Global Design Perspectives 2026

• Hardwired for flexibility: designing for the unknown

Returning to the fundamentals of flexible design and focusing on adaptability in the face of continued uncertainty, evolving technology, and the need to futureproof real estate.

• AI advances value of human connection

In an era of rapid technology advancement and change, a counter trend is emerging focused on designing for human connection and leveraging with neuro-design principles.

• Evolving personalization of experiences

AI, digital experiences, generational expectations and individual preferences are driving expectations for personalization of experience in buildings and places.

• From activities to outcomes: designing the connected workplace

Complex organizational structures and agile business needs are shifting the focus to designing high-performance environments as connected systems, that support business outcomes over single activities.

In an era of uncertainty, rapid technological advancement, and focus on experiential value, thoughtful design has become central to value creation across real estate portfolios. Organizations are pursuing high-performance spaces that advance business objectives while maintaining efficiency amid cost pressures. At the same time, technological innovation is reshaping space requirements and design possibilities, and our understanding of meaningful experiences is deepening. 2026 represents a pivotal moment— a convergence of cutting-edge innovation with sophisticated insights into human behavior and environmental response.

In 2026, real estate leaders will be focusing on designing for the unknown and futureproofing assets for long-term flexibility. Uncertainty and change have become prevailing characteristics in real estate, as hybrid work models, AI integration and operational requirements can now shift within months rather than years, signaling the need to return to the fundamentals of flexible design.

Organizations across all sectors, from offices and retail to hotels and healthcare, increasingly need to balance agility in business planning and operational flexibility with long-term ambitions of boosting productivity and reducing costs, and the design of their spaces is central to this. Business planning agility was rated a key C-suite objective by 88% of organizations globally in a recent JLL survey, rising to 89% for those with predominantly office portfolios and 90% for those with retail portfolios. Flexible working patterns also continue to evolve, not just from hybrid working but now also from shifting skills and job requirements and emerging AI work practices, with 85% of organizations identifying flexible work patterns as a key C-suite priority. 

In response, flexible design concepts in 2026 will move from short-term solutions in flex space and furniture to focus on investing for long-term adaptability through flexible spatial configurations, plug-and-play infrastructure and modular partition systems that can enable fluid interior layouts in three months, three years or thirty years.

Adding complexity to more adaptable space design is the evolving requirements for AI and technology buildings and technology-integrated building design will be recognized as a value driver. JLL’s research shows that 93% of investors agree that technology enabled properties deliver stronger performances and returns, and a majority of organizations across all portfolio types are now willing to pay a premium for technology-enabled spaces. Designs increasingly need to consider these diverse technology requirements and the interface between technology and people, and flexible technology infrastructure is critical to future-proofing places and spaces. 

As part of this future proofing, interchangeable zonal configurations will be transformed through mobile panels and moveable partitions, while modular pod systems will be shifted and combined to adapt to variable collaboration needs over different time periods. Evolving technology requirements include designing for enhanced collaboration technology, immersive media and LED display walls, and increased computing demands from AI tools.

In retail environments, with their increasing need to manage delivering high quality customer experience within fast-paced commercial cycles, stores will become evolutionary environments adapting to rapidly changing demands. Modular fixtures and flexible merchandising solutions that can be reconfigured to support evolving assortments and a variety of brand stories will be a requirement to reduce refresh costs and ensure the longevity of new prototype design.

In workplace portfolios, company HQs will become showcases of innovative flexible and technology solutions, creating learning loops to inform the design of wider portfolios. Organizations will shift change their mindset to treat building redesigns or fit-outs as testbeds to trial new spatial configurations that can adapt to changing business needs, with feedback loops to capture successes and embed lessons learnt into space planning and portfolio investment strategies.

In 2026 the most successful spaces and buildings will be conceived as adaptive platforms ‘hardwired for flexibility’, with design aimed at creating and protecting investment value through more unpredictable cycles, new ways of working and changing technology demands.

