Health and Wellness Opportunities

A holistic approach creates paths for innovation.

Human-Centered Design can be a lens for health, wellness, and innovation.

The modern workplace is at a crossroads. Even as work-from-home and hybrid models gain traction, organizations from Amazon to corporate real estate are pushing back. The contract furniture industry faces a pressing challenge: How can we help employers support workstyle trends and entice talent back to physical offices? What solutions are designers seeking to catalyze new behaviors? What products can be developed to address evolving needs?

One answer lies in reimagining office environments through the lens of health and wellness. Buyers and specifiers seek products that look good, work well, and actively contribute to employee well-being and productivity. The neurodiversity design trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Success hinges on developing innovative, integrated solutions that address human needs.

Forward-thinking companies may turn to human-centered design principles and consider how people interact with their surroundings on a multisensory and cognitive level. How might workplace design engage all five senses to enhance wellness? How might these human factors work together to increase productivity and engagement?

HCD: A Lens for Workplace Wellness

Human-centered design (HCD) isn’t new. The concept of an “approach to interactive systems development that aims to make systems usable and useful by focusing on the users, their needs, and requirements” dates back to the 1950s. While well-known in product development and user experience communities, HCD offers a perspective on workplace wellness, shifting focus from product function and visual aesthetics to the holistic needs of knowledge workers. This philosophy places the user at the heart of the process, considering physical comfort and psychological well-being.

Human-centered design in office environments has a few key elements:

Ergonomic considerations for comfort and safety
Cognitive factors affecting productivity and well-being
Flexibility to accommodate diverse work styles and preferences
User-centered research and feedback integration

We know that the days of one-size-fits-all office solutions are gone. Today's workforce demands environments that adapt to their unique needs and work styles. In the 1980s, through the lens of human-centered design, the once humble office chair became more than just a seat. Today, we understand work chairs to be a tool for promoting proper posture, preventing fatigue, and supporting dynamic movement throughout the day. Similarly, lighting solutions can be reimagined to mimic natural daylight cycles, boosting alertness and regulating circadian rhythms. How else might we leverage human factors for product innovation?

By more deeply understanding user needs, manufacturers can identify gaps in the market and develop new products that may enhance workplace wellness in new ways. The result can be workplaces that don't just house employees but nurture their potential.

Engaging All Five Senses

A multisensory approach to office design isn't just about creating pleasant environments—it's a powerful tool for enhancing employee well-being and productivity. Let's explore how each sense contributes to a more vibrant, health-promoting workspace:

WYSIWYG

Sight

From TV to TikTok, we are a visual culture. We say we have to see it to believe it. The importance of a visual first impression is hard to ignore and often shapes what we think we will get.

Aesthetics matter, but thoughtful visual design goes further. Clean lines, visual connections, and patterns can appeal to specifiers and users. Product details appear different when viewed from a distance. Office products are not solo; office environments are always an orchestra—a series of integrated parts.

Colors and patterns evoke fashion trends that often move faster than product development cycles, so an office refresh focuses on colors, materials, and finishes. However, color can play a functional role in creating connections and delineations, as well as in zoning and wayfinding. Color psychology is another lever, with palettes promoting focus, creativity, or relaxation in different work zones.
Lighting systems affect product color more than traditional furniture manufacturers may care to admit, from color temperature to hue, intensity, and direction. Lighting can affect everything from whether you can see your screen to your mood. Products that mimic natural daylight patterns have an opportunity to boost alertness and regulate circadian rhythms.

Do you hear what I hear?

Sound

We are beginning to understand better how profoundly the auditory environment impacts concentration and collaboration. Innovative acoustic solutions—from sound-absorbing materials to white noise systems—can create the ideal sonic backdrop for various tasks. Products that enhance acoustical privacy have become more common, but what else can we do with sound?

Another way TikTok innovates for attention is sound. Their marketplace for mixing sound creates countless memes that trigger emotions. We know that our favorite Spotify playlist or vinyl record can do for our spirits, but what about natural sounds? A wide variety of acoustic backdrops through soundscaping technology is a growing trend.

Research indicates that exposure to natural sounds can reduce stress and enhance well-being. Consider geophony (natural sounds like wind rustling through trees or water flowing in streams), biophony (sounds produced by living organisms like bird calls or the rustling of animals), and anthrophony (human-generated sounds from music to cafe chatter).

Sound can be artistic, personal, cultural, and strategic. Public spaces such as airports are exploring auditory installations for privacy and calm. From African drums to religious ceremonies, sound carries meaning. Does the Nike office sound different from the Birkenstock office? What sound masking should be used in Nordstrom's restrooms? What should the e-commerce team sound like? Silence may not be the only objective when meditation uses sound for focus and deep concentration.

The goal? Spaces that balance energizing buzz with pockets of tranquility.

Can you feel me?

Touch

We can see from a distance, but we feel up close. Touch is intimate. Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, with nerve endings wired directly to our brains. Tactile sensations influence our comfort and interactions with the environment.

