{"id":884311,"date":"2026-04-27T17:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=884311"},"modified":"2026-04-27T18:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T22:08:35","slug":"designing-better-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/inclusive-design\/designing-better-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Better Connections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When technology breaks down, so does your workday. That connection raises the stakes for how technology and the physical workplace operate as one, driving interior designers and IT professionals to partner in ways they rarely did before. In the past, designers only connected with IT when their computer needed fixing. Today, a company\u2019s digital roadmap impacts its design roadmap \u2014 leading to new conversations and better types<br \/>\nof workspaces.<\/p>\n<p>With IT as a strategic partner, organizations now create workspaces that are both hard-working and flexible. Directors of digital transformation, AI, IT strategy and data analytics are designing the future of workplace technology, influencing how and where people do their best work. When these teams work closely with facilities, design and workplace strategists, the places they create enable more productive and engaged employees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYears ago, we started to collaborate with leading technology partners because we knew how important the integration of technology and space is to the future of work,\u201d says Christina<br \/>\nVernon, Steelcase general manager of technology partnerships. \u201cWe seek out companies committed to forward-thinking, research-driven design, just like we are. The relationships we\u2019ve developed are unmatched in our industry. We share information and roll up our sleeves together to pressure test ideas and design new integrated solutions to create a better work experience for people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Steelcase recently announced Spaceti as a new technology partner to deliver real-time occupancy, bookings and environmental conditions such as air quality. Spaceti works seamlessly with existing partners to enable smarter, connected spaces that respond to common workplace needs.<\/p>\n<p>These partnerships help close the gap between what people need and what spaces can do. Together, integrated technology and innovative design give employees more control over their workday.<\/p>\n<p>From finding the right space to understanding how it supports collaboration, focus and wellbeing, these partnerships design better connections across the workplace.<\/p>\n<p>.<\/p>\n<h2>Designing space and tech together<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-884312 size-large alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1776969054\/26-0272824.jpg\" alt=\"Render\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Design for flexibility with furniture that makes it easy to reach power and data cables or to mount digital displays.<\/li>\n<li>Reduce meeting fatigue with rooms powered by software and hardware that enable inclusive, spontaneous collaboration.<\/li>\n<li>Reveal usage patterns with real-time occupancy analytics at workstations, meeting spaces and communal tables.<\/li>\n<li>Support more human connections with immersive collaboration solutions co-developed by Steelcase and Logitech.<\/li>\n<li>Build smarter, healthier workspaces with AI-intelligent environmental sensors and adjustments.<\/li>\n<li>Create more equitable, engaging and easy-to-use spaces with integrated video, audio and furniture solutions so everyone can be seen and heard.<\/li>\n<li>Team norms, like headphones for video calls, reduce distractions.Orienting desks away from one another, with boundaries, adds visual and territorial privacy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>A robust partner ecosystem<\/h2>\n<p>Steelcase intentionally collaborates with technology partners to create enhanced work experiences. Together, we work with organizations to integrate space and technology seamlessly, while also co-developing innovative solutions to support how work is changing.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/steelcase\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_150,w_150\/Artboard-1%403x.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How can meetings be more inclusive of everyone, in-person and remote?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s AI-powered collaboration software (e.g., Copilot) and digital ecosystems (e.g., Teams Rooms) enable real-time engagement to boost productivity.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-884533 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_100,w_100\/v1777305629\/2022_SC_Partnership_Zoom_Logo_Black_M.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you enable spontaneous collaboration across locations?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Zoom\u2019s dynamic, inclusive and accessible hybrid communication platforms enable spontaneous collaboration and equitable participation anywhere.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-884525 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_100,w_100\/v1777305088\/2022_SC_VergeSense_Partner_Logo_Black_M.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you know how your spaces are actually being used?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vergesense provides real-time occupancy analytics and data-driven space optimizations to help organizations make informed decisions and minimize wasted space.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-884526 size-medium alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_100,w_100\/v1777305174\/2022_SC_Partnership_Logitech_Logo_L.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where do your teams struggle most with the quality of virtual meetings?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Logitech helps deliver crystal-clear meeting experiences and flexible workspaces that make remote participants feel present and engaged.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-884528 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_150,w_150\/v1777305318\/2022_SC_Partnership_Crestron_Logo_Black_M.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you make desk sharing easier and more comfortable?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Crestron\u2019s desk reservation systems offer visual indicators and intuitive booking tools that clearly signal availability, enhancing utilization and efficiency.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-884531 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_150,w_150\/v1777305454\/Logo_spaceti_R_2_black.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you measure and manage workplace wellness?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Spaceti creates healthier, more responsive workspaces by combining sensor and building management data, such as air quality, for comprehensive and predictive analysis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When technology breaks down, so does your workday. That connection raises the stakes for how technology and the physical workplace operate as one, driving interior designers and IT professionals to partner in ways they rarely did before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37261,"featured_media":884312,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[51296,47680],"class_list":["post-884311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-inclusive-design","topic-design"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Supporting Technology in the Workplace Through Design | Steelcase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how workplace design and technology can work together to support collaboration and flexibility and create better experiences for employees. 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