HNI Corporation announced plans last week to close its historic Gunlocke manufacturing plant in Wayland, New York, in 2027, ending more than 120 years of continuous furniture production at a facility long regarded as one of the most storied sites in American office furniture history. The closure will affect approximately 135 employees and marks a significant moment for the small Steuben County community of about 2,000 residents that has been intertwined with Gunlocke since the company’s founding in 1902.

 

HNI said the decision is part of a broader network optimization strategy that will consolidate Gunlocke production into other North American manufacturing facilities over the coming year. All products currently made in Wayland will continue to be produced elsewhere within HNI’s manufacturing network, with no anticipated changes to Gunlocke’s product portfolio, quality standards, craftsmanship, or service levels. The company expects the consolidation to improve productivity, strengthen operations, and enhance service for customers and trade partners, while generating annual cost savings of approximately $7.5 million to $8 million once fully realized.

 

“Closing the facility is a difficult decision given the hard work and expertise of the Wayland team,” said Brandon Bullock, HNI’s chief operating officer. “We are grateful for our Wayland members’ dedication and craftsmanship, and we are committed to providing support and resources throughout the transition.” HNI said it announced the closure roughly a year in advance to allow time for a smoother transition for employees and customers, and noted that separation pay, transition assistance, and potential opportunities elsewhere in the organization will be offered.

 

The Wayland plant’s closure is closely tied to HNI’s recent acquisitions and manufacturing footprint. The company said the move was partially enabled by the integration of Kimball International, acquired in 2023, which brought more modern woodworking equipment and a centralized Midwest location into HNI’s network. HNI expects total cost synergies from the Kimball integration to reach $68 million by the end of 2028, including procurement initiatives and network optimization projects. The Wayland consolidation will also carry restructuring costs, with HNI estimating a $14.9 million pre-tax earnings impact across 2026 and 2027, including non-cash charges related primarily to accelerated depreciation.

 

The announcement follows HNI’s recent $2.2 billion acquisition of Steelcase, which significantly expanded the company’s scale and capabilities across workplace, healthcare, education, and hospitality markets. HNI emphasized that the Gunlocke closure does not affect its other brands and will not impact lead times, ordering processes, or customer experience. Following the Steelcase transaction, HNI expects the combined company to generate approximately $5.8 billion in annual net sales.

 

For Wayland, the decision closes a chapter defined by uncommon longevity and deep community ties. Founded by William H. Gunlocke and four fellow wood furniture craftsmen in a vacant factory, the W.H. Gunlocke Chair Company began by producing seating for homes, libraries, and lounges. After William Gunlocke’s death in 1937, his son Howard expanded operations, introduced mass manufacturing, and pioneered one of the industry’s earliest traveling showrooms. By the 1970s, Gunlocke had grown into a full-line office furniture manufacturer producing tables, desks, credenzas, bookcases, and seating for boardrooms and executive offices around the world.

 

Gunlocke furniture famously occupied the Oval Office, including the Washington chair used by John F. Kennedy during pivotal moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. The company also became known locally for its unusually paternal approach to employment, from profit-sharing programs dating back to the 1940s to shuttle buses for workers, an on-site barber, and a steam whistle that once marked the rhythms of daily life in Wayland.

 

Despite its heritage, the Wayland plant increasingly struggled to compete with newer, more automated facilities. Much of the machinery dated back decades, and HNI acknowledged that maintaining and operating the site had become cost-prohibitive in the context of a modern, consolidated manufacturing network. Even so, the Gunlocke brand will continue as part of HNI’s portfolio, including its rare use of steam-bending techniques first adopted in 1912, a labor-intensive craft largely abandoned elsewhere in the industry.

 

Local officials said they were informed of the decision at the same time as employees and are working to coordinate support for affected residents. For Wayland, the closure represents not just the loss of jobs, but the end of a manufacturing institution that shaped the town’s identity for more than a century.