Surface material and fabric texture can convey aesthetics, trigger emotion, and signal meaning. Varied textures can support proper use and add sensory richness.

We see the door, but we touch the handle. What the user touches is a chief concern of interaction design. Is the lever secure or wiggly? Does the handle slide smoothly? Does the button confirm my choice with a confident click? Is there a tiny bit of texture indicating where to put my finger? User controls are paramount in conveying quality and function.

Does the feeling improve over time? Does that soft cushion become deflated and no longer comfortable, or does the patina of that surface improve the product as it ages? How something feels shapes your feelings overall. It may already be sold, but product performance is that of a daily brand ambassador for manufacturers.

Consider how different smooth, soft, textured materials can define areas and guide behavior.

Is this making scents?

Smell

Often overlooked, our sense of smell directly relates to memory and emotion. The hospitality industry is ahead of most as hotels, spas, restaurants, and casinos explore scent design to help customers relax and signal a unique brand experience.

We often relate scents to the perfume industry and perhaps scented candles, but our olfactory senses convey powerful emotions beyond these archetypes. What does your kitchen smell like on Thanksgiving? What do you want your gym to smell like? What is it like to open the windows in early spring and smell fresh air?

Your products may not be designed to have a scent, but they do anyway. Could you be more deliberate? Could it be a product option? Will it age well? Can you help with a client's or designer’s vision? Subtle, natural scents can reduce stress and enhance cognitive function. Imagine entering a workspace infused with the crisp smell of citrus for energy or calming lavender in relaxation areas.

Scent design is an art that is becoming more of a science. Consider how air quality and smell impact perception and productivity.

What’s your favorite flavor?

Taste

Okay, we don’t traditionally consider taste in office design, but it’s worth considering how we think about taste as an emotional driver. We talk about having taste broadly when it comes to aesthetic choices, sometimes look for the flavor of the month, and note how having a “bad taste in our mouth” is among the worst experiences.

Taste and smell are tightly intertwined in the brain. If your nose is closed, it can be hard to distinguish between biting into an apple or an onion. As with smell, taste has implications. Does the snack in your lobby reflect your brand? Is it sweet or salty?

By orchestrating these sensory elements, specifiers can create immersive office environments that nurture employees to create spaces that actively contribute to their health and productivity.

A Holistic Approach

Multisensory Integration

Future office design will address each sense individually and orchestrate a harmonious symphony of sensory inputs. This multisensory integration is the key to creating workplace experiences greater than the sum of their parts.

When we consider how our senses interact, we unlock new possibilities for enhancing productivity and well-being. For instance, the interplay between visual and auditory stimuli can dramatically affect concentration. A visually calming space combined with gentle background sounds might create an ideal environment for focused work.

But it's not just about pairing complementary sensory elements. Sometimes, unexpected combinations yield surprising benefits. Research has shown that the lighting color can influence perceived thermal comfort, potentially reducing energy costs while improving employee satisfaction.

Successful multisensory office environments don't happen by accident. They require thoughtful design that considers how different elements will work together:

Lighting that adapts throughout the day, syncing with our natural rhythms
Acoustic treatments that balance privacy with collaborative energy
Tactile surfaces that guide movement and define spaces
Subtle scents that enhance cognitive function without overwhelming

By embracing this holistic approach, manufacturers can create products that don't just coexist in a space but actively contribute to a cohesive sensory experience. Dealers will find new partnerships that fill in the gaps. This shift in thinking opens doors to innovative collaborations across product categories, leading to integrated solutions that address multiple sensory needs simultaneously.

Workplaces that feel alive, responsive, and deeply attuned to human needs help workers thrive.

Product Innovation Opportunities in Health and Wellness

The convergence of human-centered design and sensory engagement opens new possibilities for product innovation. By reimagining traditional categories through holistic well-being, companies can develop solutions that truly resonate with today's health-conscious workforce.

Intelligent technologies are paving the way for personalized workplace experiences. Nascent concepts like adjustable desks that learn users' preferences and automatically shift throughout the day to promote movement may become mainstream. At home or in the office, lighting systems powered by smart tech will adapt to individual circadian rhythms, boosting alertness and productivity.

Sustainable materials are no longer just an eco-friendly choice—they're becoming central to wellness-focused designs. Biophilic elements, such as furniture incorporating natural textures or air-purifying plants and products, can improve air quality and reduce stress. The goal is to seamlessly integrate these elements into a functional, aesthetically pleasing suite of products.

Cross-category collaboration presents an exciting frontier. By breaking down silos between furniture, lighting, and accessories, manufacturers can create integrated ecosystems that address multiple aspects of workplace wellness simultaneously.

The key to success in this new landscape is a deep understanding of how different sensory inputs interact within the workplace. By viewing product development through this multisensory lens, manufacturers can identify gaps in the market and create innovative solutions that enhance employee well-being on multiple levels. Specifiers will have new options on the palette of solutions.