What do you use a booth or pod for?
The right choice starts with the needs of your team
Before you purchase a booth or pod, it is important to take inventory what the needs are within your team. Only then will you make a choice that truly suits your way of working.
In this magazine, we show per booth or pod tested for which situation which one is most appropriate. But it starts with understanding why you need a booth: is it about peace, privacy, concentration or just meeting up?
Typical activities for booths and pods:
Short phone calls or video meetings
Longer scheduled video meetings
Focus work for one person
Focus work for multiple people
Physical consultation with two or more people
Collaboration, brainstorming sessions or presentations
Which activity requires which type?
- Telephone → Call box / Phone booth
Compact and perfect for short phone calls without disturbing the rest of the shop floor. - Short video call (1 person) → Small booth or call box
Ideal for a quick online meeting with privacy and good acoustics. - Long video call (1-2 people) → 1 or 2-person booth
More comfort, better ventilation and space for notes or laptop use. - Individual focus work → 1-person pod with desk
An enclosed workspace where you can concentrate, write or design undisturbed. - Consultation with 2-3 people → 2- or 3-person booth or pod
Quiet and private, but with plenty of room to work together. - Meeting with 4-6 people → Large pod
A full-sized meeting room with acoustic walls and professional lighting. - Brainstorm or collaborate → Creative pod or multipurpose pod
Flexible setup with whiteboard, screen or loose furniture - .Informal meeting or short break → Lounge-pod
Comfortable setting for spontaneous conversations or a quiet coffee moment.
What do you consider when choosing a booth or pod?
You don't choose a booth or pod based solely on design or size. It is precisely the details that determine whether the experience is enjoyable, healthy and productive. How does it feel to work in it? How long can you stay there comfortably? And does the experience fit the way your team works?
The right booth depends on several aspects:
- Acoustics - The more intensely the pod is being used, the more important a good sound experience is.
- Soundproofing - For privacy, both from inside to outside and vice versa. Essential when placed in quiet rooms or close to work areas.
- Ventilation - With extended use or multiple people, fresh air is necessary for comfort and productivity.
- Technology - Power, Internet and good lighting make video meetings more professional. Some models even offer reservation systems and sensors that measure usage and occupancy.
- Furniture - Match furnishings to duration of use. For short calls, a table with a stool is sufficient; ergonomic office chairs invite you to sit for a considerable time.
- Accessibility - Be considerate to disabled colleagues.
Wondering which booths we tested?
Making arrangements for use
Placing booths or pods is step one, but agreements on use are just as important. You don't want a pod meant for short calls to be blocked by someone doing focus work there all day.
Many manufacturers offer smart reservation systems that streamline usage, such as maximum reservation times and visibility into occupancy. This way, the pod is used for its intended purpose and the shop floor remains flexible and efficient.