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms work processes, skillsets and operations across offices, retail and leisure, a powerful counter trend is emerging: the deliberate cultivation of 'analog spaces' and tactile design that prioritizes human connection, inspiration and experience.

In an increasingly digital world, genuine place-based connection has never been more valuable, as people crave connections to places, community and local identity. JLL research shows that 65% of people want the places they visit to provide 'unique and distinct experiences' and 62% want 'connection to the local area or culture'. Although technological integration in spaces is valued, people still seek human connection and community when choosing places to visit or shop.

In response, design concepts will focus on communal spaces that foster community and interactions – entrance foyers with visual language and high environmental comfort to create inviting atmospheres and communal spaces that encourage conversation and interaction.

An emerging typology of technology-free spaces will become integral to holistic design strategies that enhance experience and performance within wider technology-enabled buildings. As people seek relief from 24-hour technology exposure, 61% of consumers globally report wanting digital detox spaces in the places they visit. Incorporating ‘no-‘ or ‘low-technology’ spaces into schemes can benefit workforces increasingly at risk from burnout, while appealing to consumers seeking more human connection.

Workplaces, retail centers and entertainment hubs will turn to materials and finishes for tactile design, embracing texture, acoustics and lighting to enhance sensory experiences and improve cognitive performance. Acoustic systems have become increasingly sophisticated, with perforated panels integrated throughout spaces to simultaneously serve aesthetic and environmental comfort functions while supporting improved concentration and performance in workplaces.

Ensuring that designs go beyond material aesthetics will be critical, with greater focus on spaces that provide both positive sensory experiences and high-performance environments as organizations concentrate on increasing productivity. The emerging application of neuroscience in design will allow organizations to focus investment on specific features and finishes with proven physiological and psychological benefits, such as stress responses or circadian rhythm, specific to their organizational aims and real estate strategy.

In particular, customizable and circadian lighting systems, as well as biophilic features such as plants or natural colors and patterns, will be combined with higher acoustic and environmental specification while organizations will also pay attention to neuro-design principles that create inclusive sensory experiences, enhance human performance and create flourishing environments.

Designs that combine detailed consideration of spatial patterns, environmental comfort and material finishes to create spaces that inspire and comfort while elevating human performance will be differentiators in 2026 and beyond.

Influenced by growing personalization across entertainment, retail and leisure services, people now expect the places where they live, work and play to provide unique experiences, bespoke events and concierge-style offerings. AI and immersive technology will play a critical role in evolving personalization of experiences in buildings and places, shaping expectations in physical spaces as technology integration becomes more seamless.

However, an emerging divide exists across generations regarding what personalization in real estate looks like. While younger generations seek AI and technology to provide new digital tools and technology-enhanced spaces for personalized experiences, older generations prefer hospitality-led approaches. Balancing increasingly nuanced and diverse expectations through design will be critical in 2026, with organizations pursuing holistic approaches to designing user experiences and touchpoints that combine technology and service strategies.

As early adopters of AI integration in customer offerings, entertainment and leisure sectors are already connecting user journeys and spatial experiences through enhanced audiovisual technology, digital concierge support and multimedia connectivity. AI will continue enhancing this, with 63% of people globally agreeing that AI will improve entertainment spaces by making experiences more personalized. However, value varies markedly by demographics, notably across generations. While approximately 70% of 25 to 44-year-olds see AI enhancing entertainment venues, this drops to just 48% for those 55 to 64 and 26% of those over 65.

To satisfy older generations seeking welcoming and inclusive spaces over luxury or technology integration, organizations will learn from the hospitality sector, and how it integrates thoughtful design of entrances, signage and brand integration to create these environments. 

In retail, stores will invest in designs enabling more in-person events or personal shopper experiences. While digital technology has transformed retail through at-home purchases, click-and-collect, and innovative AI shopping assistants, stores in 2026 will rebalance with spaces designed for in-store events and personalized shopper offerings. Immersive brand experiences will be facilitated through in-store event spaces and memorable experiential interventions. Balancing digital and physical offerings will be critical, with space design central to success for immersive brand experiences and memorable experiential interventions.

