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Workspace Design Show London unveils “Connected Realities” installations

Workspace Design Show London unveils “Connected Realities” installations

Workspace Design Show (25–26 February 2026, Business Design Centre, London) returns with a series of immersive installations that bring the show’s 2026 theme, Connected Realities, to lifeWorkspace Design Show (25–26 February 2026, Business Design Centre, London) returns with a series of immersive installations that bring the show’s 2026 theme, Connected Realities, to life. Designed by leading architecture and workplace design studios, these installations explore how physical environments, digital systems, material innovation and human experience are becoming increasingly interconnected in the modern workplace. Together, the installations form a journey across the show floor, inviting visitors to pause, interact, reflect and reimagine how workplaces are designed, experienced and sustained. (more…)

Surface Design Show announces details of speaker’s programme

Surface Design Show announces details of speaker’s programme

The Surface Design Show has announced the final details of its speaker’s programme for the 2026 edition of the show.The Surface Design Show has announced the final details of its speaker’s programme for the 2026 edition of the show. Featuring a range of topics with some of the most innovative voices in industry, the schedule includes an impressive list of industry names including Michelle Ogundehin, Katie Treggiden, Liz Bell, Tim Gledstone, Giles Miller and Justine Fox.  The main stage is designed by Design Command using acoustic surfaces, soft textures and gentle light, with furniture supplied by Table Place Chairs. The design treats silence not as absence but as an active design language, exploring how materials can shape space while creating a pause for visitors to reflect and feel inspired amid the show. The programme will consist of 21 presentations from over 50 speakers spanning the full breadth of the design industry. (more…)

Best in workplace design recognised in 2026 Workspace Design Awards shortlist

Best in workplace design recognised in 2026 Workspace Design Awards shortlist

The 2026 edition of Workspace Design Show has officially revealed the shortlisted projects for its newly launched Workspace Design AwardsThe 2026 edition of Workspace Design Show has officially revealed the shortlisted projects for its newly launched Workspace Design Awards, recognising outstanding achievements across workplace design, innovation, sustainability, experience and adaptability. The shortlisted projects showcase the breadth and depth of talent shaping today’s workplaces across the UK and Europe, from smart offices and large-scale corporate headquarters to flexible co-working environments and future-focused concept designs. (more…)

CEOs say they are struggling to profit from their company’s use of AI

CEOs say they are struggling to profit from their company’s use of AI

CEO confidence in their revenue prospects has fallen to its lowest level in five years, as business leaders struggle to turn investment in AI into consistent financial returns, according to PwCCEO confidence in their revenue prospects has fallen to its lowest level in five years, as business leaders struggle to turn investment in artificial intelligence (AI) into consistent financial returns, according to PwC. Findings from the consultancy’s 29th Global CEO Survey show that only 30 percent of CEOs are confident about revenue growth over the next 12 months. That compares with 38 percent in 2025 and 56 percent in 2022, suggesting a sharp cooling in optimism as organisations face a mix of economic uncertainty, geopolitical pressure and rapid technological change. The survey is based on responses from 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories. (more…)

Surface Design Show 2026 champions the next generation of material innovators

Surface Design Show 2026 champions the next generation of material innovators

Surface Design Show 2026 reaffirms its commitment to nurturing emerging design talent, placing material innovation, sustainability and future-focused thinking firmly at the heart of the show. Through its ongoing partnerships with the Royal College of Art, the Green Grads initiative and for the first time the Emerging Talent category within the Surface Design Show Awards, the 2026 edition highlights a new generation of designers redefining what surface design can be. Across the exhibition, visitors will encounter projects that challenge extractive systems, transform waste streams and place human and environmental wellbeing at the centre of material design. (more…)

Surface Design Show announces the finalists in its awards programme

Surface Design Show announces the finalists in its awards programme

The Surface Design Awards have announced the shortlist for the 2026 edition. The winners will be announced during the Surface Design Show in early FebruaryThe Surface Design Awards have announced the shortlist for the 2026 edition. The winners will be announced during the Surface Design Show in early February. The awards are intended to champion material excellence and design innovation from the UK and around the globe. The announcement follows a judging day with some of the design industry’s most respected experts deliberating and debating the entries. The organisers of the Surface Design Awards 2026 promise to “uncover and celebrate the very best in design excellence, offering a global platform for ground-breaking projects and product design”. (more…)

The new issue of Works magazine is available for you now

The new issue of Works magazine is available for you now

The new issue of Works magazine is now available for you to read online free here. As another transformative year for the workplace winds down, Works magazine continues to chronicle the most important ideas about people, places and technology. In this issue we have four case studies, a round up of new projects, a showroom full of new products and a whole section dedicated to materials. We profile one of the most influential figures in the industry.

