August 2, 2024
Remote work is holding back innovation, study claims

Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings,
Sir John Soane’s Museum, London
18 June 2025
More information
Transdisciplinary Workplace Research Summer School,
Frankfurt
25 August 2025
More information
"Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces": Book Signing and Panel Discussion,
Washington DC
02 September 2025
More information
Paris Design Week,
Paris
04 September 2025
More information
Future Workplace & Office 2025,
Düsseldorf
16 September 2025
More information
ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia,
Saudi Arabia
16 September 2025
More information
Design London Shoreditch,
London
16 September 2025
More information
Future Workplace & Office 2025,
Dusseldorf and Online
16 September 2025
More information
August 2, 2024
by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News, Wellbeing
August 2, 2024
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
The vast majority (92 percent) of ICT roles are expected to undergo big changes as a result of advancements in artificial intelligence and the technology continues to transform the information and communications (ICT) sector according to a new report from tech giants, Cisco, Microsoft and Google. The AI-enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco has published the “Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs” report, offering guidance on the areas for of concern for workers to reskill in response to the evolving job landscape. This transformation will impact professionals in 47 ICT roles, including cybersecurity, data science and software development, according to the report. (more…)
July 31, 2024
by Freddie Steele • Company news
International designer and manufacturer of commercial and hospitality textiles, Camira, has introduced the ‘Colour Manifesto’ to aid interior design professionals in specifying fabrics. Created in partnership with colour futures studio, Luminary Colour, the ‘Colour Manifesto’ features four distinctive colour palettes, alongside evocative lifestyle photography, to inspire architects and designers with the latest colour insights. Demonstrating how colour interplays with the surrounding environment and architectural styles, the ‘Colour Manifesto’ reflects Camira’s colour-thinking for new product introductions during its 50th year. (more…)
July 30, 2024
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
Collaborating with artificial intelligence increases the volume, diversity and detail of new ideas from business leaders according to a new poll from design consultancy IDEO. The survey also suggests that using AI to accelerate innovation rather than efficiency can increase growth by more than a third. In the study 1,000 business leaders answered a brief to design new products and services that could achieve both growth and sustainability objectives. Business leaders who received AI generated questions to help with ideation in response to the brief produced 56 percent more ideas, with a 13 percent increase in the diversity of ideas and a 27 percent increase in the level of detail compared to a control group who were not provided with artificial intelligence prompts. (more…)
July 30, 2024
by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Technology
New research from BT claims there is widespread anxiety among business leaders in the HR sector regarding the pace of technological change. In fact, 96 percent of HR company directors and executives report suffering from ‘bytemares’ – tech-related stress that’s severe enough to disrupt their sleep – with cybersecurity and AI coming up as the main sources of anxiety. With 74 percent of leaders in the sector agreeing that tech transformation is critical to the survival of their business, tackling this tech anxiety could result in a significant contribution to the growth of both the HR sector and the wider economy. (more…)
July 30, 2024
by Mark Eltringham • AI, News
A new report from Cognizant and Oxford Economics New Work, New World: Quantifying Global Gen AI Momentum suggests that firms are planning major investments into generative AI technologies to drive increases in productivity, but are still being cautious about their impact. Additionally, 76 percent of businesses say they are looking to leverage the technology to create new revenue streams, while 58 percent are incorporating revenue increases into their business cases. (more…)
July 30, 2024
by Freddie Steele • Company news
Ultrafabrics, the pioneer in sustainable performance fabrics, unveils Pumice, its latest outdoor performance fabric collection designed to bring the allure of underwater exploration to both indoor and outdoor active living spaces. Inspired by the mesmerizing beauty of the ocean’s depths, Pumice blends a refreshed colour palette with unparalleled durability, ensuring it withstands whatever Mother Nature delivers. (more…)
July 29, 2024
by Neil Franklin • News, Workplace
Employees may be less productive and have more negative emotional experiences at work when there is a large pay gap between them and those in leadership roles, a new study shows. The ‘vertical pay gap’ between leaders and other employees has been found to have risen markedly over the past five decades. (more…)
July 29, 2024
by Marvin Gort • News, Property
In an effort to tackle the fiscal challenges and balance the UK’s budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce significant measures aimed at reducing government spending and optimising public sector assets including public buildings, today. Reeves will lay out her plans in her first major speech as chancellor, where she will highlight what she describes as a £20 billion gap in government spending, attributing it to the economic mismanagement of the previous government. (more…)
July 25, 2024
by Neil Franklin • AI, News
A number of fundamental issues, including a shortage of high-quality data with which to ‘train’ the technology is threatening the AI ‘boom’, according to a new white paper from the Open Data Institute. The paper Building a better future with data and AI is based on research carried out by the Institute in the first half of 2024. It claims to identify significant weaknesses in the UK’s technological infrastructure that threaten the predicted potential gains – for people, society, and the economy – from the surge of interest in artificial intelligence and its applications. It also outlines the ODI’s recommendations for creating diverse, fair data-centric AI. (more…)
July 25, 2024
by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News
There has been a recent significant shift in working habits and preferences among employees in the post-pandemic landscape, according to the fourth Commuter Census from Mobilityways. One of the most prominent findings from the report is the pronounced decline in both the practice of and preference for remote work. The survey of 10,325 participants suggests that 40 percent of people no longer engage in any form of remote work, despite a mere 15 percent of employees expressing a preference for this arrangement. Only 26 percent of respondents would consider working from home as an alternative to their current commuting routine, marking a significant 42 percent drop from the previous year. (more…)
July 30, 2024
Challenging the concept of work-life balance as we know it
by Beth Stallwood • Comment, Wellbeing