Okamura Corporation plans to reorganize its group subsidiaries by April 2026 through absorption-type splits and mergers. This restructuring aims to streamline its office furniture operations and enhance competitiveness and efficiency. Key changes include transferring the maintenance and after-sales service business to Okamura Corporation while merging other subsidiaries, such as Hill International Inc. and Td Japan Ltd., into the parent company. The initiative is designed to optimize the value chain, improve after-sales services, and promote human resource development through shared expertise.

Adam Sandow is moving fast—and not subtly. With the acquisition of Architonic coming just weeks after snapping up the bankrupt Canadian design magazine Azure, Sandow has now completed two significant deals in roughly two months, further consolidating his grip on the interior design, commercial furnishings, and architectural information pipeline.

 

For Adam Sandow, founder and CEO of the Sandow Companies and Material Bank, the latest purchase reinforces what is increasingly clear across the industry: this is not a scattershot buying spree, but a deliberate campaign to control the platforms architects and designers read, reference, specify from, and ultimately buy through.

 

Architonic, the Zurich-based product-specification platform founded in 2003, is a cornerstone asset in that strategy. Long established as one of Europe’s most influential digital resources for architects and designers, the platform allows users to research and specify tens of thousands of products, while charging manufacturers for visibility. Sandow openly describes it less as a media property than as a data business—language that mirrors how he has long positioned Material Bank.

 

That distinction matters. Media brings attention; data brings leverage.

 

Architonic was previously part of DAAily Platforms, a group formed after Swiss publisher NZZ combined it with ArchDaily and Designboom. Following Sandow’s acquisition, Architonic is now extracted and folded into an already expansive Sandow portfolio that includes Interior Design, Luxe, Design Milk, and Architizer—a roster that collectively reaches hundreds of thousands of architects and designers worldwide.

 

Taken together, the scope is striking. Sandow now owns major consumer-facing magazines, trade publications, digital architecture platforms, product-specification engines, sampling infrastructure, events, and social channels. Few designers can work a full project lifecycle—from inspiration to specification to procurement—without passing through at least one Sandow-controlled touchpoint.

 

Sandow is candid about the ambition. He describes the value as “network effect” and “critical mass,” emphasizing cross-pollination between platforms, sales teams, and regions. While he insists there are no immediate plans to merge Architonic and Material Bank into a single mega-platform, the strategic logic is hard to miss: media drives influence, influence drives specification, specification drives transaction.

 

Geographically, the expansion is equally deliberate. Architonic strengthens Sandow’s European footprint just as Material Bank accelerates there, while the Azure acquisition adds a Canadian editorial outpost. With Material Bank now operating in 37 countries and projecting strong international growth, Sandow’s holding company is increasingly global in both reach and influence.

 

The timing is also notable. Architonic’s sale comes days after Italian publishing giant Mondadori acquired Archiproducts, one of Architonic’s closest competitors. The parallel moves suggest a broader land grab underway—one in which architectural and design media, once fragmented and editorially independent, are rapidly being absorbed by a small number of capital-backed platforms.

 

Sandow has hinted that more deals are coming, predicting a busy year for M&A. If recent history is any guide, that activity is unlikely to be peripheral. Instead, it appears aimed squarely at consolidating control over how the design and architecture industries communicate, specify, and transact.

 

At a minimum, Sandow is building the most vertically integrated ecosystem the design world has ever seen. At maximum, critics may reasonably ask whether one company should own so much of the industry’s voice, data, and distribution. Either way, the direction is unmistakable: Adam Sandow is no longer just buying brands—he is assembling the operating system for global design.

A Danish office and hospitality furniture group has acquired Rotterdam-based BigBrands to enhance its presence in the Netherlands and the broader European market. This acquisition enables Holmris B8 to provide clients with local support while leveraging its international network, improving its product offerings and expertise in complex interior solutions. BigBrands will continue to operate in Rotterdam with its existing team and values, gradually integrating into Holmris B8's European operations. CEO Flemming Windfeld emphasizes that this acquisition aligns with the company's strategy to expand market share and offer comprehensive interior solutions across Europe. This follows Holmris B8's recent acquisition of a Swedish interior design studio, highlighting its commitment to building a strong European platform in office and hospitality interiors.

