Steelcase, a high-end furniture company, is relocating its longtime showroom from the Merchandise Mart to the Fulton Market District in Chicago. The company has leased over 28,000 square feet in a building on Fulton Street, taking over the space previously occupied by furniture rival MillerKnoll. This move adds to the growing presence of designer furniture brands in Fulton Market, including Herman Miller and Knoll. The shift away from the Mart as a dominant location for the sector has been evident in recent years.

Kate Pew Wolters, granddaughter of one of the founders of Steelcase Inc., plans to retire from the company's board of directors after 23 years. Her decision coincides with the company's annual shareholders meeting and she cites feeling confident in the company's leadership as a reason for her departure. Pew Wolters will continue to be involved with Steelcase through her role as chair of the Steelcase Foundation.

Bloomberg discusses the evolution of office furniture and the challenges faced by industry leaders, particularly Steelcase, in adapting to changing work environments. It highlights the success story of the Aeron chair by Herman Miller, which revolutionized office seating in the 1990s with its innovative design and comfort. However, despite its dominance in the market, competitors like Steelcase are continually striving to introduce new products to challenge the Aeron's reign.

Steelcase believes its latest offering, the Karman chair, is the Aeron's potential successor. Priced similarly and boasting ergonomic features, the Karman aims to surpass the Aeron in comfort and flexibility. However, industry experts remain skeptical about whether the Karman can truly dethrone the Aeron, considering the latter's iconic status and continuous improvements.

Bloomberg author Matthew Boyle also delves into the broader challenges facing the office-furniture industry, including the uncertain future of office spaces post-pandemic. With remote work becoming more prevalent and office occupancy rates declining, companies are reevaluating their furniture needs. This uncertainty has led to decreased orders for office furniture and poses a significant challenge for manufacturers like Steelcase and Herman Miller.

Despite efforts to innovate and adapt to changing trends, the office-furniture industry faces an uphill battle in navigating the evolving landscape of work environments. Boyle suggests that while products like the Karman chair may offer solutions for some companies, the ultimate workplace accessory remains elusive, reflecting the ongoing uncertainty in the industry.

The Light + Building trade fair in Frankfurt showcased various trends in lighting and building technology. Highlights included innovative designs from brands like Artemide, Martinelli Luce, and Zumtobel, as well as advancements in sustainable and energy-efficient solutions. The event also emphasized the importance of connectivity and showcased products that integrate with smart home systems. Overall, the fair demonstrated the industry's commitment to sustainability and the future of energy-efficient design.

The nature of labor in the US has changed significantly, with career and work becoming less central to Americans' lives. This shift has led to a shortage of workers and altered the bargaining position of employers and employees. The pandemic has further accelerated this change, with remote work becoming a right and workers prioritizing work-life balance. The discernment of workers about where and how they work has resulted in hard-to-fill jobs and increased vacancies. While companies have embraced remote work, there are trade-offs and the possibility of outsourcing jobs. Layoffs are also expected to increase, but employees are less likely to submit to demands as they prioritize other aspects of their lives.

Deconstructing the office into core resources can enhance productivity and employee engagement. This involves providing a mix of work surfaces and seating options, easy access to stored information and adaptive screen technology, and offering flexible workplace resources and configurations. By empowering employees to choose work settings that suit their needs and valuing the quality of work events, businesses can create a more effective office environment.

In the modern workplace, balancing collaboration and focus work is crucial. Employee complaints about lack of focus can be attributed to competing work activities, task-specific requirements, and individual focus methods. Cognitive science suggests that familiarity with a task can influence the level of attention required. Distractions, interference, and interruptions can disrupt focus, especially with complex tasks. Creating boundaries, both auditory and visual, can help minimize distractions. A well-designed workplace should offer variety, choice, control, and restoration opportunities to boost employee satisfaction and productivity.

Creating a frictionless workplace requires tailoring it to meet varied needs, fortifying it with data-driven insights, and incorporating effortless functionality. Understanding the organization's current pain points and plans, gathering quantitative data about space usage, and seeking feedback from employees are crucial. Personalization, flexibility, and functional solutions that remove unnecessary steps can enhance the employee experience. The integration of predictive analytics and personal data can further elevate the overall employee experience. Leadership support and clear communication are essential for successful workplace changes.