Our round table in partnership with Flokk considers the nature and meaning of innovation in the 21st Century. Jo Knight asks how our attitude towards sustainability is shaped by our aesthetic sensibilities. We travel to Poland to see how one firm is applying ancient materials and crafts in modern design. Rob Kirkbride tracks the details of the biggest deal in the history of the office furniture market. And we look at how lessons from the past might still be relevant today. Plus there are loads more features, including our podcast series with Shaw Contract exploring the different facets of comfort.

Image: Basia Szafranska

Life at the coalface: How the agile workplace first appeared in the mid 20th Century

Life at the coalface: How the agile workplace first appeared in the mid 20th Century

agile working began in the coal fields of NottinghamshireThe idea of diffusion of innovation has become so embedded in our culture, and most recently so associated with the adoption of new technology, that we might assume it happens in predictable ways. The steps between innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards seem intuitive and certain even when their peaks might be unsure. And yet history teaches us that sometimes new ideas can take years or even decades to take hold, even when they are potentially world-changing and relevant for the era in which they were formulated. (more…)

Beyond compliance: how the EU Accessibility Act will redefine workplace inclusion

Beyond compliance: how the EU Accessibility Act will redefine workplace inclusion

he European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect on 28 June 2025. Since that date, any new product or service entering the EU market must meet common accessibility requirements. It’s a significant step toward ensuring that Europe’s 87 million people living with disabilities can use everyday products and services fully and confidently and will have a profound effect on workplace inclusion.The European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect on 28 June 2025. Since that date, any new product or service entering the EU market must meet common accessibility requirements. It’s a significant step toward ensuring that Europe’s 87 million people living with disabilities can use everyday products and services fully and confidently and will have a profound effect on workplace inclusion. The Act is designed to support both individuals and businesses. Until now, accessibility laws have varied widely across member states, creating unnecessary complexity for organisations and uneven experiences for people with disabilities. (more…)

UK directors say people must remain central to work as AI adoption accelerates

UK directors say people must remain central to work as AI adoption accelerates

New findings from monday.com suggest UK business leaders expect artificial intelligence (AI) to expand rather than shrink their workforces in the year ahead.New findings from monday.com suggest UK business leaders expect artificial intelligence to expand rather than shrink their workforces in the year ahead. The company’s latest World of Work report [registration], based on feedback from directors in the UK and US, shows that most UK leaders do not foresee headcount reductions in 2026, with almost a third expecting to hire more as AI becomes further embedded in daily operations. (more…)

JLL sets out the five key corporate real estate trends for next year

JLL sets out the five key corporate real estate trends for next year

A new analysis from JLL claims to highlight how global occupiers are rethinking corporate real estate as a strategic tool for talent, culture and performanceA new analysis from JLL claims to highlight how global occupiers are rethinking corporate real estate as a strategic tool for talent, culture and performance rather than treating it purely as a cost. The report identifies five priorities expected to influence workplace strategy in the year ahead, reflecting continued pressure on portfolios alongside rising expectations for employee experience and sustainability. JLL says organisations are increasingly shifting to more flexible “elastic portfolios” as they look to balance cost control with growth. Office utilisation remains well below target levels, prompting a move away from long, fixed leases in favour of portfolios that can expand or contract according to market conditions, workforce needs or new business opportunities. The firm argues that portfolio management is now closer to a continuous process than a periodic exercise.

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Solar power plants: from panels to the grid

Solar power plants: from panels to the grid

More and more people are turning to solar energy as a reliable and sustainable electricity source. Solar power technology is improving, and equipment costs are decreasing every year.More and more people are turning to solar energy as a reliable and sustainable electricity source. Solar power technology is improving, and equipment costs are decreasing every year. This allows more countries and companies to transition to green sources. DTEK Group is the largest private investor in the country’s energy sector, with investments of over €12 billion since 2005 and 55,000 employees. The company harnesses wind, sun, and thermal resources to generate electricity. Thanks to its hard work and innovation, DTEK Group is helping the Ukraine renewable energy scene grow and move towards cleaner, greener power. (more…)