Workplaces, they are a-changing: And CBS is bringing the workplace revolution to Asia Pacific
Published

We’re definitely at the forefront of workplace transformation, but throughout Asia Pacific the workplace revolution is coming full force. We chat to CBS about the changing face of work in our region.
By now, the design industry is well aware that workspaces are changing. A far cry from the staid, monochromatic offices of yesteryear, today’s workspaces are agile and adaptable, with a focus on crafting inspiring, dynamic environments that foster worker productivity and happiness. Overwhelmingly, employees and employers alike are demanding spaces that nurture both professional and personal growth and incorporate health and wellbeing concerns into interior design, furniture selection, and fit-out.
Against this backdrop, continuous innovation and an unrelenting forward-focus within workplace design are essential. Few companies understand this as well as Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS), who are partnering with Indesign to present the Work Space category at this year’s INDE Awards. Since their establishment in 1990, CBS has forged a reputation as leaders in workplace ergonomics with a penchant for developing unique solutions for interfacing furniture and technology. Over the years, the company has remained driven by a desire to create spacious, healthy environments for workers in a range of work environments including offices, hospitals, trading floors, and universities.
Built on a bedrock of ergonomic research undertaken with Italian computer manufacturer Olivetti and equipped with multidisciplinary design skills encompassing architecture, product design, and furniture design, CBS is a true design powerhouse. For decades, their unique approach to incorporating technology and health into practical furniture solutions has set the curve for workplace ergonomics around the world. Today, the company has a strong global presence, with offices in the UK, Australia and Asia, in addition to a growing international network of manufacturers, dealers, and distributors.
Around the world, the CBS brand is synonymous with leadership in environmental sustainability and product design. Regardless of the scale or nature of the project, CBS view product specification as an opportunity for achieving sustainability goals, taking sustainability down to the most granular level for all building options. No project is too big or too small for the company’s inspired approach to sustainable design, which has been recognised by Green Star accreditation and embraced by offices across the globe.
Two of the company’s earliest innovations – with Wishbone being the world’s first flat screen monitor arm – remain in wide use in workspaces around the world, and the company continues to garner acclaim at international design awards. To date, CBS’s award shelf includes numerous Red Dot design awards, a Silver NeoCon Award, and a Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) award for Ergonomic Excellence – amongst other accolades.
Part of what sets CBS apart from competitors within the furniture design space is its recognition that the end user has changed and diversified. Designing healthy and productive work environments is no longer a question of one-size-fits-all, and must instead cater for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. As such, CBS pays close attention to the specifics of every design brief and carefully tailors solutions to meet every need and challenge.
This ethos makes CBS a fitting partner for the Work Space category of this year’s INDE Awards, which celebrates workplace design that meets both the demands of work and the demands of people.
CBS is proud to support bold, inventive design thinking that explores the potential of the workplace as a space that is not only functional, but also inherently social and cultural.
Related Articles

Articles
Creating synergies of form, hue and space
When considered from the perspective of the human experience, a chair is not merely an object. It is a human vantage point within a space, it is the focal point for energies and activities, and it is a visual anchor that guides activities and emotions.

Articles
Injecting identity into adaptable workplaces: the brand harnessing the visual treasure trove of cross-sector design culture
The magnetic pull of certain spaces comes down to how seamlessly they work and, more importantly, how they feel. Recognising this, Kettal Workplace draws on the uplifting codes of other sectors to deliver contemporary workplace design.

Articles
What Nikari reveals about Finnish design and its love of wood
KFive Furniture and Finnish design brand, Nikari, invite us into a world of Finnish folklore and exquisite woodworking traditions. As we step through this moody, magical forest of culture and contemporary design, we discover what makes Finnish design distinct from its Scandinavian counterparts.
Articles
The brand spotlighting furnishings crafted with purpose and the skilled design minds behind them
A wander around a BACHLI showroom reveals a tapestry of captivating furniture designs, curated precisely and craft-led. Thanks to its longstanding partnerships with iconic designers, BACHLI has become a go-to for discovering the most exciting established and emerging Australian and international brands. Initially based in Melbourne, BACHLI have recently expanded into Sydney with their Surry Hills showroom, increasing their presence and opening their invitation to the design-savvy and curious nationwide.