How AI will transform the way we design and manage the places we work

How AI will transform the way we design and manage the places we work

The future of work is here. It's AI-powered, human-centered, and brimming with possibility. Are you ready to shape it?The integration of Artificial Intelligence into the workplace is not just a technological shift; it’s a fundamental reimagining of how we work, interact, and manage our professional environments. As AI capabilities rapidly evolve, they promise to transform every aspect of workplace design and management, from physical layouts to organizational structures and employee experiences. More →

We still display status in office design, but in new and subtle ways

We still display status in office design, but in new and subtle ways

There was a time, not so long ago, that one of the most important factors to consider when designing an office was the corporate hierarchy. The office was once the  embodiment of the corporate structure. In Joanna Eley and Alexi Marmot’s 1995 book Understanding Offices, quite a lot of space is dedicated to the idea of the ‘space pyramid’, which means simply that the higher up the organisation you were, the more space you were allocated. Even then, the idea of office design as a signifier of dominance was starting to wear thin, as the authors acknowledge. Ostentatious displays of status were already seen as somewhat gauche, but they were to be fatally undermined by the technological advances to come.

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Book review – Working Assumptions by Julia Hobsbawm

Book review – Working Assumptions by Julia Hobsbawm

This is almost certainly the most important book about work and workplaces to appear in the first half of this year. Working Assumptions by Julia Hobsbawm will be one of the two most important published this year, as we shall soon discover. It is also one packed with wisdom, knowledge and a central premise that is undoubtedly true. Namely that the events of the past four years have given us the opportunity to rethink how we work and so how we spend our days and our lives more generally. More →

3 Days of Design proves we don’t know what we’re doing

3 Days of Design proves we don’t know what we’re doing

We don't know what we're doing. That was what we all learnt about sustainability at last week's 3 Days of Design in CopenhagenWe don’t know what we’re doing. That was what we all learnt about sustainability at last week’s 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen as Denmark’s capital city played host once more to this increasingly influential European Design event. Timed, as it is, in the same week as Chicago’s Neocon, and following on from Milan’s enormous and well-renowned Salone, not even intermittently inclement weather could disguise the noticeably larger audience drawn to Copenhagen this year. More →

Workspace Design Show triumphs again: get ready for two spectacular shows in London and Amsterdam

Workspace Design Show triumphs again: get ready for two spectacular shows in London and Amsterdam

Workspace Design Show continues to innovate, expanding its diverse portfolio of exhibitors for the London and Amsterdam 2025 showsWorkspace Design Show continues to innovate, expanding its diverse portfolio of exhibitors for the London and Amsterdam 2025 shows, and will feature Umbrella Furniture (pictured) as the lead partner for the talks areas at the 2025 London edition, designed by Gensler and Ryder Architecture. Launched in 2021, Workspace Design Show is a firmly established highlight of the global workplace event calendar. Bringing together world-class design and manufacturing industry excellence, the 2025 editions, which take place in London (26 – 27 Feb) and Amsterdam (5 – 6 Nov), feature a stunning line-up of brands, including König + Neurath, Ahrend, Interface, Tarkett, Kettal, Bisley, and Interstuhl. More →

Introducing Planters by Bisley

Introducing Planters by Bisley

The Bisley range of complementary planters are the perfect addition for bringing the outside inWe know that biophilic elements are key to boosting mental and physical wellness. The Bisley range of complementary planters are the perfect addition for bringing the outside in. The benefits of biophilia are endless, including reduced employee absenteeism, improved health, reduced stress levels, an increase in mood and mental restoration. And it’s something that many businesses have embraced with open arms. Some spaces are even taking it to the next level by planting full sized trees in the lobby or reception, while greenery is appearing in lights, fixtures, and furniture throughout the office. More →

Herman Miller Fuld Nesting Chair receives “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for product design

Herman Miller Fuld Nesting Chair receives “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for product design

