WDS featured in January 2022 edition of In Magazine
We're excited to start the new year with another glowing review, courtesy of In Magazine. Click here to read the article in full on page 66.
Workspace Design Show: the much-needed industry event that united commercial interiors
The Workspace Design Show saw over 2,500 people through the doors of Islington’s Business Design Centre at the inaugural Workspace Design Show to see the wealth of new products and leading edge discussions. The event united industry colleagues with each other after a pandemic-induced hiatus of over eighteen months with an overall theme of ‘Redesigning tomorrow’s commercial interiors together’. Says co-founder Charlie Bark-Jones, “It certainly feels to us like it’s a show that the industry wanted, and the support we’ve had has been phenomenal,” He has founded this, the first edition of the show, together with Esha Bark-Jones.
The duo, both vastly experienced event organisers with previous senior roles in Dubai, Australia and the UK, have given this a completely fresh approach to the workplace sector, which was welcomed by the contract industry. Innovation was everywhere from the moment visitors arrived, 65% of whom had a specifying role, stepped inside, with the first day culminating in a superb opening party sponsored by Woven Image. Upon arrival at the event, visitors were greeted by an installation by lighting designer Lauren Lever, Founder of Minoux Lighting Design using products from a collaboration between PROLICHT and Tom Dixon, which created a luxurious and moody backdrop. The VIP Lounge, meanwhile, designed by Yorgo Lykouria, founder and creative principal at Rainlight, was built by AASK US and curated by Obo. The stunning Design Talks Lounge, designed with comfort and flexibility in mind, was beautifully created by The Furniture Practice. The event also had a dedicated area called the Leisure Zone curated by Spaces Taylored and Seven Hills Workspace.
Suppliers at the Workspace Design Show included Spacestor with their beautiful combination of California Cool and London Design, who were showcasing their Verandas meetings space. Agility in workplace design was in high demand, and featuring among the strong presence from Spain was Kettal, displaying their stunning Pavilion O space. Other strong themes at the show were privacy and noise borne out by the plethora of pods on display at the show.
Indeed suppliers everywhere at the Workspace Design Show were furthering the sustainability agenda. Welltek, a distributor for brands including Naava, a manufacturer of green wall solutions that naturalises indoor air, reduces harmful chemicals and optimises humidity while Humanscale became the first ever to offer any product - let alone 26 - that is climate positive. Square Miles Farms live harvested vegetables at the show in a hydroponic growing tower and then the produce was available for attendees to take away.
Says Gill Parker, CEO of BDG architecture + design who was also speaking at the show, “It's great to be out and seeing new products. As we said in the talk, lots of emphasis on acoustics. It’s great to see people again. There's a real appetite for this.”
The organisers worked hard on the talks programme to ensure it encompassed a diverse range of thought leaders. These included May Fawzy, Founder of MF Design Studio and Director at BIID, Katrina Kostic Samen, Head of Workplace Design at KKS Savills, Claire Ness, Inclusive Design Lead at HMRC, Collin Burry, Principal at Gensler. Topics discussed over the two days included sustainable design models, how acoustics are transforming productivity and design for diversity and inclusivity. Speaking after his discussion Jack Pringle, managing director of Studio Pringle, “It was a conversation I really enjoyed especially where we managed to flesh out ideas about what the near future is going to hold and I've learned some things from doing that.”
Commenting on the show, Esha and Charlie Bark-Jones say, “There’s lots to think about thanks to the many insightful talks we’ve had with industry specialists and we’ve seen and heard about some very exciting innovative products from our exhibitors. All in all, we’ve successfully brought people together again to chat about all things workspace design.”
Register your attendance for the next edition by clicking here.
Workspace Design Show, 27-28 February 2023, held at the Business Design Centre, London.
For further information visit workspaceshow.co.uk or email [email protected] / [email protected]
WDS 2021 event featured on Interion website
"The first ‘real’ UK show since 2019 was held at The Business Design Centre on 4th and 5th November – and what an exciting event it was! Packed with enthusiastic attendees, the show floor was buzzing – and a series of ‘Expert Panel’ discussions gave us some real insights into the future of the office.