DIRTT Confirms Early Termination of Lease Agreement for Former Rock Hill Facility

DIRTT Environmental Solutions has announced the early termination of its lease for the former Rock Hill manufacturing facility in South Carolina, effective December 30, 2025. This decision follows a purchase agreement with PDM US, LLC, allowing DIRTT to exit its lease obligations in exchange for a reduced termination fee of $1 million. Originally, DIRTT had a 15-year lease for the facility, which was closed permanently in September 2023 as part of a shift to its Calgary operations. The lease termination is expected to yield annual cost savings of $1.6 million starting January 2026, despite a one-time impairment expense of approximately $2.3 million related to leasehold improvements. DIRTT operates multiple manufacturing facilities in North America and specializes in adaptable interior environments for various markets.

Concerns about generative artificial intelligence eliminating millions of white-collar jobs and reducing office space demand may be premature. A recent report from Vanguard indicates that AI is more likely to reshape work rather than destroy it. The study suggests that, while AI tools are changing workflows, their impact on job growth has been overstated. Instead of leading to widespread layoffs, generative AI is enhancing productivity by allowing workers to focus on higher-value tasks.

 

Interestingly, the report reveals that the 100 occupations most vulnerable to AI automation have actually outperformed the overall labor market in job growth and wage increases. However, the benefits of AI adoption are not evenly distributed, with entry-level workers facing significant challenges in a job market with low hiring rates. Moreover, while AI excels in standardized tasks, it often struggles with complex real-world decision-making that requires nuance. The findings underscore the need for patience among commercial real estate investors, as the immediate effects of AI lean towards augmentation rather than destruction, despite warnings about potential job losses and high failure rates in corporate AI initiatives.

JLL's bullish projections for data center growth — global capacity reaching roughly 200 gigawatts within six years and unlocking as much as $3 trillion in digital infrastructure investment — underscore a historic capital cycle, but one that will do little to move the needle for the office furniture industry. These facilities are capital-intensive, highly specialized environments dominated by servers, cooling systems, power infrastructure, and chips, not workstations or collaborative spaces. Even as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta drive demand and absorb the majority of new capacity, the spend overwhelmingly accrues to real estate, energy, IT hardware, and debt financing — not seating, desking, or systems furniture. For contract furniture manufacturers hoping AI-driven growth would offset weak traditional office demand, data centers are a mirage, not a lifeline.

 

In hindsight, the smarter strategic move would have been vertical or adjacent diversification years ago — into server racks, enclosures, raised flooring, or even acquisitions in the data center infrastructure supply chain — where the real money is being spent. That window has largely closed. The sector is now mature, consolidated, and capital-heavy, with entrenched specialists and hyperscaler in-house standards leaving little room for late entrants from the furniture world. While JLL frames the data center boom as an investment “supercycle,” for office furniture makers it is largely a spectator sport: massive growth, enormous checks written, and almost none of it flowing through the traditional contract interiors channel.

In December, the U.S. construction industry experienced a loss of 11,000 net jobs, with a total gain of only 14,000 jobs throughout 2025, marking the worst annual performance since 2011 outside of the pandemic's first year. Nonresidential construction saw a significant decline, losing 7,800 jobs, while heavy and civil engineering managed a gain of 2,300 jobs. The unemployment rate in the construction sector stood at 5%, likely influenced by a decrease in available workers due to immigration policy changes. Despite some states experiencing job growth, overall employment trends in 2025 suggested a hiring recession, with a notable decrease in monthly job gains compared to the previous year.

The U.S. federal workforce has reached its lowest level in a decade as a result of significant job cuts initiated during Trump's second term. Major agencies, including Education, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development, have seen staff reductions of over 25%. Despite these cuts, federal salary and benefit costs have remained steady, with spending on federal salaries rising 3% compared to the previous administration. The downsizing effort, led by Elon Musk, prompted mass layoffs and left many employees anxious about their job security. Federal worker unions have filed lawsuits regarding these terminations, which are still pending.

