Tailored flexibility in the age of hybrid work

As we enter a newly empowered era of hybrid work, people’s unique identities and skills are syncing up with their work styles like never before. Naturally, workspaces across the globe must adapt to keep up. Leading workspace furniture designer Steelcase has refreshed its popular Steelcase Flex Collection of seating, tables, accessories and technology products accordingly for this very shift.

Initially designed for agile teams, the Flex Collection provides tailored flexibility across each piece of design – from height adjustability, to mobility and modular combinations of products. It’s a collection that responds to all the types of work that might be happening in a hybrid office – from focus zones, to collaboration spaces and team neighbourhoods – and the movement of people and tech between them.

New products in the collection for 2023 respond directly to this; including the Steelcase Flex Single Table, Steelcase Flex Active Frames (with media tower) and Steelcase Flex Media Cart. Furniture works in sync with tech storage and accessories as an ‘ecosystem’ of ‘interconnected essential’, anticipating the practical demands of movement daily – and for the future too.

‘One thing we’re seeing more and more is that customers are looking for future-proof solutions,’ says Penghao Shan, Senior Industrial Designer, EMEA, Steelcase. The Steelcase design team has devised a research-responsive roadmap to strengthen the ‘ecosystem’ further still: ‘We know that hybrid is here to stay, so our next wave of concepts will be completely oriented to what’s next for work.’

The Steelcase Flex Collection follows an adaptable and global work aesthetic of neutrals, muted primary colours and sustainable resource-saving materials – one that can provide the dynamism of a full fit-out or adapt smoothly to an existing interior. And one that follows Steelcase’s Sustainable Design Framework; a strategy for ensuring materials are sourced, while responsibly considering their full lifecycles.

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