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
10 Workplace Trends for 2026: What’s In and What’s Out?
This is the year of bold moves, human-first thinking, and AI that doesn’t just answer questions but joins the team.
In The Media
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Semafor
Co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink Unpack Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast With Semafor’s CEO Signal
Gensler’s co-CEOs explain how AI is helping companies shape new workplaces—driving more flexible layouts, tech-free focus zones, sound isolation, and AI-powered storytelling to attract people back to the office.
Blog
Trends to Watch: What’s Next for Airports and Aviation
Gensler’s Aviation leaders take a closer look at the trends shaping the future of travel, and what’s next for the industry.
Blog
Trends to Watch Shaping the Future of Sports
Gensler’s Sports leaders explore the design trends redefining the next era of sports design, from fan-first districts to athlete-driven spaces.
In The Media
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Austin Business Journal
Gensler Experts Explore Elements of Well-Designed Real Estate Projects in Austin with Insights from Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast
Gensler Design Director Michael Waddell and Mixed-Use Leader John Hallock discussed the future of mixed-use developments in Central Texas, where “ambitions remain incredibly high.”
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.
Blog
For People to Stay, They Need Places to ‘Go’
Public restrooms are essential urban infrastructure that help people pause, linger, and enjoy city life.
In The Media
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FOX
Gensler’s City Pulse 2025 Findings Reinforce Trend of Cities Adapting By Prioritizing Mixed-Use Vibrancy, Affordability, and Resilience
“Americans are not abandoning cities. They're moving to cities that feel affordable, safe, and vibrant,” noted Gensler Cities Research Lead Sofia Song, who shared findings from the latest cities report.
Blog
Trends to Watch: How Global Events Build Magnetic Place Brands
From the Super Bowl to the FIFA World Cup, marquee events transform urban environments into platforms that amplify civic pride and create lasting impact.
Blog
San Francisco’s AI Boom Is Our Chance to Build a People-First City
The AI gold rush presents a rare opportunity to reinvest in our urban core, reconnect our neighborhoods, and rebuild our streets.
Blog
When Rivers Rise and Wells Run Dry: Designing Water-Resilient Cities
Climate change is making floods and droughts more intense — but designers have solutions that can limit the damage.
In The Media
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Forbes
Forbes Spotlights Gensler’s Nature-Led Design at Nekajui, a Ritz Carlton Reserve
Gensler’s Rashana Zaklit highlights how the luxury hospitality experience followed a nature-led, site-responsive design approach.
Blog
Beyond the Screen: Making Digital Beauty Brands Shine in Real Life
How digital-first retailers can navigate the crucial transition of a brand into physical space.
Blog
Designing Tomorrow’s Shopping Centers: Global Ideas From Kuwait, Costa Rica, and Beyond
Around the world, developers are experimenting with new models that expand the meaning of “retail.” For U.S. retail designers, these examples offer valuable lessons for an era defined by shifting consumer behavior, climate pressures, and the need to create authentic community experiences.
In The Media
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The Masters of Scale
The Masters of Scale Podcast Featured a Conversation With Co-CEO Elizabeth Brink and Co-Chair Andy Cohen on Designing the Office as a Destination
Gensler Co-CEO Elizabeth Brink and Co-Chair Andy Cohen reflected on the firm’s collaborative leadership model, how AI is disrupting the industry, and insights on designing for the future of work.
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.
In The Media
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Fortune
Gensler’s Ray Yuen Led a Discussion on the Future of Workplace Design at the Fortune Brainstorm Design Forum in Macau
Gensler Hong Kong Managing Director Ray Yuen led a discussion at Fortune’s Brainstorm Design Forum on designing experiences to draw employees back to the office.
Blog
How Nokia’s New R&D Campus Raises the Bar for Canada’s Tech Ecosystem
The company’s new space in Ottawa replaces the traditional workplace model with one centered on employee experience.
Blog
The New Job for the Airport CEO: It’s More Challenging — and More Uplifting — Than Ever
In this pivotal moment, we have an opportunity to design airports and terminals that feel less like infrastructure and more like inspirational destinations.
Blog
Designing the Future of Travel at Pittsburgh International Airport
Building a terminal rooted in flexibility, passenger experience, and the spirit of a city that’s reinventing itself.
In The Media
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The Prix Versailles
Gensler-Designed SFO Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Honored With the Prix Versailles 2025 Best of Show Prize in Aviation
The prestigious Prix Versailles Awards celebrate projects that go beyond functionality to embody beauty, cultural integration, and sustainability.
Blog
How Design Can Advance Diverse Nonprofit Missions
Nonprofits can use architecture and design strategies in campus development to amplify their mission impact and operational excellence
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
Real Estate Value Moves From Square Footage to Human Connection
FEATURED PROJECTS
Global Technology Company Suzhou Campus
Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
A confidential technology campus finds harmony between a quiet local culture and a commanding industry ethos.
Under Armour Global Headquarters
Baltimore, Maryland
Gensler collaborated with Under Armour to design a groundbreaking headquarters and destination for collaboration, athletic excellence, and community connection.
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
The Silicon Valley pioneer NVIDIA sought a corporate headquarters that reflected its core belief in people as its greatest asset.
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