Convene Hospitality Group has acquired NeueHouse Madison Square after the coworking club filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and shut down all locations. The acquisition includes the brand's intellectual property and operations at the Manhattan site, which spans eight floors and features amenities like an 80-seat screening room and a podcast studio. CHG aims to preserve the community cultivated by NeueHouse, although it has no plans to reopen its West Coast locations. The popularity of private clubs is rising, especially in urban areas, but profitability remains a challenge for many. There are concerns about market saturation in New York City, where nearly 40 private clubs are currently operating or in development.

In 2025, Manhattan office leasing reached 43 million square feet, marking a significant recovery in the market as demand nearly matched pre-pandemic levels. The availability rate dropped to 13.9%, with trophy space in Midtown seeing a 12% increase in asking rents. Class-B and Class-C office rents also rose, while 70% of leases were signed for top-tier properties. Downtown Manhattan experienced a surge in leasing activity, particularly from tech companies. Despite challenges like high interest rates, optimism remains for continued growth into 2026, with new office towers under development.

San Diego has the lowest office vacancy among major U.S. markets, driven by strong performance in suburban Class A properties, while downtown faces rising vacancies due to new speculative deliveries. Tenants are prioritizing high-quality spaces, leading to minimal vacancies in new constructions. Investment activity is increasing, particularly in suburban areas, despite challenges from expiring leases and tenant downsizing. The market is also seeing significant conversions of office spaces into biotech labs and housing, which helps stabilize vacancy rates.

Mark Masiello is on a mission to popularize the lamps of 90-year-old designer Carlo Nason through his company, Form Portfolios. This venture aims to revive midcentury designs that have been largely forgotten, capitalizing on the consumer trend for vintage decor. Form has successfully licensed around 800 products since its inception, offering accessible reproductions of iconic designs. However, challenges arise in maintaining quality and authenticity while navigating the complexities of licensing agreements. The company is now looking to launch Nason's unique lamps, which diverge from traditional midcentury aesthetics. As consumer preferences evolve, Form continues to explore opportunities in the realm of historical design.

The widespread adoption of generative AI impacts workplace dynamics, particularly for new employees. While AI can enhance performance for less experienced workers, it may lead to overconfidence and hinder the development of essential skills. Workplaces must foster lifelong learning, as co-located teams exchange significantly more feedback, which is crucial for skill development and effective evaluation of AI outputs.

Employers should treat healthcare as a strategic investment in employee wellbeing, moving away from one-size-fits-all plans to customized solutions. Listening to employees' needs fosters trust and enhances retention, while addressing mental health and utilizing AI can improve care. Incentives for healthy behaviors must be equitable, and focusing on longevity as a return on investment can lead to better health outcomes. Ultimately, empathetic and intelligent healthcare design is crucial for employee satisfaction and organizational success.

In 2025, workplace culture faced significant challenges due to rapid AI adoption, economic uncertainty, and evolving DEI expectations. Leaders struggled with the pace of change, revealing gaps between intentions and employee experiences. Despite some organizations scaling back initiatives, many remained committed to cultural values. Key issues included uneven AI integration, heightened scrutiny of DEI efforts, and the need for meaningful employee engagement. Looking ahead to 2026, organizations must prioritize trust, transparency, and adaptability while embedding culture into everyday processes to foster resilient, people-centered workplaces.

Only 43% of U.S. workers plan to search for new jobs in 2026, a significant drop from 93% in 2025, reflecting economic uncertainty. Many employees expect the job market to worsen, with rising inflation impacting pay and job security. Hybrid and flexible work arrangements remain important, while side hustles and upskilling are becoming common strategies for financial resilience. Concerns about AI's impact on jobs are prevalent, with workers adapting to a cautious labor market focused on stability and meaningful work.

The hospitality industry is undergoing significant transformation, focusing on the need for meaning, presence, and personalization. Hotels are becoming sanctuaries that promote wellness and cultural immersion as life becomes more digitized. Key trends include the concept of "hyper-personalization," where hotels create tailored experiences for guests, ensuring they feel unique and valued. This involves anticipating individual preferences, such as favorite drinks or room amenities, and enhancing guest interactions through meaningful connections with nature, culture, and community.

