Following the WOW! live streaming from Orgatec, here we confirm some of the trends for the workplace identified at the 2016 edition of the exhibition.

Trend 1: furniture 4.0
The 4.0 approach is a cross-trend that transforms the production and involves the final user in design; service and technology are integrated inside the furnishing.

1 Tecno io.T is a smart system of connected furnishings integrated with IT systems to offer solution to managers of smart buildings.
2 Thonet: a flexible radio-controlled numbering system integrated in the backrests of chairs designed in collaboration with Mauser Sitzkultur.
3 PrintStool One, Thorsten Franck for Wilkhahn, the stool is the first ready-to-use and customizable furnishing product made by 3D printer.

Trend 2: the sit-stand desk, is a must.
Every company has at least one or more models of height-adjustable desk. In the passage between Halls 10:11 Linak, the most important producer of linear actuators incorporated the mechanisms into outdoor furniture in a garden to remind that smart working allows you to work anywhere (see trend 6).

1 Vitra CDS system, designed by Antonio Citterio. industrial aesthetics and sophisticated mechanism.
2 Design Meets Movement installation by Linak.
3 Sedus furniture systems focused on Productive Wellbeing to promote the movement in the office.
4 Okamura SW heigh adjustable desk designed to offer optimum positioning.

Trend 3: Acoustics.
Sometime acoustic comfort can become an obsession…

1 Offect Sound Wall designed by Christophe Pillet.
2 Koenig + Neurath: too much is too much …
3 Thonet Canon, whiteboard with sound-absorbing function

Trend 4: Glory be to wood!
True, natural and light wood.

1 Haworth, dipped System.
2 Sinetica Use Me, storage system.
3 Citterio Wood_Wall, partition wall system with wooden structure.

Trend 5: So much color!
Bright colors, sometimes unusual in the office such as the purple or salmon pink, coral and burgundy. In addition all shades of blue, perfect color to improve creativity.

1 New color palette by Sedus, inspired by nature to personalize the workplace.
2 Unifor chooses coral color for the desk.
3 Segis choices warm and bright compositions for the Lounge system by Biagio Cisotti.
4 Alias: pink lalmon for Slim seating family, design by PearsonLloyd.

Trend 6: Cocoons for privacy in in-between areas.
The new typologies of furnishing for in-between areas improve efficiency and functional performances to create visual and acoustic privacy in open spaces and common areas.

1 Okamura, Muffle can be assembled in various configurations.
2 Teknion, essential design and wood.
3 Universal Selecta, Chakra is a patented modular system of solid panels or glass to create define closed environments.
4 Alias, Eleven, design PearsonLloyd

Trend 7: The nature in the office.
The benefits of nature for a human centered workplace are confirmed; plants will be integrated in the furniture design. The nature inspires Biophilic design too and suggests color choices that reproduce the outdoor.

1 Interface, new modular carpet collections inspired by Biophilic design.
2 Fantoni integrates olive trees in the desk Hub designed by Matteo Ragni.
3 Offect, On Point designed by Mattias Stenberg integrates plants in the middle off the meeting table.
4 Ersa Edge desk system designed by Claudio Bellini.

Trend 8: home-like office with rocking chairs.
The work-life balance issue is emerging in new seating suitable for cross-lounge, coworking and the workplace that points on hospitality and homeliness and the rocking chair comes in the office.

1 Fun rocking stools by Nurus.
2 Traditional style for the rocking chair by True.
3 Buzzi Balance family, designed by 13 & 9, to encourage conversation.
4 Viccarbe design oriented rocking chair.

Trend 9: home-like office with kitchenette (Upper photo: Estel).
Food promotes socialization; lunch time and coffee break offers the opportunity of informal meeting with colleagues or customers. Smart working is also made of convivial moments.

Trend 10: sustainability.
Quality of life and wellbeing in the office are strictly related with the wellbeing of the planet. It is not a new trend and constantly increasing; some companies invest in research for new materials and assembly systems designed to life cycle and  eco-sustainability.

1 Driven by its commitment to Mission Zero, Interface has developed a method for using 90% renovable energy and 100% of recycled or bio-based raw materials to made its carpet tiles collections.
2 Offect, Phoenix chair by Luca Nichetto developed in the thorough LifeCircle. All components are exchangeable and renewable.