The open-office design concept proposes floor plans that arrange office spaces to have minimal or no physical barriers, allowing for more collaboration and interaction among employees. This design concept has been popular since the 1950s but has undergone changes over the years. First developed in Germany during the mid-20th century, open-office plans really took root in the United States during the early 2000s, gaining traction among East Coast creative agencies, Silicon Valley tech firms, and other forward-thinking companies.