In 2026, interior design trends are expected to prioritize "curated calm" over excessive opulence, moving away from extravagant designs toward serene, personal spaces. Designers predict a shift from minimalism to a more thoughtful approach that values authenticity and meaningful decoration. The use of honest materials, such as dark woods and aged metals, will be emphasized, reflecting a commitment to sustainability. The influence of artificial intelligence is also recognized, with a focus on creating intimate and emotionally grounding environments. Overall, the design philosophy will embrace a balance of old and new, aiming for layered, culturally inspired interiors that foster a sense of tranquility.

Employees are increasingly seeking benefits that genuinely enhance their well-being, leading companies to adapt their workplace designs to attract and retain talent. Wellness has emerged as a crucial business focus, prompting investments in comprehensive strategies addressing physical, mental, and emotional health. This shift is transforming workplace layouts, resulting in the inclusion of quiet rooms, wellness spaces, and flexible designs, and influencing leasing decisions and long-term strategies as businesses rethink the intersection of space, services, and well-being.

The year 2026 is expected to witness significant design trends in response to the rapid rise of AI and its implications for branding. Designers are likely to embrace "just-exactly-not-quite-right" aesthetics, emphasizing imperfections and humanity in their work. There will be a renaissance of craft, focusing on detailed, skillful designs as a counter to automation. The pervasive "AI butthole logo" phenomenon highlights a trend towards bland, uniform branding among AI companies. In contrast, some brands will prioritize clarity and authenticity, steering away from noise and clutter. Additionally, a resurgence of 2000’s Techno-Dystopia aesthetics will emerge, characterized by cold, metallic designs that reflect our complex relationship with technology. This trend underscores a move away from friendly branding towards a more powerful, assertive visual language. Overall, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year for creativity, innovation, and the evolving landscape of design.

Experts predict a significant shift in design trends for 2026, emphasizing a move towards rough-around-the-edges aesthetics and embracing imperfection. Designers like Nick Foster advocate for less polished, more textured designs, citing a need for variety beyond the current homogeneity caused by commercial design processes. The rise of generative AI may accelerate this change. However, amid global uncertainties, there are concerns that financial stability will dominate, leading to more conservative design choices. Some predict a reduction in new product launches and a potential end to the traditional trade show model, emphasizing localized events instead. Despite these challenges, there is optimism regarding the increasing activism among design students, signaling a reactivation of bold stances on important issues.

A policy lull in sustainability presents an opportunity to streamline standards, integrate environmentalism into operational strategies, and include diverse voices in discussions. The focus should shift from political rhetoric to practical improvements that enhance efficiency and reduce costs, while engaging all stakeholders in the value chain to address real issues collaboratively.

Arper’s 2024 Sustainability Report - How A Chair Made of Paper Defined A Year

Arper's 2024 Sustainability Report highlights the launch of the Catifa Carta chair, made from upcycled materials, showcasing the brand's commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. Key achievements include a 17.5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, a 30.3% decrease in water withdrawal, and a TECLA Circularity Index increase to 55%. Employee wellbeing initiatives have resulted in 100% of office staff benefiting from flexible working arrangements, and women now represent 44.7% of the workforce. The report emphasizes ongoing sustainable progress and provides further details in the full report.

Shaw Contract introduces the Tempo + Pulse collection, a porcelain and ceramic tile range designed for both wall and floor applications, emphasizing aesthetics and durability. Inspired by music, the collection features diverse formats, textures, and colors, promoting sustainability and emotional connection. It aims to enhance various environments, including hospitality and residential spaces, while supporting modern design principles. Available online and through select retailers, it reflects Shaw Contract's commitment to positive environmental impact.

Bjelin has launched its new Woodura Herringbone 3.0 collection featuring four nature-inspired colors and two formats for design flexibility. The flooring combines classic design with advanced durability and sustainability, utilizing patented Woodura technology for enhanced resistance and resource efficiency. The collection includes leakproof installation technology, ensuring watertight joints and easy assembly. Bjelin, part of Pervanovo Invest AB, emphasizes high-quality materials and innovative production methods.

