WHAT'S UP Blog

What the natural alternation between focus and recovery means for spatial planning. Concentration is often understood as something we either have - or don’t have. In reality, everyday working life increasingly shows that focus is a dynamic process, rather than a permanent state. It emerges, reaches a peak, gradually declines - and requires recovery in order to arise again.

This cycle of concentration is becoming especially relevant in hybrid working environments. As attention turns into a scarce resource, the physical environment plays a decisive role in determining whether focused work is supported - or disrupted.

In open-plan work environments, it is not only what is placed in a space that matters, but how it is perceived from different perspectives. Furniture becomes a spatial element: it structures areas, guides movement, shapes sightlines and subtly influences behaviour. This is exactly where the dual design of se:cove comes into play. 
The lounge chair has two clearly defined “faces”: an open, inviting front and a strong, structured back. This contrast is not incidental, but a deliberate design decision – and a valuable tool for spatial planning.

Open spaces need character - but not noise. In today’s modern work environments, work cafés, and hybrid zones, the goal is no longer simply to fill square metres, but to create atmosphere. With se:cove, Sedus enters a new era of soft seating: a lounge chair that makes a sculptural statement while offering exactly what open-plan spaces demand today - calm, retreat, and presence. 

For a long time, the office was primarily seen as a place of encounter: open, communicative, and creative. Collaboration was the guiding principle of office design – with open-plan layouts, community tables and informal meeting zones. Yet the reality of hybrid work is making one thing increasingly clear: collaboration alone is not enough. People come to the office not only to exchange ideas, but above all to find the right conditions for focused, concentrated work.

Many people are familiar with it: the AGR quality seal “Tested & Recommended”. It appears on ergonomic office chairs, height-adjustable desks and modern workplace solutions, offering guidance in a crowded market of ergonomic products.

But what does this seal actually stand for? Who is behind it? And why have several Sedus products – as well as complete concept solutions – been awarded this distinction?

We spoke to Detlef Detjen, Managing Director of Aktion Gesunder Rücken e. V. (AGR – Campaign for Healthy Backs). He explains what makes the AGR seal special, how the assessment process works, and why holistic ergonomics is becoming increasingly important in the modern world of work.

Sometimes it’s not the big gestures that make a space special, but the feeling that stays with you: welcoming, calm, open. That is exactly what the Sedus Hub Hamburg is. A place where you don’t just see furniture, but experience what modern workplaces feel like - authentic, connecting, and closely aligned with everyday working life.

Yes, the Hub is a showroom. But more importantly, it is an anchor point in the north: a place to come together, exchange ideas, learn and plan. You sense this immediately - because hospitality here isn’t an extra, it’s part of the concept.

The world of work is in motion - and the office is evolving with it. What once served primarily as a place of “presence” has become a space that must accommodate a wide range of needs simultaneously: focused work, spontaneous exchange, retreat, regeneration and, not least, sustainable decision-making. Hybrid working models, new forms of collaboration and rising expectations around wellbeing are reshaping not only how space is used, but also what we expect from design.

With LOOKBOOK No. 03, we offer insights into precisely this transformation. It is not a catalogue, but a curated collection of inspiration around materials, spatial typologies and work environments - making visible how workplaces are evolving: in projects, in organisations and in everyday experience.

Sometimes you step into a room and immediately feel: this isn’t just about furniture. It’s about attitude, about connection — and about the question of how we want to work. That’s exactly what the Sedus HUB in Eschborn is.

Yes, it’s a showroom. But above all, it’s home base, stage, workshop, and meeting point for the Rhine-Main region. A place that grew from the local team and evolves every day — through use, through exchange, through real experiences.

Located in the middle of Munich, the Sedus HUB demonstrates how modern workplaces can be conceived today: not as a conventional product display, but as a lived-in space that brings people together, inspires them, and supports a wide range of ways of working. The showroom is far more than an exhibition area — it is a place where work, connection and atmosphere merge into a coherent overall experience.

What if a workplace didn’t just function—but truly made people feel included and valued?
At The Inclusive Journey, Sedus invited clients and partners to a collaborative experience to explore how furniture and workplace design can actively support inclusion, empower employees, and create work environments where everyone feels they belong.

