Some radical ideas have surfaced for what workplaces could look like in the coming years—whether that’s setting up co-working spaces at home, turning self-driving cars into offices on wheels or even the revolutionary idea of bringing walls back to open floor plans (a.k.a. cubicles 2.0).

One simple factor can have a big impact on how people work: color. This week, Brett Berk looks at how design and furniture firms are deploying color in their visions of what’s next for the workplace.

As more businesses call employees back to the office, they’re rethinking workplace design to improve productivity and motivation. The use of certain colors can enhance people’s sense of well-being or even increase alertness, recent research suggests.

A new generation of workers and designers are embracing “color drenched” rooms with similar hues on the floor, walls and ceiling, as well as monochromatic office chairs where metal knobs and other parts match the upholstery.

In other cases, companies are using different palettes in areas earmarked for certain uses, such as cool blues for group meeting spaces, or darker colors, even black, for the C-suite. Those shades create a sense of exclusivity and hierarchy.

🤔 How does color influence your well-being and productivity at work? Send me your thoughts, questions and predictions by hitting “reply” to this email.

More on workplace design:

• Office design has to change in a postpandemic workplace. (Read)
• Working from home could be great—with these new features. (Read)

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Last week, we asked how you’re handling the presence of AI in the workplace. A reader shared his thoughts:

• “Our AI usage is primarily focused on leveraging internal knowledge bases and the IRS website for tax-related information. While this is incredibly helpful, it naturally limits the scope of the AI's insights beyond those established resources. This reinforces the critical role of human expertise and experience in navigating complex or novel situations where the AI's training data might be insufficient.”—Jeff Anderson, Pennsylvania

(Response has been condensed and edited.)

• The dire wolf went extinct 10,000 years ago. Are these genetically engineered pups the return of the species? (Time)
• A startup is working on an alternative to IVF that matures eggs outside the body. (Wired)
• Is it possible to build truly decentralized social media? The CEO of Bluesky is working on it. (New Yorker)

Thanks for reading The Future of Everything. We cover the innovation and tech transforming the way we live, work and play. This newsletter was written by Leigh Kamping-Carder. Get in touch with us at future@wsj.com.

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