A New Show Puts Workplace Innovation Front And Center

New York City, a major hub for commercial real estate and workplace design, will host Design At Work New York, a new trade fair launching March 10-11, 2027, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. As the workplace continues to evolve, and as design plays an increasingly central role in shaping culture, collaboration, and well-being, the need for a more design-led fair platform has become clear. Design at Work New York steps into that space, responding to a growing demand for new ideas, innovative products, and thoughtful design solutions. 

Jedd Barry, head of marketing at Media 10, the international events company behind Clerkenwell Design Week and Shoreditch Design Week, describes Design at Work New York as being defined by its clarity of purpose. “What really sets it apart is that we are taking a fundamentally different approach to traditional U.S. shows,” Barry says. “Rather than visibility being driven by location or scale, the event is curated around real project specifications, aligning exhibitors with how products are actually specified in commercial workplace environments.”

That curatorial approach directly reflects the show’s themes, which center on flexible, modular furniture systems, acoustics, workplace technology, and materials that support wellbeing and sustainability. The aim is not just to showcase innovation, but to highlight what is actively shaping the future of workplace design, while staying rooted in current market trends. 

Beyond the exhibition, the show will feature two talk theaters, a dedicated end-user and occupier program, and curated networking spaces designed to foster meaningful collaboration and business exchange. It positions itself not simply as a place to share ideas, but as a platform where they are refined, challenged, and applied to real projects. 

“Ultimately, it’s about quality and intent. Exhibitors aren’t just getting footfall, they’re meeting the right people who are specifying products, shaping projects, and making decisions.” Barry continues. “That’s what drives real outcomes. This creates a more relevant and efficient experience, where innovation is matched directly to the needs of architects, designers, and end-users.”