Last week, our team had the pleasure of attending the Sustainable Design Forum, a thought-provoking event curated by the Sustainable Design Collective (SDC). Bringing together designers, specifiers, and sustainability advocates, the forum provided an invaluable platform for honest conversation, shared learning, and collective progress towards a more sustainable built environment.
Alongside the programme of panel discussions, workshops and presentations, we spent time connecting with attendees at our stand — sharing our approach through Broadbase Continu, discussing our sustainable furniture strategy, and talking through a recent project focused on reuse and long-term value.
Designing for people and planet
The forum was fantastically organised, and all the panel discussions were expertly led. The speakers gave us both grounded and candid responses to questions focused on the themes of circularity, reuse, responsible specification, and designing for people and planet.
One of the challenges discussed was stakeholder alignment — balancing commercial priorities, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility. Sustainability is increasingly a priority, but it isn’t always embedded at the core of decision-making.
Discussions reinforced that effective, sustainable design starts with understanding how a space is actually used. Solutions should be led by longevity and purpose, not certifications or short-term gains. As one speaker noted, if something is sustainable in theory but only lasts a day in practice, it is not truly sustainable.
Authenticity over aesthetics
Authenticity emerged as a key principle. Rather than imposing a design vision, there was a clear emphasis on aligning with the values of both clients and end users. The role of the designer is to educate where necessary while remaining faithful to what the client and their employees genuinely care about.
Encouragingly, there was also recognition that users don’t necessarily want “new” — they value the story behind a space. Reuse, when done well, can enhance both the character and sustainability of a workplace.
The business case for sustainability was also front of mind. Panellists referenced ESG drivers, and data consistently shows that employees want to work in spaces that reflect sustainable values. Demand for sustainable projects is now strong enough that it no longer requires active selling, the conversation has shifted from persuasion to delivery.
Industry conversations in practice
We also took part in a lively speed-dating session, rotating between tables to discuss key themes: Circular Economy, Reuse, Designing for People & Planet, and Specifying for Sustainability. The format gave us some of the day’s most energising exchanges as every person in the room brought their own experience and perspective, and we left with new connections and great ideas.
The role of storytelling
An installation titled ‘Threshold of Change’, conceptualised by SDC Co-founder Harsha Kotak, made from waste materials and designed to make visitors walk through a problem rather than past it, highlighted the power of storytelling in sustainability. It demonstrated how design can engage people more effectively than metrics alone, and reinforced the value of reuse through its own planned reapplication.
Themes worth watching
Several themes are gaining traction across the sector:
- The introduction and use of product passports and material transparency.
- Designing for resilience in anticipation of future material scarcity.
- The need to remove harmful substances from materials to support both human and environmental health
There was also open discussion around certifications and greenwashing, with a clear message: if something seems too good to be true, it often is. The question of certifications prompted a nuanced debate. While they have a role to play, panellists were wary of over-reliance on them, particularly given the risks of greenwashing. Greater transparency and better data sharing were highlighted as essential to driving genuine progress.
A shared responsibility
The day’s closing message was a call for continued curiosity and collaboration. Joanna Knight, Co-founder of the SDC, summed it up well: “There are no experts, we are all explorers.” Sustainability is still evolving, and we all carry a responsibility to keep learning and openly share knowledge, data, and experience across the industry.
