February 23, 2024

Less than a week to go before the Workspace Design Show opens its doors

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Workplace design

In just a few days the eagerly-awaited Workspace Design Show, the trade show that brings together the UK workplace interiors community, will open its doors. Held at London’s Business Design Centre, handily placed in the heart of Islington, from 27-28 February 2024, the event offers attendees the chance to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes.

This year’s extensive speaker programme has over 120 speakers across four key elements of discourse. The Workspace Design Talks programme, will feature inspiring sessions from leading industry professionals over the event’s two days. Speakers include Alan Bainbridge, Director of Workplace, BBC; Yasmin Al-Ani Spence, Director, WilkinsonEyre; Mary-Louise Gray, VP Workplace, Real Estate and Facilities, GSK; and Naomi Sakamoto, Principal Studio Director, Gensler. Topics covered include designing a workspace that meets cross generational needs, the hotelification of the office, using AI in workplace design and the evolution of workplace design through the eyes of next gen architects.

Sustainability Works, curated by Mick Jordan, Editor of Works magazine, returns for 2024 and is held on 27 February, once again bringing together a selection of key figures from firms such as Perkins&Will and Scott Brownrigg who are behind the workplace market’s leading sustainable initiatives and projects. The Occupiers Forum, held on 28 February, offers the complete ‘The View from HQ’. Located in the Insights Lounge, it will provide unique insights from occupiers such as BT Group, HSBC, Clifford Chance, Salesforce and Barclays into what employers are doing to create an engaging workplace experience. The FIS Conference, taking place on 27-28 February, will explore productivity, quality, compliance and sustainability issues in the fit-out sector, with leading speakers from among others tp bennett, MCM, Claremont, ISG, British Land and Turner & Townsend.

This year’s features represent an incredible spectacle for attendees of the Show, all seeking inspiration from the overarching show theme ‘Bloom – Exploring the Thriving Ecosystem of Work Life’. There will be an array of captivating features such as the Design Talks Lounge by Gensler, the Entrance by tp bennett, the Insights Lounge by BDP, a Living Workplace lighting installation by Jason Bruges Studio, and the Recharge Lounge.

Once again, the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS), will host their awards at the Workspace Design Show. These will celebrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge innovations that define the finishes and interiors sector. With a spotlight on revolutionary materials, exceptional design techniques, and sustainability breakthroughs, the FIS Innovation Awards serve as a showcase of the industry’s finest achievements.

As the sun sets on the first day of the show, the Workspace Design Show invites attendees to party and socialise into the rest of the evening. This exclusive event is the perfect opportunity to unwind, network, and celebrate. The party kicks off immediately after the day’s activities from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, completely transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of creativity and connection.

This year will bring the exciting mood board contest area designed by MF Design Studio. The unique scheme runs parallel with a blooming tree; MF Design Studio have created an environment for the mood board contest to engage participants, to experience the world of workplace design through a personal exploration of materials, textures and colours. Their use of colour represents our diversity and how they approach design in an individual yet collaborative way, bold lines bloom into curves that define the different palettes. Using all sustainable materials to inspire designers to create a more sustainable future. The contest allows attendees to create their own stunning mood boards, which they can then submit as their entry to the contest.

Exhibitors from over 20 countries will be showcasing innovative and transformational workplace interiors products during the event. The workplace world descends on London for the two days of Workplace Design Show from Pedrali and Lapalma from Italy, Spain’s Kettal and Actiu, Modulyss from Belgium and Woven image all the way from Australia, plus many more.

Workspace Design Show will be the place in London for architects, designers, occupiers, developers, consultants, coworking companies and fit-out companies to explore the latest industry trends, see the latest products, and find inspiration in the thought-provoking talks programmes.