At the “Talk Green To Me” panel at the Sedus Hub West in Düsseldorf, the spotlight was on a topic that has long shaped the company’s identity: sustainability as a seamless, integrated part of the entire product lifecycle—from development and tender processes to use, refurbishment and circular return. In conversation with Sedus experts Niklas Flum, Simon Roth and Konstantin Thomas, the panel explored how sustainability is put into practice across the organisation, offering strategic insights, market perspectives and a look into design and product development.

Hybrid work demands new spatial concepts. Work cafés have emerged as a central element in modern office design – spaces that seamlessly integrate work, social interaction and well-being. Sedus demonstrates how to achieve this with structure, system and style.

Home office is no longer just a temporary solution. For those who work from home permanently, the demands on their workspace are high – it should be functional, ergonomically designed, and stylishly integrated into the home environment. Furniture that promotes focus, blends harmoniously with living spaces, and impresses with quality.

With its new home office solutions, Sedus brings all these qualities together: ergonomics meets aesthetics, technology meets atmosphere – creating a workspace that feels like a natural part of your home.

How much of the future can be found in a chair?
At first glance, it may sound like a design question – yet it is a strategic one.
Today, anyone speaking about the future of business, work and spatial design is also speaking about sustainability – not as a trend, but as a mindset.

On 22 and 23 October 2025, Frankfurt am Main became the epicentre of economic debate. Under the patronage of Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein, five major business events joined forces to form the Frankfurt Finance & Future Summit – an international gathering bridging the financial and real economies. Listed corporations met start-ups, innovation met tradition, and technology met transformation.

The summit’s goal: to explore the ongoing transformation of business and society – with a focus on geo-economics, technology, artificial intelligence, and the role of the human factor.

At Sedus Stoll AG, sustainability is not a trend – it is a lived responsibility and an integral part of our DNA. This is once again underlined by the latest award: the EcoVadis Gold Medal, one of the world’s most respected sustainability ratings for businesses.
With this recognition, Sedus is ranked among the top five per cent of more than 130,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis.
But what exactly does this award mean, and how does Sedus manage to maintain such a high level of sustainability performance? We spoke with Niklas Flum, Sustainability Specialist at Sedus, to find out more.

Hybrid working is no longer the exception but, for many of us, the new standard. The flexibility to work both in the office and from home is undoubtedly a benefit. Yet with this freedom comes a downside: digital fatigue.

Whereas in the past, computer work was clearly bounded, screens are now constant companions – in meetings, during discussions, for presentations, and often even during breaks. This continual digital presence takes its toll: headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or a constant sense of being overwhelmed.

Remote work is here to stay – but after the initial enthusiasm for more freedom and flexibility, a new set of challenges has emerged: fatigue, lack of focus, and nagging back pain. No surprise, really. To stay motivated and productive in the long run, a laptop and Wi-Fi connection just aren't enough.

The good news: Often, it's the small changes that make the biggest difference. With a few smart tweaks to your workspace, routines, and movement habits, you can reclaim energy, focus, and structure. Here are five practical tips to help you transform your home office into a space that supports your work – and your well-being.

Connecting people – this guiding principle lies at the heart of the latest Sedus INSIGHTS. But how can we create true connection in an increasingly hybrid working world? The answer lies in designing spaces that are not only functional but also emotionally and cognitively engaging – natural environments that enhance well-being and foster genuine encounters.

What distinguishes an arena from other hybrid communal spaces – and why is it so valuable for organisational culture?
In today’s world of hybrid working, our expectations of workspaces have changed fundamentally. Where once function alone was the primary concern, modern environments must do more: they must connect, inspire, provide sanctuary – and above all, be adaptable. This is where ductile shared spaces come into play. Three key concepts emerge: the office café, the oasis, and the arena. While all are designed to foster a sense of community and support hybrid working, the arena occupies a unique and impactful position.

When we talk about organisational culture, we often refer to abstract values: trust, openness, collaboration. Yet culture doesn’t live on paper – it lives in conversations, behaviours, and everyday interactions. The Work Café is the space where these cultural elements become not only visible, but truly tangible.

The crucial point: it’s not just about the space itself, but about what that space makes possible – and how consciously designed furniture enables and amplifies these processes.