Colour
What Is the Workplace Six Years After Covid? Insights from Material Source Studio London
11 December 2025
Last week, Crown Paints was proud to sponsor and attend the Workplace: What is it six years after Covid? seminar at Material Source Studio London, a forum that brought together leading voices in workplace strategy and design to reflect on how the world of work has evolved — and where it’s heading next.
Six years on from the pandemic, the traditional office is no longer a default destination — it’s now a chosen environment. As host David Smalley, Director of Material Source Studio, shared, this shifts the design challenge from simply filling seats to crafting spaces that foster connection, culture and collaboration.
Industry experts offered valuable perspectives on what workplace means today.
All images courtesy of Robin Boot.
Samantha McClary, CEO of the British Council for Offices
Samantha emphasised that “human connection” is now the core purpose of workplace — not just a place to work, but a setting for relationships, interaction and social exchange.
Caroline Pontifex, Head of Workplace & Design at Savills
Caroline highlighted the importance of the “three Cs” — connection, coaching and culture — as drivers of workplace strategy and design thinking.
Dereck Dziva, Senior VP of Neuberger Berman
Dereck described workplace as a “place of enablement,” offering separation between home and work life while supporting varied ways of working.
Throughout the session, there was a strong consensus that the workplace must earn relevance every day. As Clare Bailey from Savills noted, many organisations that downsized early in the pandemic are now expanding again, recognising that thoughtfully designed workplaces can support community and wellbeing.
The discussion also touched on how hybrid working patterns have matured, and how design professionals must interpret productivity beyond output metrics, considering human behaviour and experience as core design parameters.
At Crown Paints, we see these themes echoed in our ongoing research — including Designing for Neurodiversity and our Colour Insights 2025/26 palettes, which explore how colour, light and material choices can influence emotional and functional experiences in the workplace. Colour is more than decoration — it’s a tool for fostering connection, clarity and care.
Come and visit us at Material Source
Come along and discover what’s happening in the world of colour, including our latest trends and our sustainability initiatives. We also have inspirational installations showcasing our paint and an exciting programme of CPD opportunities for you to enjoy.
