR Department for supporting our prototype and to Jo's kindness and support throughout the process.

Lastly, we thank our peers for their continuous suggestions and unwavering support.

We are sincerely grateful for everyone's contribution. It is a privilege to work with all of you.

Team

Chenyue(Channy) Hong

chenyue.hong@network.rca.ac.uk

7831406486

Portfolio

Approved

Hoi Lam Ma

10014941@network.rca.ac.uk

+44 7752438255 / +852 91716373

Portfolio

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