RETHINKING FURNITURE: 2036 AND BEYOND

At The Furniture Practice, we work together with our clients and project teams to shape spaces that support the evolving needs of people and organisations. Looking ahead is an important part of that work, helping us consider how furniture can remain relevant and adaptable as needs change.

This new research programme takes that thinking further, looking beyond individual projects to explore the wider changes that could influence the furniture industry over the next decade. 

New technologies, pressures on materials and resources, changing expectations and emerging business models are raising questions about how furniture is made, procured, owned, maintained and valued.

Led by Future Works, with support from multidisciplinary design studio ForEveryday.Life, the research will bring together perspectives from within and beyond the furniture industry through research, workshops and conversations.

An advisory panel of leading industry experts is helping to inform the research, bringing together expertise in design, materials innovation, circularity, strategy and foresight. The panel includes Jay Osgerby, Kevin Rouff, Joe Ballantyne, Caroline Till and Charlie Warwick, whose different perspectives will help challenge assumptions and explore the changes that could shape the industry's future.

Rather than attempting to predict the future, the programme aims to challenge established assumptions, explore new possibilities and identify opportunities for innovation that could inform decisions being made today.

We're looking forward to seeing how the research develops, with emerging ideas and findings to be shared throughout 2027.

Explore Rethinking Furniture: 2036 and Beyond and follow the research on the Future Works website.