The workplace is at a crossroads. Rapid advancements in technology, particularly AI, are reshaping how we approach work. While AI automates up to 70% of current tasks, freeing employees from mundane, administrative burdens, it raises an essential question: How can we design workplaces that bring back the human element and foster connection in an increasingly digital world?
Haworth’s recent CEU, “2025 Design Trends: Rehumanizing Space Amid the Rise of AI,” tackled this challenge head-on, presenting six essential trends that align design with human needs. Here’s how these trends can transform workspaces to balance the benefits of technology with our innate desire for connection and creativity.
It’s not too late to earn CEU credits! Register using the button below to access the recording and gain valuable insights on designing human-centered workplaces in the age of AI.
1. Color Drenching: Energizing Spaces with Purposeful Color
Color has an undeniable impact on mood and focus. By strategically immersing spaces in bold, intentional colors, we can communicate identity, evoke emotions, and energize employees. AI lacks culture, but brands don’t. Colors convey culture, identity, and purpose, helping employees feel grounded and connected. Vibrant colors can be balanced with neutral tones like black, white, or natural hues to relax stress points and encourage movement between spaces that reflect different emotions.
2. Curated Collectibles: Celebrating Personal and Shared Stories
In a world where AI generates mass content, curated artifacts bring a sense of personal connection. Items like bookshelves, prototypes, art, and local pieces inspire employees and reflect a company’s unique DNA. These pieces create familiarity, community, and a sense of place, reminding employees of the history and culture behind their work. Including items that depict the company’s values and celebrate both individual and collective identity fosters a stronger connection to the workspace.
3. Sensorial Design: Grounding Through Sensory Interaction
The modern workplace shouldn’t just look good—it should feel good. Materials, lighting, sound, and even smell can create immersive environments that meet human needs. Sensory design enriches the experience of space, empowering employees to choose where they work best while enhancing focus and creativity. By integrating natural textures, layered lighting, and soothing sounds, spaces become luxurious, grounded environments that captivate the senses.
4. Natural Imperfection: Embracing Authenticity in Materials
In an era of technological perfection, natural materials like leather and live-edge wood offer a refreshing contrast. These imperfections create a sense of balance and authenticity. Honest materials connect indoor and outdoor spaces, reflect sustainable values, and invite people to engage with their environment. Using raw, natural elements that complement technology helps create harmony between digital and physical worlds.
5. Shy Technology: Softening the Impact of Digital Interfaces
Technology doesn’t need to dominate every aspect of the workspace. By blending tech into the background, we can create environments that feel less like control centers and more like welcoming hubs. Subtle integration reduces digital overload and supports a more human-centric atmosphere. Hiding wires, framing screens as art pieces, and using organic forms to soften the presence of technology are effective ways to achieve this.
6. Activated Comfort: Supporting Flexible Postures and Collaboration
With AI reducing desk-bound tasks, employees now have the freedom to collaborate, innovate, and move. Spaces designed for varied postures and activities foster creativity and connection. Flexible spaces encourage impromptu collaborations, break “heads-down” routines, and reintroduce comfort into the office. Combining seating types, incorporating playful elements, and prioritizing journeys between different working postures rehumanizes the workplace and inspires dynamic interactions.
Designing for Connection in 2025 and Beyond
The thread that ties these trends together is intentionality. By blending human characteristics with thoughtful design, we can create spaces that prioritize connection, creativity, and culture over mere efficiency. These trends aren’t standalone—they intertwine and complement each other, offering a holistic approach to rehumanizing the workplace.
As technology continues to advance, the workplace must evolve too. By intentionally applying these design principles, we can lead with connection and ensure that our spaces not only support productivity but also enrich the human experience.
Want to explore how these trends can transform your workplace? Contact Systemcenter today to learn more about creating rehumanized, AI-ready spaces that inspire connection and creativity.
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