Your Desk, Anywhere: How to Equip Hybrid and Shared Offices for the Future of Work

 

The way we work is changing. Traditional offices are being reimagined through flexible workspace strategies, including desk sharing, hybrid work, and remote models While these trends promise increased agility, lower costs, and better employee satisfaction, they also demand new thinking—and new tools.

In this shift, one element is often overlooked: how individuals interact with space when it’s no longer “theirs.”

How do you make shared desks feel intuitive?
How do you help employees settle in quickly—wherever they are?
How do you preserve comfort, productivity, and personal organisation in a flexible world?

 

Why Desk Sharing Needs Thoughtful Equipment

Flexible working environments save space—but they can also cost people their sense of orientation and control. No fixed drawer. No ergonomic setup. No daily rhythm.

When the physical environment changes constantly, small frictions build:
☐ tangled cables
☐ forgotten chargers
☐ inconsistent posture
☐ wasted time setting up

That’s why physical work tools have become just as essential as software in any desk sharing strategy. It’s no longer enough to have booking platforms and clean desks. What employees carry with them matters.

 

A New Category: Mobile Desk Organisers

Enter the personal workspace kit: lightweight, portable organisers designed to bring structure, ergonomics, and familiarity to ever-changing environments.

Gustav products are created specifically for this use case. Our modular, minimalist tools empower professionals to carry their work setup across locations—without compromising on comfort or organisation.

Whether for an architect commuting between projects, a customer service team hot-desking in HQ, or a bank rolling out flexible work across departments, Gustav products deliver calm, efficiency, and a premium user experience.

 

 

Three Portable Solutions for the Hybrid Office

 Gustav Original

Your full desktop setup in a single, mobile unit

This iconic wooden organiser includes:

·       A built-in laptop stand for ergonomic posture

·       Internal compartments for cables, notebooks, pens, and devices

·       Premium finishes made from sustainable European plywood

·       A slim profile that fits into lockers or under desks

Perfect for hybrid workers with regular office days or companies with no fixed seating. Gustav Original is handcrafted in Europe to reflect timeless design and durability.

“Gustav impressed us from the start – all other alternatives either didn't have the appropriate functionality or were simply not appealing in terms of design.”
— Mathias Krumpel, Drei / Hutchison

 DeskMate Office Bag

More than a bag — it’s your portable desk.

Designed for hybrid professionals, DeskMate offers a seamless transition between home, office, and everywhere in between. As soon as it’s placed on the table, the bag transforms into a self-standing workstation: its front flap opens into a vertical organiser, keeping pens, chargers, and small items accessible throughout the day.

Inside, it offers generous space for laptops (up to 16”), large keyboards, A3 documents, and personal items — without feeling bulky. Its structured form allows it to sit upright, acting as part of your desk setup rather than just another bag on the floor.

Crafted from Repreve®, a durable textile made from recycled plastic bottles, DeskMate brings together sustainability, style, and resilience. Adjustable cotton handles, a detachable shoulder strap, and secure closure options make it both versatile and reliable — ready to support flexible work wherever it happens.

 

Loop Desk Caddy

The essentialist’s organiser for shared desks and fixed docking stations

Loop is Gustav’s most compact product—built for those who only need the basics. Made from recycled felt (also derived from used water bottles), Loop is ideal for:

·       Holding small items like pens, chargers, and notebooks

·       Complementing office setups with pre-installed screens and docks

·       Keeping desks clean and transitions fast

Simple. Smart. Recycled.

 

Real Company Use Cases: How Businesses Deploy Gustav 

Verbund AG: Driving faster acceptance of shared desks

When Verbund AG, Austria’s largest energy provider, embarked on the redesign of its Vienna headquarters, the goal was more than just saving space. It was about creating a modern, inspiring work environment that embraced flexibility, transparency, and movement.

With the transition from assigned desks to shared workstations across 14 floors, the project team knew they had to support this cultural change with tangible, intuitive tools. That’s where Gustav came in.

“The acceptance of the shared desk has certainly gone much faster for us, because it was another way of complementing our beautiful new working environment.”
— Astrid Mindl, Project Lead, Verbund AG

Gustav was introduced to give employees a sense of continuity and personal ownership — even when their desk changed from day to day. By allowing everyone to carry their essentials in a beautifully designed, functional organiser, employees were able to adapt quickly and positively to the new model.

The rollout wasn’t just about furniture or policy — it was about enabling people to move with ease, set up quickly, and feel at home anywhere in the building. The use of Gustav contributed to higher employee satisfaction and helped reinforce Verbund’s workplace vision: a flexible space that adapts to people, not the other way around.

 

 Drei (Hutchison): Scaling hybrid work to 1,600 people

As Drei, one of Austria’s leading telecommunications providers, restructured its headquarters, the aim was clear: reduce the number of permanent desks while enabling a modern, hybrid way of working. The move from 1,500 fixed desks to 900 shared ones wasn’t just a logistical challenge — it was a shift in how people experienced their daily work.

To make this transition smooth, Drei introduced Gustav Original as part of the onboarding for every employee. Each person received their own mobile workstation — compact, personal, and beautifully designed. The response? Overwhelmingly positive.

“Our staff has enormously well received Gustav: Out of 1,600 employees, there are three who don't use it.”
— Mathias Krumpel, Facility Manager, Drei

The change allowed employees to set up in seconds — at any desk, in any part of the building — without sacrificing comfort or efficiency. Gustav quickly became more than a tool: it was part of the new daily rhythm.

“You come into the office and don’t have to sort or put anything away — just grab the Gustav and sit down at a free spot. Whether it’s at your desk or in one of the cosier corners like our garden, the canteen, or the lounge.”

What could have been a disruptive change became a quietly successful one — not just because of policy or design, but because people were given the right tools to make the space their own.

 

Business Benefits: Beyond Ergonomics

Portable work tools don’t just benefit individuals—they support organisational success.

Company Objective	How Gustav Supports It
Faster adoption of flex policies	Makes desk sharing easy and intuitive
Employee satisfaction & retention	Gives workers autonomy and comfort
Efficient workspace use	Encourages clean desk policy and locker systems
Stronger employer branding	Signals care, quality, and design awareness
Procurement alignment	Supports sustainability and durability KPIs

Why Tools Matter in the Flex Office Era

Companies that thrive in the future of work won’t just offer flexibility—they’ll design for it.

That means investing in the right combination of digital tools (like booking systems) and physical equipment (like mobile organisers). When these work together, employees feel supported and empowered—wherever they open their laptop.

 

Final Thought: Equip the People, Not Just the Space

Flexibility is not about less—it’s about better. And “better” means making sure each employee has the ability to create a productive, ergonomic, and organised workspace at any desk, any day.

By integrating tools like Gustav Original, DeskMate, and Loop into your workspace concept, you build more than infrastructure. You build trust.

🔗 Explore the full Gustav range →