New Episode: Designing for the Future of Work: 2026 Look Ahead
Allsteel, a leader in workplace solutions, has launched the fourth season of “Tell Me More,” the company’s monthly podcast series exploring the ever-evolving intersection of design and functionality in the workspace. The season takes a deeper look at focus as a guiding ideology for 2026, tracing its evolution and exploring how organizations can adapt their workspaces to meet these changes. The theme unfolds across three interconnected pillars throughout the season: Dimensions of Focus, focused on individual rhythms and needs; Rhythm of Your Day, centered on the team experience; and Harmonizing Space, which examines how the physical environment supports focus.
“At Allsteel, we’re deeply invested in understanding how work is evolving, not just through products but through ongoing research and conversations about the human experience in the built environment,” said Andrea Gauss, Director of Marketing & Workplace at Allsteel. “Tell Me More allows us to contribute to a broader design dialogue, sharing insights that help organizations make more intentional decisions as they navigate the future of work.”
Season 4’s first episode, “Designing for the Future of Work: 2026 Look Ahead,” sets the tone for the season with a thoughtful discussion on how intentional design can better support focus, productivity, and well-being at work. Hosted by Gauss, the episode also features expert insights from Dr. Lauren Gant, Jordan Arnold, and Rikki Crowe, Allsteel’s Workplace Advisory Team. The team explores a question shaping the future of work: How do we design for attention in a distracted world?
Key takeaways from the episode include:
-There’s more diversity in the ways that we focus than in any other activity, therefore we must consider all when designing productive spaces.
-Innovation requires joint momentum, yet it equally demands individualized areas for focused task completion before returning to work with the team.
-Focus encompasses not only productive work but also includes the essential act of resetting, which is currently the most insufficiently protected moment.
-A workspace designed to support focus must include a variety of product solutions, ranging from ergonomic tasking solutions to semi-enclosed collaborative spaces, and private, acoustically mindful areas.
Throughout the season, listeners can expect thoughtful conversations grounded in how people actually work. Industry leaders—including designers, manufacturers, researchers, and other workplace experts—will share insights on the innovations, challenges, and trends shaping workplace design.
Listeners can tune in every month for the rest of “Tell Me More” season four, available on both Apple Podcast and Spotify.
About Allsteel
Since 1912, Allsteel, an HNI Company, has offered a world-class, comprehensive range of workplace products and solutions. We simplify the office planning process by helping our customers align their workplace strategy with their business strategy. The result is fit-to-business solutions that deliver meaningful change in a way that works for them today, as well as tomorrow. Allsteel has showrooms in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. For additional information, visit www.allsteeloffice.com or follow Allsteel on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.