The Three D Desk by Yoon Ergonomics at CES 2026 redefines workspace ergonomics with its unique "3D ergonomics" design, featuring an inclined zone that promotes better posture and reduces tech neck. The company is shifting focus from professional high-performance workstations to more accessible models for average consumers. While the innovative design poses a learning curve and aesthetic challenges, it prioritizes user health and comfort, making it a significant development in office furniture.

Zilenzio and Paper Collective have collaborated to create Dezibel Art, a line of acoustic panels that combine art and functionality to enhance wellbeing in various environments. The panels feature artwork from Paper Collective's collection, aiming to create calming and inspiring spaces. The partnership emphasizes the synergy between aesthetic beauty and acoustic performance, using innovative materials to achieve effective sound absorption while showcasing art.

The Van Onck's LEM Table, designed in 1985 for Magis by the husband-and-wife duo Andries and Hiroko Van Onck, features a unique height-adjustment mechanism that utilizes the friction of rubber balls. Despite its simple appearance, the table's design allows for an innovative functionality where the outer legs rotate with the tabletop while the inner legs counter-rotate, providing a surprising adaptability. The table's design is part of a discussion on its components and mechanisms, with insights shared by users regarding its operation.

THE OMNIA is a modern mountain lodge located in Zermatt, Switzerland, at the base of the Matterhorn. Owned by USM, it features a design that blends American modernism with warm materials, offering a fresh alternative to traditional alpine aesthetics. Guest rooms are uniquely lettered and designed with mid-tone white oak and gray furnishings, while the top-level suite includes luxurious amenities like a private sauna and a Swarovski telescope. The lodge also boasts common areas with a heated pool, library nook, and a restaurant that focuses on sustainable local produce, all crafted with materials sourced nearby. The cohesive design reflects a modernist approach, emphasizing flexibility and integration of USM’s modular furniture. Rates start at $878 per night.

Hot Black's design for Canaccord Genuity's Melbourne office transforms a traditional workspace into a luxurious environment that promotes creativity and collaboration. The 16,146 sqft space features elegant materials like stone and wood, creating a warm atmosphere. The design aims to provide an inviting second home for clients and employees, moving away from typical commercial aesthetics. Key elements include low lighting, designer furniture, and a serene backdrop for artwork, contributing to a cozy yet sophisticated ambiance.

Walker Design's Landreth Lighting offices in Orlando blend workspace and showroom, using light as the architectural backbone to enhance productivity and showcase products. The design prioritizes comfort and well-being, creating a cohesive environment where lighting defines each area’s purpose, allowing the space to function as both an office and a living catalog of lighting solutions.

Jorge Powell is a UK-based content creator known for his YouTube channel focused on tech and automotive topics, boasting over 100,000 subscribers. His workspace emphasizes thoughtful design to enhance productivity, featuring ergonomic solutions like a standing desk and premium accessories. He advises investing in quality materials for a comfortable setup and personalizing the workspace to reflect individual interests, which can boost creativity and engagement.

AT&T plans to relocate its global headquarters from Dallas to a new campus in Plano, covering 54 acres, with the move expected to start in the second half of 2028. This decision follows extensive planning and aims to consolidate administrative spaces while improving employee experience by shortening commutes. The company has been headquartered in Downtown Dallas since 2008, and the transition may significantly impact local property values and tax revenue. Dallas officials acknowledge the gradual nature of the move and AT&T's ongoing connection to the city.

Restaurant Brands International is expanding its Miami office by subleasing 43,000 square feet from L'Oréal in the Waterford Business District. The new space will support Burger King and Popeyes, allowing for dedicated areas for each brand. The lease, confirmed by RBI, includes renovation plans and features 233 workstations and collaboration areas. This deal is one of the largest signed in late 2025, highlighting the growing demand for office space in the Miami area.

Spectorgroup Partners with Dorsey & Whitney on New Manhattan Workplace

Spectorgroup has been chosen to design the new Manhattan office for Dorsey & Whitney, consolidating their New York presence into a 41,248 square-foot space that emphasizes connectivity and flexibility. The design features a modern environment with curated materials and hospitality-driven amenities, supporting internal training and client events. The office aims to enhance collaboration and innovation, aligning with the firm's national identity while providing access to additional amenities at The Paramount Club.

