Forum - SDC - The Sustainable Design Collective

Sustainable Design Forum

The 2025 Sustainable Design Forum, held on Thursday 24 April at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, was widely regarded as the most successful yet.

The venue buzzed with lively conversations and insightful discussions centred on pushing the boundaries of sustainability in workplace design. The day began with a networking session, supported by a diverse group of manufacturers and suppliers.

Architects and designers from tp bennett, M Moser Associates, and BDP – key sponsors of the event – presented a series of engaging displays showcasing innovative and practical approaches to sustainable design.

The day featured a full programme, including thought-provoking talks and dynamic panel discussions. ASDC Co-Founder Joanna Knight chaired the opening panel on Transparency and Collaboration, joined by SDC members Ana Rita Martins, Lucy Bagshaw, and Alison Grant.

One of the day’s standout moments was the ‘speed dating’ roundtables, which brought together guests and SDC members for fast-paced exchanges of ideas and experiences.

The closing panel was led by Harsha Kotak, with contributions from Kay Sargent, Asif Din, Lydia Randall, and Jaffer Muljiani.

A particularly memorable moment came from Kay Sargent, Director of Thought Leadership – Interiors at HOK, who delivered a compelling keynote. As a global expert on neurodiversity and inclusive design, Kay’s talk resonated deeply with the audience.

Thanks to Spacestor, attendees received complimentary copies of Kay’s latest book. Published by HOK, Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces explores the impact of sensory processing and cognitive health in the built environment. Drawing on more than eight years of research, it offers practical guidance on creating truly inclusive, neurodiverse-friendly spaces.

Event Highlights

“The Sustainable Design Forum was a fantastically enriching day of learning, knowledge-sharing, meeting like-minded people and having fun. I’m very much looking forward to the next one!”

– Carmen Wochner, tp bennett

“It was a fantastic day of learning, conversations and connections around the theme of “People + Planet. We’re excited to keep the momentum going and work together towards a better future for both people and planet!”

– Circular Building Solutions Ltd

“It was an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders and share insights on sustainable design solutions.”

– Laura Davie-Rush, Laurel Communications

“What impressed me most was the remarkable willingness everyone showed to share information. The shared understanding that the changes we need to make are bigger than any one of us left me feeling hopeful.”

– Michelle Mosley, Task Systems

“The speed dating session was fantastic, very candid and honest. Gaining others’ perspectives on industry standards is very interesting indeed!”

– Urszula Bytnar, Task Systems

“Thank you all for organising such a fantastic day – so much food for thought and plenty of ideas to take forward!”

– Jessica MacKie, Studio 84 Consultancy

2025 Agenda

10:00am A&D & Product Exhibition and Book Signing by Kay Sargent*

12:00pm Welcome & Introduction by SDC Co-Founders Harsha Kotak and Joanna Knight

12:10pm Panel Discussion – “Collaboration and Transparency – Are We Being Realistic?”

12:45pm Supplier Presentation – “The Future of Reuse” by Johnsons Asset 360

1:00pm Workshop – “Decarbonising Supply Chains” by The Furniture Practice

1:15pm Lunch

1:45pm Speed Dating with SDC Associates – 9 tables with 2 SDC Associates per table (20 minutes per table)

2:45pm Supplier Presentation – “Integrating Reuse in Design” by Tsunami Axis

3:00pm Workshop – “Circular Economy” by Humanscale

3:15pm Book Launch & Signing – “Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces” by Kay Sargent

4:00pm Workshop – “Digital Product Passports” by NaughtOne

4:15pm Break

4:30pm Workshop – “Reuse & Remanufacturing” by Crown Workspace

4:45pm Panel Discussion – “Designing for People and Planet – Do They Conflict?”

5:30pm A&D & Product Exhibition and Book Signing by Kay Sargent*

6:30pm Sustainable Design Awards Ceremony

*Exhibition will be closed at other times

2024 Event

The 2024 event was an outstanding success, and the enthusiasm was palpable as the day progressed through the comprehensive agenda of panel discussions, presentations, and workshops.

Covering a truly comprehensive range of topics, members of SDC participated in a range of discussions from the importance of social value through to the ‘pros and cons’ of carbon measurement. Many colleagues within the workplace design community commented on the practical advice and information provided by each of the ‘How to’ workshops covering ‘promoting sustainability to clients’ and ‘understanding supply chains’.