IBA editorial team The leading international trade fair for the modern working world was once again held in Cologne from 22 to 25 October. But, compared to previous years, many things were different this time. With a new trade fair concept, a new hall layout, themed focus areas and the Work Culture Festival, ORGATEC brought the working world of tomorrow to life. Trade visitors, speakers and exhibitors were enthusiastic about the new trade fair concept.
„Inspiration, networking and a culture of innovation: the trade fair is fun again! Well-known exhibitors are there, and the division into focus areas makes it easier for visitors to find their main topics. Particularly inspiring is the Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival from the IBA.“
Real Estate Specialist SOCOTEC Germany (LinkedIn)
The festival concept developed by the German Interior Business Association (IBA) and its partners offered everything the heart desires, from live music acts and food trucks to an extensive presentation and workshop programme on six stages, in special areas and at innovative exhibitor stands. The most important thing, however, was the direct link between expert know-how and practical implementation, as well as the opportunity to exchange experiences and make new contacts.
“It was a great day with a surprisingly large number of people from the community. 2026 again :‑))”
HR specialist Cawa Younosi (LinkedIn)
Clear thematic focus, attractive innovations and promising prospects
It will take some time to process all the impressions and evaluate the findings. We would therefore like to mention just three aspects whose consistent implementation at the stands of the IBA members and their programme and exhibition partners made a lasting impression on us.
IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
According to the report Design Focus 2025 by organization and workplace specialist Gensler, in the coming years, we’ll (finally) be able to say goodbye to offices whose design is primarily aimed at Instagram-compatible images. Instead, companies have discovered the potential of immersive workplace design. What this means in concrete terms could be seen at the exhibitors’ stands in Halls 6 + 9: Furnishings that appeal to all the senses and provide holistic support for people at work, with high-quality materials and a design that emphasizes the function of the room in question. In his presentation, composer Walter Werzowa shed light on how music can also be used in everyday working life. The designer collective Every Human made working with fragrances its theme. The daring were able to mix ingredients directly on site. The great potential of art in the workplace was demonstrated several times, for example in the special show by Unfair or at REISS Büromöbel, which collaborated with street artists under the motto “Art meets innovation”.
FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO VIRTUAL REALITY
The potential of digitalization was showcased throughout the trade fair. After all, it enables remote working and other new forms of collaboration. One focus of the Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival was AI in all its facets. The presentation at the Interstuhl stand was impressive. The company showed how VR can respond to personal preferences and thus become an individual experience. In his presentation on the power of data, Prof. Ulrich Blum explained how artificial intelligence is used in the design of architecture and workplaces at Zaha Hadid Architects and the amazing expansion of possibilities that AI offers his students. Trend expert Birgit Gebhardt and AI pioneer Clemens Wasner shed light on new forms of collaboration and digital guru Sascha Lobo called on companies to have more courage in dealing with new technologies.
„“I believe that we need a change in work culture, and one that is particularly effective in depth for this country. In my view, the change in work culture is the development of a culture of trial and error: learning to fail forward.“
Sascha Lobo, digital expert (presentation: “An AI jolt must go through Germany”)
SUSTAINABILITY AS A STARTING POINT
The diverse aspects of sustainability were an unmissable feature of all the stands and special shows in Halls 6 and 9. Flokk’s trade fair presentation bore the motto “Borrowed from the Loop”. Flokk illustrated what this means with numerous new products and presentations. Preform’s presentation included PreDinkel, a new acoustic material which initially performs well as an absorber and can be composted at the end of the product life cycle. Even those who wondered what a hairdressing salon was doing in the festival halls came across an innovative use of existing resources: Human Material Loop processes waste from hairdressing salons into sustainable textile fibres. Last but not least, the exhibitors also paid attention to sustainability in stand construction. Sedus was able to announce that 95 per cent of the materials used for the trade fair stand will be reused after ORGATEC. CO2 reductions and material savings were already taken into account during the planning of this successful trade fair presentation.
Culture as a unifying factor
Above all, (corporate) culture was highlighted as the key to a functioning working environment — for effective collaboration, lifelong learning and the innovative strength of companies. Its great potential and how it can be specifically promoted were tangible in Cologne.
„I would never have thought that a trade fair for office furniture would be one of my best trade fair experiences — but ORGATEC really was a celebration.“
Oskar Trautmann, co-host of the “Zoomer Meets Boomer” podcast (LinkedIn)
The spirit of ORGATEC 2024 and the first Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival could not be summed up better.