Indiana Furniture is undergoing a strategic expansion and realignment of its Regional Sales Management team as Patty Streiner prepares for retirement as Eastern Regional Manager. Frank Verhagen and Phil Englert are joining Tammy Wessel to lead the independent representative network nationwide. Patty Streiner, who joined Indiana Furniture in 2008, reflected on her impactful career and the company's evolution. Phil Englert, with over 20 years in the contract furniture industry, will take on the role of Northeast Regional Manager, focusing on dealer partnerships and customer solutions. Frank Verhagen, with over 30 years of experience, will serve as Western Regional Manager, emphasizing customer support and development. Tammy Wessel will continue as Regional Sales Manager, concentrating on the Southeastern U.S. The company encourages the industry to celebrate Patty’s upcoming retirement and congratulate Frank, Phil, and Tammy on their new roles. Indiana Furniture, based in Jasper, Indiana, is dedicated to high-quality office furnishings and environmentally conscious products.

Avanto Appoints Leonardo Vargas as Partner and Chief Innovation Officer Following Acquisition of Agentic Dream

Avanto has appointed Leonardo Vargas as Partner and Chief Innovation Officer following its acquisition of Agentic Dream, which he founded. Vargas will lead Avanto's innovation and AI strategy, integrating Agentic Dream's capabilities into Avanto's technology portfolio. His extensive experience in AI, cloud computing, and software engineering will be crucial for advancing Avanto's AI-driven transformation and delivering scalable technology solutions to customers.

Ideation Design Group Charts New Course Under Sole Owner & CEO Jennifer Reynolds

Ideation Design Group has announced leadership promotions under new CEO Jennifer Reynolds, signaling a focus on growth and innovation. Key promotions include Courtney Fisher as Director of Architecture and Stacy Molnar as Director of Operations. The firm aims to enhance its presence in various sectors, with recent projects including new restaurant concepts and expansions in international airports. Renovations of the Phoenix headquarters are underway to support team collaboration and productivity, while the firm continues to hire new talent.

Homecrest Outdoor Living Hires Philip Payne as New Director of Commercial Sales

Homecrest Outdoor Living has appointed Philip Payne as the new Director of Commercial Sales, where he will lead commercial sales initiatives to drive growth. Payne, with over 15 years of experience in the outdoor industry, previously held senior leadership roles and achieved significant growth in sales. He is recognized for his integrity and relationship-building skills. Payne expressed enthusiasm for joining the family-owned company and aims to implement effective sales strategies. Homecrest, established in 1953, is known for its luxury outdoor furniture and commitment to quality.

Humanscale secures global design accolades in landmark year for ergonomic innovation

Humanscale achieved significant recognition in 2025, winning seven prestigious design awards, including multiple Red Dot Awards for the Float Mini and M/3 Connect Pro Dock. The Float Mini received the highest honor, "Red Dot: Best of the Best." At the iF Design Awards, it and the Trea Collection were recognized for their innovation and aesthetics. The Freedom 25 won the Commercial Furniture Award at the Clerkenwell Design Week Awards, while the Freedom Chair was praised for its ergonomic design. The Path chair was awarded Gold at the Republik Worknight Awards for sustainability, highlighting Humanscale's leadership in ergonomic and sustainable workplace design.

Woven Resistance: Rugs That Tell Stories and Inspire Action 

A four-city exhibition and online charity auction called Woven Resistance features 14 unique carpets designed by various interior designers, reflecting their responses to the current political climate. The event starts on February 5 in New York and includes exhibitions in Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with proceeds benefiting PFLAG and The Sierra Club. The online auction runs from February 5 to 25, 2026, accessible to bidders worldwide.

Eureka Wins Multiple LIT Design Awards

Eureka has won nine awards across four of its luminaire families at the 2025 LIT Design Awards, with the Segment family receiving the most recognition. The awards celebrate exceptional lighting design and innovation, highlighting the importance of lighting in artistic and scientific contexts. Eureka, part of Acuity Brands Lighting, has been enhancing environments with distinctive lighting solutions since 1987.