September 2026

The Evolution of Our Workspaces

Whether you’re deep into financial modeling, reviewing quarterly reports, or catching up with clients, chances are you spend a significant portion of your day anchored to a desk. But have you ever stopped to look at how much our workspaces have evolved over the years?

If we cast our minds back a couple of decades, the standard financial services setup was a temple of heavy hardware: towering desktop towers, tangled nests of landline cords, thick telephone directories, and perhaps a framed photo of the family or a trusty stress ball. Fast forward to today, and our desks look entirely different. We’ve transitioned to sleek, multi-monitor display arrays, wireless peripherals, dual-screen laptop docks, and ergonomic chairs that actively save our lower backs from the perils of long hours.

Of course, this evolution has given rise to a very important workplace debate: Minimalism versus Maximalism.

On one side, we have the digital purists. Their desks feature a single ultra-wide monitor, a spotless wireless keyboard, zero stray papers, and perhaps a solitary, well-watered plant. It’s clean, it’s calm, and it screams ultimate organisation.

On the other side, we have the tactical maximalists. Their workspace is a vibrant ecosystem: a multi-screen command center adorned with coffee cup collections, desk calendars, fidget tools, and enough stationery to supply a small branch office. Proponents argue that controlled chaos fuels creativity; minimalists argue it triggers anxiety.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum, our workspaces tell a story about how we work, adapt, and stay sane through busy days in the office.