Our thanks to the organisers, who did an amazing job gathering the best of British and International design talent for the talks programme, and attracting many leading interior product makers to exhibit."
Thanks to the furniture experts over at Interion for sharing their thoughts on our 2021 event. Read the full article on their website by clicking here.
WDS featured in DesignCrucial
"The Workspace Design Show saw over 2,500 people through the doors of Islington’s Business Design Centre at the inaugural Workspace Design Show to see the wealth of new products and leading edge discussions. The event united industry colleagues with each other after a pandemic-induced hiatus of over eighteen months with an overall theme of ‘Redesigning tomorrow’s commercial interiors together’."
Thanks to our friends over at DesignCrucial for their kind words on our event. You can read the full article on their website by clicking here.
WDS 2021 Talk covered by Facilitate Magazine
"A prominent architect and veteran of fit-out and new-build projects for more than 30 years said the pandemic has caused this to be “the most extraordinary time since I started in business in the 1980s”.
Jack Pringle, managing director of Studio Pringle and a past president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), was talking as part of a panel session at the Workspace Design Show, held at Islington’s Business Design Centre in London."
Facilitate Magazine recently covered one of the Workspace Design Talks, "Commercial Interior Designs to Inspire Creativity & Innovation", held on the first morning of the event. You can read the full article on their website by clicking here.
Workspace Design Show 2021 Review on Design Insider
"I travelled to this new event wondering what it would bring to the workplace sector and questioning what I wanted to be able to take away from the event. Would it deliver something new? Did it need to? I left the event with greater knowledge, having met with industry friends in person and having discovered new designs. To me it was certainly a success!"
Read what Alys Bryan, Editor at Design Insider, had to say about WDS 2021 in her full length review. Click here.
What to expect from Square Mile Farms at WDS 2021
You might notice a live, brightly coloured feature as you explore the Workplace Design Show....
Square Mile Farms are showcasing one of their innovative Farmstands and its growing ultra-fresh veg and herbs! They'll be harvesting the produce grown in this hydroponic growing tower at 15:30 on Friday and making it available to attendees. Be sure to come along and collect (for free!) some greens that have been growing locally at the show over the last day or so! They'll explain their Office Farming proposition and how it can contribute to workplace wellbeing, sustainability goals and drive employee engagement.
Square Mile Farms are on a mission to make urban farming a lifestyle by empowering urban consumers to make sustainable, healthy food choices through technology, knowledge and exceptional experiences. They achieve this by installing innovative Farms in offices and residences and providing the platform, tools and knowledge for learning around growing at home, nutrition and wellbeing.
"We’re excited to be attending the Workplace Design Show. For us it’s a great opportunity to tell our story to the people who are at the forefront of innovation when it comes to building happy and healthy workplaces.
The return to work post-covid has prompted a lot of discussion around sustainability, workplace wellbeing (both physical and mental) and employee experience. This ties into everything we are about as a business, as we aim to reconnect individuals with their food to the benefit of their health and that of the planet and create experiential workplaces that inspire creativity and innovation
The ongoing challenge in a hybrid workplace is providing reasons for people to go to the office. Many of our clients are looking for innovative ways of attracting people back to the office as their staff are expecting more than just a desk to work at when they do come in. We’ve had specific feedback from employees at our client sites that our Farms and the experience that we provide have given them that incentive."
"Countdown on Workspace Design Show begins" on PFL Magazine's website
"The show brings together the latest products in the sector and celebrates the creativity of workplace design."
Thanks to Property Finance & Lifestyle magazine for featuring Workspace Design Show 2021 on their website recently. Read the article in full by clicking here.
WDS featured on Creative Build Magazine website
"As the summer comes to an end and people return to their offices, what better time to look ahead to a show which will bring together the latest products in the sector, celebrating the creativity of workplace design."
You can read our recent article featured on Creative Build Magazine's website by clicking here.
"Less than two months to go until Workspace Design Show 2021 opens" on Construction Update
"In less than two months, Workspace Design Show will open its doors, welcoming the commercial interiors community to discover and discuss tomorrow’s places of work at London’s Business Design Centre from 4-5 November 2021."
Check our our recent mention on Construction Update by clicking here.