The Workspace Design Show 2024

Exactly what’s coming to an office near you!

Workplace design has come a long way since rows of typists hammered away at clunky keyboards in the bad old days. Modern bosses understand that the layout of workspace is paramount to employee satisfaction, which in turn increases productivity. In other words, everyone’s a winner.

The eyes of architects and designers all over the world are increasingly focused on this aspect of interior design, and it was a hot topic at the UK’s recent Workspace Design Show. This mecca for over 4,500 workplace ID professionals from over 40 countries around the world was held over two days in London’s Business Design Centre.

The building was transformed into a workspace wonderland, hosting hundreds of products, from flooring, walls and lighting to work pods and furniture. In short, if it wasn’t there, it didn’t exist.

Office design gurus also flocked to the heart of Islington to give talks about how to stay on-trend for those who crave to be in the know. And this year, the foundations were built around one thing:

Make it employee-friendly, or die trying!

So, what were the show highlights for 2024? Well, for your pleasure, here are the top three:

1. Diverse and Inclusive Spaces

For many reasons, work booths were the star of the show, and it’s easy to understand why. Versatile office space for people on the move has become increasingly important – this includes workers who share the same responsibilities on different days of the week, but it’s also the central concern of short-term and individual rented office space. This is a hugely profitable area and a growing industry in its own right.

With all this in mind, Kabin’s work booths and pods were making their presence felt. Kabin describes its design ethos like this:

“Expertly designed for human comfort and welfare. A place for inspired focus and calm. A destination where deeper levels of creativity and productivity are achieved.”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Watch this space for a flurry of copycats, but bear in mind that Kabin has successfully pushed design barriers whilst maintaining quality to achieve their impressive offering – and if there’s one truism we’re all aware of, it’s that quality rules!

2. The devil’s in the detail

Design Insider is adamant that the look of vital safety features doesn’t have to be compromised just because they’re, well, vital safety features. Of course an office space will include fire extinguishers, alarms, and safety lighting, but the trend is to make them a bit more sexy.

A case in point is Daisalux, a pioneer in safety lighting solutions. Daisalux’s latest product Spica is not only one of the smallest on the market, but achieves this in a sleek and unobtrusive way. It also exceeds the required safety standards for commercial environments, by the way. No wonder it’s set to be the new darling of the office space designer.

3. The fusion of technology and sustainable design

More than a few attendees narrowed down Synergy Creativ’s ekko as the next big thing. In a nutshell, it’s a range of acoustic lighting solutions, which provide sound dampening and have an absorption effect. This clever design feature helps to enhance the privacy of spaces within open-planned interiors. And that’s not the end of the story – not only is the aluminium they use sourced from the UK and made from 77% recycled material, but, crucially, the ekko range is skilfully crafted from 60% recycled plastic bottles. Mission accomplished!

The Design Talks Lounge

Another honeypot in the Workspace Design Show experience was the Design Talks Lounge curated by Gensler. The lounge was a truly immersive space, and this year’s theme, “Bloom – Exploring the Thriving Ecosystem of Work Life” inspired a work of art in its own right.

Gensler’s objective was “to shed light on the interconnectedness of nature and sustainability in shaping the future of workspaces.” And they did it in style. Design Show visitors entered an indoor world inspired by the beauty of forests, woodlands, and meadows, “all while gaining insights into the pivotal role these elements play in modern workplace design.”

As much as it seemed like the lounge was an exhibit all by itself, it did, of course, have a purpose. Fascinating talks were held there throughout the two-day programme, and everyone came away a lot wiser.

Cultural alignment

Everyone had an awful lot to say, but our favourite insight was the case put forward for cultural alignment. We listened closely to find out what this buzz-phrase really means… and this is what we discovered.

Basically, cultural alignment is the essence of a company’s culture, and it influences workplace dynamics like nothing else.

So, if business leaders want a smoothly running office machine, then their office space designers must align their vision alongside the company’s. When this is done right, it creates a collaborative and connected work environment like no other. And an inspiring environment is what it’s all about.

Are you a Tomorrow Child?

Do you have the kind of ideas that could change the face of tomorrow’s office space as we know it? If you’re thinking “Yes!”, then we need to talk! We constantly have the pick of job opportunities landing on our desks, so call mustard ID now on 0117 929 6060.