The Sustainable Design Collective’s 2026 Sustainable Design Forum brought together designers, consultants and industry partners in Clerkenwell for a day of open conversation, shared learning and fresh perspectives on responsible design.
Set within the distinctive surroundings of Crypt on the Green, the forum explored how the industry can create spaces that support people, retain their value and respond more thoughtfully to environmental challenges.
Katie Bowes, Head of Design at Axis Environments, joined the speaker line-up and panel discussions. She explored how decisions made during the earliest stages of a project influence not only its environmental impact, but also how people experience and connect with the finished space over time.
Key takeaways
Several themes carried through the day.
The decisions made at the very beginning of a project have a lasting impact. A brief does more than define scope – it sets intent and responsibility. When it is centred around people, belonging and wellbeing, spaces are more likely to be valued, cared for and sustained over time.
Environments that reflect identity and purpose tend to endure. When people feel connected to a space, they are more likely to engage with it, use it well and support its longevity.
Sustainability is inseparable from people. It is shaped by how spaces are experienced, and increasingly by what individuals expect from the organisations they work for.
There was also a strong sense that while standards and certifications matter, progress depends just as much on clarity, transparency and practical decision-making aligned with both client and end users.
Across panels and conversations, one thing was clear. Real progress comes from shared dialogue and a willingness to challenge how we design, specify and deliver.
Designing for long-term value
At Axis Environments, we believe responsible design begins with understanding what is already available and considering how it can contribute to the new environment.
Early asset assessments help identify opportunities to retain, reuse or adapt existing furniture as part of the wider design strategy. Rather than treating inherited assets as a limitation, they can become a creative resource that informs the character and direction of a space.
By balancing reuse with carefully selected new elements, we can create cohesive environments that meet performance, aesthetic and compliance requirements while protecting existing investment and reducing unnecessary waste.
This approach supports lower embodied carbon, preserves material value and encourages more considered decisions throughout the design and delivery process.
Thank you to Harsha Kotak and Joanna Knight, founders of the Sustainable Design Collective, for creating a forum that encouraged openness, challenge and collaboration in equal measure.
