5 reflections from the Workspace Design Show

10 March 2026

The Workspace Design Show was brilliant as always. There were plenty of inspiring displays to discover, along with fascinating discussion topics like why the office exists today, how workplaces support different ways of working, and how technology and business strategy shape the built environment.

Here are 5 reflections from the show:

Seeing is believing

Clients share their specific requirements with us, get samples, and see renders. But seeing the real thing in person makes the biggest impact.

At the show, we displayed concepts like fixing bench desks to planter units by removing end frames to save costs. Visitors to our stand could see how this worked and have their questions answered. Test the strength of it. Picture the setup in a workspace environment.

You got the same impression as you walked around the show, with brands showcasing plants, acoustics, and furniture in an inspirational yet relatable way, giving buyers and specifiers a unique sense of confidence.

Colour choices are becoming bolder

Natural palettes are still considered standard in workspace design. However, the deep reds, oranges and greens displayed show we’re now using richer colours more expressively.

For our own stand, we took inspiration from our recently completed projects, including our project with Insidesource EMEA for The Heal’s Building, using a deep red for a variety of surfaces to contrast beige, cashmere and stone colours.

The workplace operating system

A fascinating idea we heard at the show was comparing workplace strategy to operating system software.

RE Portfolio Manager Stuart Beety analogised that, just as Bill Gates created value in the personal computer by developing an operating system, a workplace OS can be developed for the built environment to help organisations work together more smoothly.

We like this take: even though everyone uses the office differently, it should be seen as a system that allows employees and departments to interact seamlessly. Creating variety and freedom of choice is essential for this to work, and having the right furniture is a key part of this.

People want to see new ways of designing workstations

The way workstations are designed and actually used is evolving.

Some occupiers are only planning for their full workspace occupancy to be 60% or 80% of their staff if they’re mandating 3 or 4 days in the office. They’re rethinking how they use their floorplate.

For example, we’ve seen end-of-run planter units become more popular over the last few years as a way to soften the space. More various clusters of desks in addition to rows of back-to-back ones. It was interesting to see how you discussed new ideas and ways to use workstations with us to adapt to changing needs.

The new chair range was a standout feature of our stand

The new range of task and meeting chairs drew a lot of attention, with visitors trying them out, discussing features and credentials. It’s always great to gather feedback to inform our product development strategy.

The Vina, Storr, and Zinn will help clients secure more projects with their high functionality and next-day delivery.

Thanks to all of you who visited our stand during the show. It was great to discuss plans, share ideas and present new concepts around workstations.

Call us on 0330 133 1112 if you’d like to discuss an upcoming project with our team.

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5 reflections from the Workspace Design Show

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