The ideal modern office has evolved over the years, from rows of desks, to cubicles, to today’s more free-form layouts. Understanding the latest trends in office design may not only help build a more efficient, happier workplace, but also help identify new opportunities for promo companies to meet employees’ needs.

Aytekin Tank, founder of online form builder JotForm, contributed an article to Fast Company on how smart office design can impact employee productivity. His article highlights several factors that make a modern office more efficient and comfortable, like natural light, layout and other details.

Natural light, Tank explained, has been linked to a reduction in headaches and eye strain, and in a poll of office workers in North America, it outranked perks like cafeterias, fitness centers and daycare. The same poll found that 70 percent of respondents said natural light improved their job performance.

A company’s physical space should reflect its culture and needs, Tank says. In part, office design can be improved by providing a variety of workspaces. A recent trend toward open-plan office layouts has shown to increase stress and reduce concentration, but this can be countered by giving employees various areas that meet their needs throughout the day, such as a quiet space to help them concentrate and conference rooms when they need to confer with others.

For more of Tank’s suggestions, read Fast Company’s article here.