Towards Smart Workplaces: Understanding Mood-Influencing Factors of the Physical Workspace in Collaborative Group Settings

Group mood plays a crucial role in shaping workspace experiences, influencing group dynamics, team performance, and creativity. The perceived group mood depends on many, often subconscious, aspects such as individual emotional states or group life, which make it challenging to maintain a positive atmosphere. Intelligent technology could support mood regulation in physical office environments, for example, as adaptive ambient lighting for mood regulation. However, little is known about the relationship between the physical workspace and group mood dynamics. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a qualitative user study (N=8 workgroups and overall 26 participants) to explore how the physical workspace shapes group mood experiences and investigate employees' perspectives on intelligent mood-aware technologies. Our findings reveal key factors influencing group mood, and participants' expectations for supportive technology to preserve privacy and autonomy. Our work highlights the potential of adaptive and responsive workspaces while also emphasizing the need for human-centered, technology-driven interventions that benefit group well-being.