The demand for office booths has increased as employees seek more privacy in the workspace. While some see them as essential for hybrid workers, others view their return as a sign of unimaginative office design. These soundproof booths provide a space for employees to take calls or concentrate, but they come with a high price tag. Despite the cost, businesses are under pressure to offer attractive office spaces to retain and attract employees. However, some experts believe that fully embracing booths and eliminating open-plan spaces would be detrimental to mental health and defeat the purpose of returning to the office. They argue that office design should be intentionally created to support different types of work and individual preferences, rather than relying on cubicles as a one-size-fits-all solution.

IWG, the hybrid work/ coworking specialist, reported a larger pretax loss for 2023 despite record sales and doubling room growth. The company's pretax losses widened to £189M, but it achieved its highest-ever earnings of £3.5B. IWG aims to control costs in the year ahead and has plans to explore moving its listing from London to the U.S. as a major area of growth.

Ligne Roset has partnered with MycoWorks to incorporate mycelium-based biomaterials into its collections, aiming for a more sustainable future. The French design house will utilize a portion of MycoWorks' production capacity of Reishi™, a mycelium-based biomaterial that offers similar standards to calfskin leather in terms of tactility, strength, and durability. Ligne Roset is committed to maintaining its values of quality and aesthetics while exploring lower-impact materials and increasing traceability in its designs.

Scandinavian Spaces has expanded its award-winning Tinnef table collection, which is made from 100% recycled plastic. The collection now includes dining height options and offers a variety of rejuvenated colorways. The tabletops showcase the history of the plastic waste they are made from and are durable, waterproof, and scratch-resistant. The table series is available in multiple heights and base finishes, making it suitable for high-traffic interiors. The Tinnef table represents sustainability and recycling at its finest. > Learn more

Unika Vaev introduces its latest acoustic product, Artisan Acoustic Wallcovering, which utilizes their top performing sound absorbing Ecoustic® Panel. The product offers a wide selection of digitally printed patterns from Wilsonart® and Instyle's On Country collection by Amanda Hinkelmann. It achieves a 0.85 NRC rating when applied directly to the wall or ceiling. > Learn more

Aceray has introduced the Prosa seating collection, designed by Mara Picco. The collection includes solid beech armchairs and side chairs with upholstered curved seat backs, offering customization options. These chairs can be used in dining areas, reading nooks, guest rooms, workspaces, and other applications.

Teknion's Chronicle is a modern and versatile office furniture line that accommodates workplace personalization. Designed in collaboration with Jess Sorel, Chronicle features hand-selected natural wood veneers, a mix of materials, and various functional options such as height-adjustable surfaces and integrated lighting. It offers a seamless wood grain pattern and a contemporary design aesthetic.

British designer Ilse Crawford collaborates with Edelman to recolor three leathers: Helm, Oath, and Poem. Crawford's holistic approach and focus on materials result in inviting palettes that reflect her design philosophy. The collaboration aims to create exceptional leathers that improve with age. The new colors and palettes are carefully designed to suit different applications and work together harmoniously.

Serge Ferrari Group introduces Soltis Loop® Sunmate, a composite membrane fabric made from 100% recycled materials, for interior solar protection in commercial spaces. This fabric provides privacy, filters natural light, prevents glare, offers UV protection, and blocks up to 91% of heat. It is available in roller blinds, vertical blinds, and panel tracks, and comes in eight colors. The product is GREENGUARD Gold certified and meets LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and HQE certifications.

Kirei introduces five new PET colors: Butter, Dusk, Mint, Cayenne, and Nutmeg. These colors expand design possibilities and aim to inspire delight in commercial interiors. The PET products are made from recycled plastic bottles and are low-VOC, meeting green building certifications. Kirei also offers custom printing services and design support through Carnegie Design Services.

Barstool Sports' new office in Chicago is described as a zoo, with amenities like a basketball court, golf simulator, and podcast studios. The custom office space encourages creativity and collaboration, and the location allows for high-profile guests to visit. The company's decision to move operations to Chicago was driven by one of the hosts' Chicago roots and desire to raise their kids in the city. Barstool has room to grow as its team expands in the future.