In workplaces technology and hospitality-inspired design must be combined to meet evolving employee expectations and talent demands. Sophisticated sensor systems will precisely analyze team behaviors and create suggested daily or weekly schedules, while AI-powered concierge apps will allow employees to plan and tailor their day-to-day preferences.

In 2026, success lies not in designing for separate generations or separate technology-led spaces but designing experience journeys focused on personalization opportunities through touchpoints. These can offer employees or customers choices for technology integration, experience quality upgrades or curated activities providing personalization throughout their day.

As AI investment expands in 2026, the most successful approaches to integrating personalization into space design must go beyond technology and consider how it can connect and enhance the unique aspects of buildings or places for all users. 

As the world of work continues to evolve in 2026, organizations are recognizing that high-performance environments require more than traditional desks and meeting rooms. With increasingly complex organizational structures and agile business needs, successful workplaces must function as connected systems that balance workspace, amenities, and connective spaces to support holistic workplace outcomes.

With JLL research showing that 92% of corporations globally see workforce productivity as a key business objective over the next three years, and 63% of employees report feeling more productive in the office, organizations are examining what performance truly means for large, complex entities with networks of teams and interdependent objectives. This scrutiny extends beyond office spaces to encompass retail, manufacturing facilities, and healthcare environments, where workspace design plays an equally critical role. A healthy and productive workforce depends on broader factors including social capital across teams, organizational culture, community building, and innovation capacity.

A recent JLL employee survey of over 12,000 employees reveals a significant mismatch between satisfaction and importance for holistic workplace outcomes. While environments supporting productivity and scheduled meetings rank highest in current workplace satisfaction, other crucial aspects show concerning gaps. Elements like ‘being able to recharge’ or ‘feel inspired and creative’ are most closely correlated with people's ideal work environments yet rank lower in actual satisfaction scores. The importance of holistic workspace environments applies equally to office workers and frontline workers, with non-office based employees reporting that their ideal workplaces should also focus on environments supporting wellbeing and creating inspiration.

Different organizational needs drive specific design strategies. Offices with high innovation requirements focus on connected flexible meeting spaces that adapt for innovation sprints or workshops, paired with recharge zones featuring distinct acoustic treatment to counterbalance high-performance areas. Meanwhile, organizations with strong social sustainability mandates might configure offices as destinations for both employees and communities, creating community-accessible spaces. And workplaces with diverse office and frontline functions across manufacturing, retail, or healthcare will consider how spaces foster a sense of belonging among disparate workforces through common areas like town halls or social gathering spaces.

In 2026, there will also be greater focus on how teams and organizational structures support business outcomes, and the role of social-spatial design strategies in supporting collective performance. Organizations will focus on how connected spaces work for teams, recognizing that small groups are critical for agile working and quick decision-making. Greater emphasis is being placed on designing "in-between spaces" – and capturing ROI for non-traditional workspaces, placing greater emphasis on broader metrics that capture team performance, social capital, and holistic experience factors. 

The four global design perspectives—flexibility, human connection, personalization, and connected outcomes—represent interconnected opportunities to create spaces that deliver measurable business value while enhancing user experience across diverse real estate portfolios.

• Align capital planning with futureproofing needs: Invest in adaptive infrastructure to support business needs over multiple time horizons by examining CAPEX and ROI cycles. Organizations focused on futureproofing will align design requirements with investment structures.
• Design people-first spaces for performance: As human performance evolves, creativity, innovation and collaboration remain essential ingredients of human capital. Prioritize people-centered design to ensure productive and profitable spaces.
• Measure holistic performance outcomes: Develop metrics beyond traditional utilization rates to capture team performance, social capital, and experience quality, ensuring space investments align with broader organizational objectives rather than individual activities.