Davao City — Space and function are the most important factors influencing postgraduate students and working professionals when choosing coworking spaces in Davao City. The finding comes from a study by Shania Jiv S. Alaba, Johanna Mae M. Andrin, Milaana Therese G. Hsu, Juan Alesandro Miguel P. Saguid, Jessie P. Wu, and Emmanuel Joseph B. Sumatra of Ateneo de Davao University. Conducted from August 28 to September 20, 2025, the study involved 360 respondents, including 180 postgraduate students and 180 working professionals. The results show that efficient spatial layouts, clear directional signage, and temperature control form the most preferred combination of coworking space design features.
The growth of remote and hybrid work has increased demand for alternative working environments. Coworking spaces have emerged as shared workplaces where professionals, independent workers, and students can carry out their activities in a common environment. Beyond providing desks and basic facilities, these spaces can influence user comfort, productivity, and the overall work experience.
In Davao City, the coworking sector has developed alongside changing urban economic activities and evolving work patterns. However, the city’s tropical environment makes factors such as temperature and lighting particularly relevant to workplace comfort. While previous research has examined the broader benefits of coworking spaces, limited evidence has identified which physical design elements most strongly determine user preferences in Davao City. The researchers therefore examined specific preferences for different coworking space design characteristics.
The study examined coworking space design through three major dimensions: Ambiance, Space and Function, and Signs, Symbols, and Artifacts. These dimensions were used to understand how users evaluate the physical environment of a shared workplace. Space and Function covered spatial layout, comfort, operational functionality, navigation, and accessibility. Signs, Symbols, and Artifacts included directional signs, logos, branding elements, decorations, and behavioral signs. Ambiance included temperature, scent, lighting, colors, cleanliness, and sound conditions.
To measure user preferences, the researchers applied a descriptive quantitative design using Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis. A total of 360 respondents were selected through a combination of purposive and quota sampling. The participants included professionals from sectors such as BPO, e-commerce, healthcare, and tourism, as well as postgraduate students from fields including medicine, law, business, arts and sciences, and education. Preference data were collected through 1000minds software using the PAPRIKA method.
From an initial pool of 430 participants, 70 records were removed because of invalid responses, including rushed completion, incomplete profiles, or straight-line response patterns. The final dataset therefore contained 360 valid respondents, evenly divided between 180 working professionals and 180 postgraduate students. Most respondents were aged 25–28, representing 65.8 percent of the sample. Female respondents accounted for 64.2 percent, while male and intersex participants collectively represented 35.8 percent.
The findings showed that Space and Function was the most important attribute, accounting for 38.8 percent of relative importance. Signs, Symbols, and Artifacts ranked second at 31.5 percent, while Ambiance ranked third at 29.7 percent. The results indicate that users place greater emphasis on how effectively a space supports work activities than on decorative appearance alone.
Within Space and Function, efficient spatial layout produced the strongest utility score at 0.388. Space and comfort, including seating variety and ergonomic chairs, followed with a utility score of 0.300. Operational functionality scored 0.216, while ease of navigation and accessibility received baseline values of 0.00 in the utility calculation.
Within Signs, Symbols, and Artifacts, directional signage recorded the highest utility score at 0.315. Logo and branding elements followed with a value of 0.220, while decorations such as artwork and plants received 0.154. The findings suggest that signs helping users navigate the facility are more valuable than decoration alone.
For Ambiance, temperature control was the most important feature, with a utility score of 0.297. Scent and fragrance diffusers followed at 0.202. Lighting, brightness, and colors recorded a utility score of 0.142. Within the research model, the absence of noise and aesthetic cleanliness did not generate additional utility.
The simulated market-choice results further reinforced these preferences. Physical Design 1, which combined temperature control, spatial layout, and directional signage, achieved a utility score of 1.000 and a simulated market share of 100 percent. When this primary configuration was unavailable, preferences shifted toward a design combining scent and fragrance with spatial layout and signage, which achieved a 41.7 percent simulated share. Another configuration combining temperature control, space and comfort, and signage achieved 33.1 percent.
The consistency of respondent preferences was also strong. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance reached 0.790, while Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient reached 0.788. These results indicate a strong degree of agreement and consistency among respondents when ranking different coworking space design configurations.
The study suggests that coworking users in Davao City are not simply looking for visually attractive workplaces. They primarily want environments that help them work efficiently. A balanced arrangement of desks and work areas allows users to maintain individual work zones while also supporting collaboration. Clear directional signage can also help users navigate larger shared facilities with multiple rooms and service areas.
Temperature control emerged as another important consideration. As a tropical city, Davao requires environmental management that can maintain user comfort during working hours. The researchers recommend more targeted temperature-control systems and suggest maintaining indoor temperatures between 22°C and 24°C to support comfort and concentration during peak working periods.
For coworking operators, these findings provide a practical basis for prioritizing investments. Operators can focus on modular furniture and flexible layouts that separate individual deep-work areas from collaborative spaces. Directional signage should also be clearly positioned toward essential areas such as printing stations, quiet zones, restrooms, and emergency exits.
The researchers also recommend moving away from rigid, one-size-fits-all membership models. Postgraduate students and working professionals have different usage patterns, meaning membership packages can be tailored to their schedules and needs. Student-oriented off-peak passes could operate alongside professional packages offering dedicated desks and guaranteed meeting-room access.
Overall, the study by Shania Jiv S. Alaba and colleagues shows that effective coworking space design is not simply a matter of aesthetics. For postgraduate students and working professionals in Davao City, spatial functionality, ease of use, directional guidance, and thermal comfort are important elements in determining the appeal of a shared workplace. The findings can provide local coworking businesses with a practical reference for designing facilities that better match user needs.
Authors
Shania Jiv S. Alaba — Ateneo de Davao University.
Johanna Mae M. Andrin — Ateneo de Davao University.
Milaana Therese G. Hsu — Ateneo de Davao University.
Juan Alesandro Miguel P. Saguid — Ateneo de Davao University.
Jessie P. Wu — Ateneo de Davao University.
Emmanuel Joseph B. Sumatra — Ateneo de Davao University.
Research Source
Article Title: The Value of Design: A Conjoint Analysis of Physical Design Attributes in the District 1, Davao City Coworking Market
Journal: International Journal of Scientific Multidisciplinary Research (IJSMR), Vol. 4 No. 8, 2026, pp. 1817–1826.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijsmr.v4i8.70
Journal Link: https://journalijsmr.my.id/index.php/ijsmr
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