Key takeaways from the Workspace Design Show 2025
London’s Workspace Design Show is undoubtedly one of the best coworking events of 2025. For one, the exhibition (held at Islington’s Business Design Centre) features a host of innovative and creative workspace design solutions tailored to the needs of modern workplaces. Beyond this, the two-day event stands out specifically to the coworking community for its thought-provoking workshops and networking events organised by London Coworking Assembly’s Bernie Mitchell. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from one of London’s best coworking events.
Why AI matters in coworking operations
Within the next 3-5 years, the AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) revolution is coming – where computers and AI will reach the same intelligence level, or higher, than humans. This incoming change will likely replace many jobs in the current labour market, shared Kofi Oppong, founder of Urban MBA – an award-winning charity, and recently opened EdTech hub and maker’s space in Hackney – during his talk: “AI for Everyday Coworking Tasks.”
AI and automation tools can save coworking operators hours on operations, marketing, and event planning tasks. For instance, ChatGPT, having been widely accessible for the last couple of years, can help create slick marketing campaigns and brainstorm ideas for your thriving events calendar. Another AI tool, Claude, creates code for building websites and apps.
With these incredible AI tools, many tasks can be achieved in seconds, rather than hours, freeing community managers’ time for more impactful coworking community activities. However, there are important issues surrounding data, security, and privacy measures to consider when using open-source AI tools. As a business, you’re responsible for customers’ information and must handle this with care.
With this in mind, Nexudus has developed a powerful AI module (Marketing Insights) that helps coworking operators understand their communities more deeply while protecting customers’ personal data. Operators can identify different audience segments to deliver personalised services and amenities specific to that audience, enhancing customer satisfaction. By upselling and cross-selling strategies based on member behaviours, this tool unlocks revenue opportunities for operations and supports daily processes, by allocating resources more effectively, based on member preferences and patterns.
The secrets to designing inclusive workspaces
When you typically imagine a coworking space, you’re probably thinking about a busy, vibrant, open-plan workspace filled with people, chatter, and movement. But, for the 15-20% of the UK population who are neurodivergent – “an ‘umbrella term’ for cognitive differences,” – busy workspaces can be intimidating and overwhelming, says Workplace Expert, Amy Morgan, leading the workshop on “Inclusive Space Design.”
Every person has different preferences in their work environments. Some thrive in spaces with music, others prefer no noise. While others can be extremely sensitive to lighting, finding harsh white lighting difficult to work in, and struggling to concentrate in spaces lacking natural lighting. When it comes to workspace design, details matter. For instance, signage is an important factor in wayfinding. Clear signage is recommended over obscure abstract elements and creating memorable moments can mark a specific place, toilets being an example.
Urban MBA was founded for a niche community of young entrepreneurs and features a maker space kitted out with some of the latest technologies, including 3D printers, and a quantum computer. It’s also currently transforming to become more inclusive of the neurodivergent community. For example, grey carpets will replace vibrant and heavily patterned carpets, provided by local carpet manufacturer, Milliken, and a Nook pod will be incorporated into the workspace as an additional meeting space (this industry is all about partnerships, after all). A noise-dampening curtain containing the podcast studios, controlling sound. Biophilic walls will also introduce nature into the workspace.
After learning about the elements of an inclusive coworking space, a co-design session followed, where the group was split into smaller cohorts to design an inclusive coworking space.
The difference between service, hospitality, and ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’
The average person receives hundreds of marketing messages daily – so, how can your message stand out from the rest? According to Julie Firth and Sonya Whittam (facilitators of the ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ customer experience workshop), “the best businesses communicate what they do the best, and connect with their audience” through storytelling.
For instance, after customers were overheard talking about having missed their chance to taste a New York hotdog at Will Guidara’s New York restaurant, their chef bought hot dogs from a nearby stall and presented them to the overjoyed customers. This is an act of ‘unreasonable hospitality’ – something so audacious that it creates memorable moments long after the event. It’s also the title of Guidara’s best-selling book, on which the workshop was based.
Small shifts in service matter. While customer service is important, adding a layer of hospitality can create a genuine connection. Applying this logic to coworking operations, connections can be achieved at every touchpoint – from an introductory workspace tour, to how people access the space every day, to even how they interact with your coworking software to make payments and connect with other coworkers using communication tools. The advice from Guidara: “hospitality is your number one advantage.”
The Wider Workspace Design Show
Although the London Coworking Assembly workshops attract the coworking community to attend the Workspace Design Show, it’s not the only reason to go along. The two-day event excels in bringing people in the wider workspace industry together, especially if you’re exploring the myriad workspace design solutions from acoustic sound materials for workspaces to phone booths, lockers, and adjustable desks – all the solutions you’d ever thought of in your coworking space.
The Workspace Design Show also organises a range of insightful talks. This year, design experts were invited to talk about the true value of offices, sustainable workplaces, sensory workspace design, and how data-driven insights impact business decisions in workplaces. On the first evening, a laidback networking party was hosted for all attendees to get together and explore exhibiting products and services in a more informal setting. The community aspect is a huge draw, and as always, this year’s event was hugely enjoyable.
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