Office design experts just keep coming up with all kinds of reasons why open office design is good for business. This thinking is alive and well in spite of all the studies showing that reduced workplace privacy and increased noise levels send stress skyrocketing and lower productivity. Now, there’s a slideshow up at Inc.com that puts a whole new spin on the topic of workplace conversations. Apparently, one of the 10 office design tips that foster creativity is to pack your office with people who are talking. According to Kevin Kuske at Turnstone, “If you keep a lot of energy and people in the space, everyone is free to talk, interact, because the background noise – the buzz – gives them privacy.”

It pays to keep in mind that Turnstone is very active in the coworking space where entrepreneurs deliberately choose to work around other people. So, they may actually enjoy the ‘buzz’ since they can always choose to leave when it becomes overwhelming. For employees at a traditional white collar job, less noise and more privacy is the key to getting things done. The hubbub should be confined to collaborative spaces and kept away from heads down work areas.

CC license image courtesy of Flickr user Phillie Casablanca