Kinzo Architekten redesigned the upper floors of Admiralspalast in Berlin, preserving its historical attributes and creating a spacious and flexible workspace. The communal area features multiple spaces for collective or individual work, while amenities like a disco room and customized work alcoves were added. Workplace designers are focusing on flexible spaces and amenities to entice employees back to the office and promote wellbeing.

LxB worked with BOSCH to integrate their new corporate guidelines and brand visuals into their Shenzhen office. The project involved transforming a 20-year-old office building into a modern space that aligned with BOSCH's international standards. The design focused on functionality, aesthetics, and brand identity, creating an open workspace that promotes creativity and collaboration. The renovation included exterior facelift, interior spaces, and unique design elements such as green walls and a showroom space. The project successfully achieved a workspace that reflects BOSCH's evolving identity and enhances employee satisfaction.

Castlelake's new office in Minneapolis, located in the RBC Gateway Tower, offers improved efficiencies, better connection among departments, and updated technology infrastructure. The design by NELSON Worldwide features open spaces for collaboration, state-of-the-art conference rooms, and a residential-style lounge/cafe. The office incorporates castle-inspired elements in its design, with light neutrals and a diverse art collection adding to the timeless elegance. The project planning focused on departmental adjacencies and conference room configurations, while the materials and finishes were carefully selected to reflect the company's brand and culture. Overall, the new office provides a welcoming and engaging workplace for both employees and clients.

April 30 - May 2, 2024, | Las Vegas

 

The HD Expo + Conference, the largest hospitality product discovery event in the U.S., will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from April 30th to May 2nd, 2024. The event will feature over 700 product manufacturers, 30+ conference sessions, and the HD Awards ceremony. The ceremony will honor the best designs in 40 categories and present the Designer and Hotelier of the Year Awards. Registration is now open.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2024
May 21-23, 2024 | London

Clerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it truly one of the most important design hubs in the world. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area.

NeoCon 2024
June 10-12, 2024 | Chicago, IL

 

NeoCon has served as the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry since 1969. A launch pad for innovation—NeoCon offers ideas and introductions that shape the built environment today and into the future.  

Orgatec 2024
October 22-26, 2024 | Cologne, Germany

Orgatec is the International trade fair for office and property equipment. Held in Cologne, Germany.

Find the best Contract Furniture Industry jobs and hire the best talent.

The primary responsibility of a Designer is to provide technical design support for furniture budgets, space plans, product solutions, specification, and pricing for projects generated by Sales/AS.

This position identifies prospective customers, generates leads, and lands new business opportunities; oversees all aspects of an account’s business; responsible for all project and daily work order activities and full customer satisfaction for all accounts.

The Account Manager is responsible for all project and daily work order activities, much of sales and marketing, and full customer satisfaction for large and/or multiple healthcare accounts.

This role oversees all aspects of an account’s business and will leverage the team (design, project management, account coordination, installation) that supports that account. 

The Designer provides design services and workspace solutions to dealership customers, including site/inventory verifications, programming, space planning, typical development, presentation materials, working/installation drawings, specifications and site-to-plan review.

The Project Manager (PM) is the point of contact for all aspects of assigned contract furniture projects, from inception of project to final close-out and invoicing.

The Territory Sales Rep will be responsible for the specification and sales of The Senator Groups products, including both its Allermuir and Senator brands, in the New York/Northern New Jersey MSA. 

The position will streamline the sales and design process on commercial furniture projects to provide thebestresults for A&D and other new business development partners.

The Senator Group has an immediate career opportunity for a Territory Sales Rep in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.

Indoff is expanding and in need of experienced outside sales professionals in your area. If you’re tired of missing out on money due to low commission rates or you’re sick of quotas, then Indoff is the perfect solution for you.

This Merchandise Mart based Dual Role position provides collaborative support for the Chicago market and is responsible for all showroom management duties for our brand new AIS showroom.

MergeWorks is an ancillary furniture manufacturer seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Regional Sales Manager to...

BRC is looking for an effective independent manufacturers representative group to drive sales in Florida’s strong commercial market.

The Design Liaison Associate will be responsible for working closely with key design community and specification stakeholders within a given market area supporting design and specification of The Senator Groups brands, both Allermuir and Senator.