The unsung hero of the workplace

The humble workstation may just be history’s greatest unsung hero.

Desks have been present for some of the most momentous occasions in human history. Designs for space shuttles, treaties for global cooperation, and works of literary genius — tables and workstations have supported truly extraordinary achievements.

Maybe we should be giving our faithful workstations a little more appreciation!

On that note, we’re thrilled to introduce the YourPlace desking family. YourPlace is a range of workstations that includes just about every work surface your office needs. We’re very proud of YourPlace because we believe it will make your life easier — whether you’re designing offices, making furniture selections, or shaping workplace strategy.

In this article, we’ll look at the design thinking behind our cutting-edge workstation portfolio.

Workstations are a crucial part of giving people autonomy. A thoughtful workstation strategy offers a wide range of work surfaces that support the diversity of workstyles and physical profiles within a team. With the right mix — both assigned and shared — people can choose the setting that best matches what they need in the moment.

Giving people agency is critical for workplace success. Employees with high autonomy are nearly 3× more likely to say their workplace supports both individual and team productivity. When the workplace helps people be more effective, they grow to trust the space — and over time, it becomes their preferred destination for doing their best work.

Gensler anticipates another transformative year for real estate

Gensler’s Design Forecast 2026 notes that successful professional services firms will “transform expensive real estate into a strategic asset.”

The report suggests one clear route: “provide a variety of workstations.”

One of Haworth’s primary recommendations for workplaces today is to offer a wide variety of different settings. This way, people with different workstyles have the freedom to choose the setting that works best for each task. Offering variety also supports neurodiverse teams. A breadth of settings can provide sensory, privacy, and control options for the estimated 10–20% of people who are neurodivergent, according to Haworth’s global research on Sensory Needs in the Workplace.

The goal behind variety is personalisation. When people can select the setting that suits their mind, task, body, and workstyle, performance and wellbeing improve. Looking ahead, Gensler anticipates that technologies like AR will make settings even more personalisable — and when combined with a smart mix of workstation types, tomorrow’s offices will operate as true strategic assets.

^{YourPlace transforms the modern office into a flexible ecosystem — adaptable workstations that support focus, flow, and everyday performance.}

Evolving Workplace study notes an increase in unassigned workstations

One of our most ambitious studies to date — the Evolving Workplace Global Study — compiled insights from more than 400 experts across 33 countries. One key finding was that office renovations are working. Over the past three years, companies that carried out significant redesigns saw boosts in member satisfaction. In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, satisfaction rose by 11%; in Asia Pacific, it increased by 7%.

Two standout shifts in redesigns were the growth of unassigned workstations and video call/focus rooms. In both EMEA and APAC, unassigned now outnumbers assigned:

(60% unassigned in EMEA and 54% unassigned in APAC). This shift suggests a lasting change in how people work: as the workday becomes increasingly structured around video calls, people need more private phone booths and meeting pods. Between calls, people turn to unassigned work settings to prepare, review notes, or focus individually.

Compared to assigned stations, unassigned workstations must be more adaptable. Because people with different physical profiles and workstyles cycle through shared desks, the best setups allow users to personalise quickly — height, position, screen angle — to reach flow fast.

A desk for every moment, task, and workstyle

Our workstations meet the needs of today’s moment. With our circular design philosophy, we prioritise recycled/recyclable materials and low-emission finishes that maintain your air quality. By choosing YourPlace, you’re not only creating a beautiful, functional workplace – you’re also reducing environmental impact and supporting circular design principles.

Every task needs a surface. Whether we’re concentrating, collaborating, or chatting casually, there’s usually a work surface nearby. Desks and tables are our constant companions. These humble, unsung heroes are the platforms for our wild ideas, thoughtful tweaks, and enlightening reviews.

The style of hybrid work has transformed the spaces where work is done. At the heart of that transformation, you’ll find workstations. There are more shared, unassigned work surfaces. There are more height-adjustable tables. And there is more mobility, empowering people to adjust the angle of their desks – or move them all the way across the office.

For every moment, for every task, for every workstyle, we have a work surface that will unleash the best of your ideas. If you’re ready to explore more, check out our new Workstation Playbook.