Design Forecast 2026
6 Trends Shaping Design in 2026
Discover the most important and actionable themes shaping design in 2026, based on over 100 trends across 33 industries around the world.
Blog
The Top 10 Things Employees Value Inside and Beyond the Office
Two decades of research reveal what workers need to do their best work.
Blog
The Experience Economy Is Real. Is Your City Ready to Compete?
Cities are no longer just places people live — they’re products people choose.
In The Media
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Barron’s
Barron’s Andy Serwer Hosted a Conversation With Gensler Co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink on the “20-Minute City”
Gensler Co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink discuss the firm’s work on Nvidia’s headquarters, how AI can enhance design, and the importance of the 20-minute city.
Press Release
Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey Finds Workers Who Use AI Most Are Also the Most Connected to Their Teams
New global workplace research finds that AI’s biggest users are also its most collaborative — and reveals what the office needs to become.
In The Media
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Bloomberg
Bloomberg Features Gensler’s Workplace Survey in AI and Job Redesign Story
Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey highlights how AI is reshaping jobs, noting that 43% of employees sometimes cancel meetings due to a lack of available meeting rooms.
Blog
The Future of Airport Modernization Starts with Experience
How smart experience design is reshaping the airport passenger journey.
In The Media
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KOLO-TV
KOLO-TV Covered the Groundbreaking of Two New Concourses at Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Designed by Gensler, the $650 million project will nearly double the existing concourse space. Gensler Principal Brent Mather weighs in.
Blog
Designing Women’s Sports Facilities for New Fans and Sponsors
Gensler Sports designers explain how women’s sports facilities are evolving to serve new audiences and opportunities.
In The Media
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NBC Chicago
NBC Chicago Features the Groundbreaking of Chicago Fire FC’s New $750 Million Stadium in The 78
The Gensler-designed Chicago Fire FC stadium is “reshaping the future of soccer in Chicago” and is “one of the most ambitious stadium projects in Major League Soccer history.”
Press Release
Gensler Expands Sports & Entertainment Leadership, Strengthening Presence Across Asia Pacific & Middle East
Elliott Pears steps into a new role, driving the next chapter of sports and entertainment design across the APME region.
In The Media
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The Sports Business Journal
Gensler Creates a Standout ‘VVIP Experience’ at The Lexus Vaults at Capital One Arena
The Sports Business Journal highlighted how the Gensler-designed Vaults ‘blend behind-the-scenes exclusivity with front-row access,’ naming it one of the most impressive exclusive experiences in sports across the country.
Blog
Designing Soccer Training Centers for Peak Performance
Athlete-centered, data-rich performance campuses redefine excellence in the world’s game.
Blog
How Mexico’s Logistics Revolution Is Reshaping Its Cities
No longer invisible infrastructure, Mexico’s logistics network plays a critical role in reshaping the urban experience.
In The Media
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Urban Land Magazine
Urban Land Magazine Shares Insights From Gensler’s Andre Brumfield on the Future of Urban Development
Citing Gensler’s Design Forecast trends, Brumfield says, “successful development increasingly depends on early collaboration and design excellence tied to measurable performance and shared outcomes across public and private sectors.”
Blog
India’s Airport Cities: A Prototype for the Next Generation of Urban Development
How airport-adjacent developments are becoming a new prototype for Indian cities.
In The Media
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People Magazine
People Magazine Spotlighted the “World’s Most Beautiful Airport” — the Gensler-Designed San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1
SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1, which was awarded the Prix Versailles, sets a new standard for sustainability and wellness, while celebrating the Bay Area’s distinct culture.
Blog
Trends to Watch: What’s Next for Hotels and Hospitality
Gensler’s Hospitality leaders take a closer look at the trends shaping the future of hotels, branded residences, and resorts.
Blog
Small Moves, Big Impact: Nudging Culture in Your Workplace
In behavioral economics, a nudge is any aspect of choice architecture that alters people’s behavior without removing freedom of choice. So, how can we use design to nudge employees towards mission-centeredness, health and well-being, creativity, sustainability, and consideration for others?
In The Media
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Workplace Design
Workplace Design Covers Gensler’s 2026 Global Workplace Survey
The article features insights from Co-CEO Elizabeth Brink on how workplaces must evolve to better support collaboration, connection, and performance in a rapidly changing world of work.
Blog
The Workplace as Civic Infrastructure: How Companies Can Use Space as a Public Good
This post explores the growing shift toward workplaces that function as community spaces, examining why organizations are opening their doors and how design enables this evolution.
Blog
Rethinking Residential Unit Design: Lessons from Office-to-Residential Conversions
Strategic unit design creates better living experiences for residents and better performance outcomes for developers.
Blog
NEXT NEXT: Redefining Science Work for the AI and Machine Era
Our new concept looks at how AI and automation are redefining the science workplace and reshaping the future of labs.
Blog
Test, Don’t Guess: A New Approach for Healthcare Design
Healthcare leaders are modeling multiple futures before breaking ground — shifting from fixed bets to flexible strategies.
We are creating a better world through the power of design.
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 56 locations across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Every day we impact millions of people’s lives with the spaces we create, which is why people are at the center of everything we do. Designing for the human experience is what allows us to tackle the toughest challenges facing cities and shape a more resilient and inclusive future for everyone.
Learn more about GenslerSPOTLIGHT
How AI is Making the Workplace More Human, Not Less
FEATURED PROJECTS
Al-Ahly Stadium
Cairo, Egypt
Gensler has developed a concept design for a world-class, ground-up stadium for the Al-Ahly football club that redefines the fan experience, drives economic growth, and sets a new benchmark in sports architecture globally.
Chicago Fire FC Stadium
Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Fire FC Stadium amplifies the fan experience and serves as the cornerstone of the city’s newest mixed-use district, The 78.
Los Angeles Chargers Headquarters and Training Facility
El Segundo, California
The Los Angeles Chargers’ headquarters and training facility promotes physical fitness and mental well-being to support well-rounded achievement.
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