Herman Miller has announced that its Fuld Nesting Chair designed by Stefan Diez received the prestigious "Red Dot: Best of the Best" award for Product Design—the international design competition’s top distinction within the office chairs categoryHerman Miller has announced that its Fuld Nesting Chair designed by Stefan Diez received the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for Product Design—the international design competition’s top distinction within the office chairs category. The Red Dot jury is made up of 40 international experts who test, discuss, and evaluate each entry individually. Designs are scored based on four qualities of good design: function, seduction, ease of use, and responsibility. This award adds to Fuld’s first successful year of being available to commercial customers More →

Camira original closed loop recycled polyester now contains 25 percent textile-to-textile waste

Camira original closed loop recycled polyester now contains 25 percent textile-to-textile waste

Global textile manufacturer and designer of commercial, hospitality and residential fabrics, Camira has redefined its original closed loop recycled polyester, X2 for 2024Global textile manufacturer and designer of commercial, hospitality and residential fabrics, Camira has redefined its original closed loop recycled polyester, X2 for 2024. To mark its 50th year in business and enduring commitment to tackling the global textile waste problem, Camira has significantly increased the percentage of textile-to-textile waste in its popular recycled polyester fabric, X2. Originally launched in 2012, X2 now contains 25 percent textile-to-textile recycled polyester, along with 75 percent post-consumer recycled polyester from plastic bottles. More →

North American office design lagging behind new working cultures

North American office design lagging behind new working cultures

tech firms,, once considered pioneers in innovative office design, are lagging behind the evolving work landscapeA report from design firm Hassell and workplace analytics business Density paints what it claims is a concerning picture of North American tech offices. It says that tech firms, once considered pioneers in innovative office design, are lagging behind the evolving work landscape. The report [registration] analysed over 1.4 million square feet of workspace usage between May 2023 and May 2024, revealed what it says is a troubling trend: underutilisation. On average, these tech offices only reached a peak occupancy of 34 percent, meaning a significant portion of the space – potentially costing companies up to $40 million annually in wasted rent – sits empty. More →

Visit NeoCon, but Chicago has become a tale of two venues

Visit NeoCon, but Chicago has become a tale of two venues

NeoCon may not be the only show in town now, but both it and Design Days are must attend events in the office design calendarChicago is a city which never fails to amaze whether you are visiting for NeoCon or for any other reason. It’s the epitome of extroversion, with its magnificent architecture, larger than life people, almost constant, ear-splitting commotion and frantic comings and goings. Annual visits to the city invariably present a profusion of elegant new skyscrapers of different shapes, styles and colours, which seem to be trying to outdo each other. It’s as if Chicago is constantly trying to outperform all other cities, as well as its own past. More →

Latest carpet tile and LVT collections from Interface explore crafted textiles and natural forms

Latest carpet tile and LVT collections from Interface explore crafted textiles and natural forms

Interface, Inc. the global flooring solutions company and leader in sustainability, has unveiled its latest global carpet tile and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collectionsInterface, Inc. the global flooring solutions company and leader in sustainability, has unveiled its latest global carpet tile and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collections. The Etched & Threaded™ carpet tile and Earthen Forms™ LVT collections push the boundaries of design while continuing the company’s commitment to creating flooring solutions made for purpose and without compromise. The products offer innovative, modular tiles that fit together effortlessly and combine eye-catching textures, natural patterns, and neutral tones that can be mixed and matched, offering more ways to create high-performing, beautiful spaces. More →

Damp but unbowed. Clerkenwell Design Week 2024 review

Damp but unbowed. Clerkenwell Design Week 2024 review

Over the past couple of weeks, you might have read a few Clerkenwell Design Week reviews. For a while there, you couldn’t go to LinkedIn without seeing people’s experiences of and opinions on the event. This look back at those three days in May might be somewhat different from the vast majority you’ve already read/scrolled past. We’re not going to start by telling you how ‘super excited’ we were. Not that we don’t look forward to CDW or enjoy the festival. Far from. It’s just that this is actually our job and not a fun few days out of the office. More →