Hybrid work models are still being defined
Most showrooms had homeworking solutions built into their promotions and displays. From multi-functional furniture to colours and textures that blend in better with residential environments, the industry’s investment in this area was clear. But what was also clear is that no one knows exactly what that hybrid model of work will look like. Not all companies will have the same policies and benefits. Furthermore, many companies are talking about downsizing, which will change their office environments completely. All these factors and unknowns have the industry as a whole wondering: ‘what’s next?’. But that might not be a bad thing. It opens the door to creative thinking and innovation. Leaving more opportunities for unique designs and ideas to be brought to both the home and the corporate office.
How will people connect?
We may be a little less virtual in the future, but virtual working will remain a major part of how we connect in the future. Some work environments may shift more towards hubs for employees, as many still work from home. You could see this theme playing out at NeoCon as well. Companies were highlighting ways to keep people connected through meeting and collaborative spaces and integrating virtual solutions with in-person capabilities. Connection with customers is important but connecting with your own colleagues and employees may be just as important in the big scheme of things. Embracing new technology and investing in products that promote a collaborative and connected work environment are going to be important for productivity, morale, job satisfaction and even recruitment. Staying connected may be the key to success for businesses.
Sustainability is getting the attention it deserves
As people and companies took time to reflect on what mattered most during the beginning of the pandemic, one thing kept rising to the top: sustainability. This was evident in a ThinkLab Survey of the Design Industry in 2020, which revealed that 47% of design clients are placing more value on products that contribute to LEED or Well. Sustainability was extremely visible throughout the Mart during NeoCon, so much so that an entire showroom was dedicated to the focus area by Metropolis Magazine. The space was called the Sustainability Lab, where many different companies highlighted their activities and products in support of a more sustainable future.
There are also some unspoken movements that seem be building momentum, such as colour trends. Every year the industry tends to focus on a new colour, and there are some efforts to slow this trend down and reduce the impact it has on the environment. When everyone wants their products in the latest colours, it often creates waste as previous colours and products are pushed out.
With the next NeoCon only eight months away, it won’t be long before we see what the industry is planning next for the workplace. One thing we do know is that there are many things happening around the office, and we will no doubt see innovative and creative designs that move us into new and exciting directions.
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Facts about NeoCon
NeoCon is the world’s leading platform and one of the most important events of the year for the commercial design industry, taking place at the MART, Chicago, Illinois.
Where did the name NeoCon come from? You might be surprised. It has been over 50 years since the annual event started as the National Exposition of Contract Interior Furnishings. NeoCon has a better ring to it.
At NeoCon, LINAK is placed at Stand 10-100 and here you can experience some of the many ways LINAK can revolutionise your workplace with our advanced movement solutions - featuring unique technologies and solutions at the forefront of linear actuator design. From conference rooms and office desks to media stands and adjustable privacy panels, we bring a wide range of lifting columns, controls, and digital integrated solutions to help bring movement to anywhere in the office.
Offices are changing, but desks are here to stay
If you ask ten people of different ages what they believe belongs in an office, most of them will probably answer: a desk. It is actually surprising that many futurologists consider the desk to be a "dying species". For them, the future work scene looks quite different: lounging on a sofa, chatting with colleagues in a ski lift chair placed in the middle of a meeting room and brainstorming new creative ideas during a walk through the Zen Garden that has been planted next to the company building. Brave new world. Who wouldn't want to work this way?
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The story behind the sit-stand desk
From catching the industry by surprise in the 1990s to igniting a global trend, here is how we helped change the office landscape. LINAK was the first to market with its revolutionary electric adjustable sit-stand desk concept: Today, 10 million electric desk systems later, they still lead the industry, constantly setting new benchmarks for innovation, quality and design. Where we lead, others follow. Explore how - and why LINAK and sit-stand desks are so closely linked.
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Don’t leave your ergonomics at the office!
In our new normal, many of us have traded office desks for kitchen tables. And even if global events move us back to the workplace soon, working from home in some form or fashion is here to stay. Dr. Mark Benden and Martha Parker of the Texas A&M University Ergo Center have plenty of tips and tricks for those facing the challenges of working from home now and in the not-so-distant future.
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