Designing for Higher Education: 5 Key Environments for Tomorrow's Professionals

Jobs of tomorrow will require us to become professional learners to keep up with new tools and careers. As our working society evolves, so does the education and training sector. Rapid technological advancements, amplified by unparalleled access to information, have fundamentally revolutionized how we learn and connect with our surroundings. Additionally, the role of higher education must prepare students for the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of work. Join us as we venture through five critical zones in contemporary education, revealing how thoughtfully chosen furniture doesn't just stimulate connection but also paves the way for smooth technological integration.

1. The Collaborative Classroom

Collaboration thrives on adaptability. By employing movable tables, mobile markerboards, and reconfigurable training tables, classrooms transform into hubs for dynamic group work and peer learning. Shared resource storage encourages communal access to learning materials, while individual locker or cubby storage guarantees a safe place for personal items.

Miro Tables Image 1 — Training tables, like our Miro Flip tables pictured above, allow individuals to reconfigure their environment from round-table discussion to lecture-style seating. Mobile markerboards, like tour Etch Markerboard, are great for breakout group discussions and defining space.

Miro Tables Image 2 — Watson’s flip tables can be nested together and are engineered with a proprietary mechanism that makes flipping the worksurface easy. Under-surface wire management is available for flip tables specified with in-surface power.

2. Libraries and Resource Rooms

Libraries continue to be the heart of education, marrying the traditional with the cutting-edge. Watson offers furniture that effortlessly satisfies students' and faculty members' multifaceted needs. From collaborative social learning to solitary study, our designs weave technology into the fabric of the learning experience, aligning with education's ever-changing demands.

Tonic Work Table Image 3 — The Tonic Work Table’s in-surface power access and inviting accessories, like the Neighborhood Light (complete with USB-C and USB-A charging ports), are perfect for long-term study sessions or short group project meetings.

Bahn Work Island Image 4 — Watson’s Bahn Work Islands adds valuable storage perfect for libraries and resource rooms and acts as an alternate worksurface.

3. Community-minded Common Areas

Common areas are more than mere congregation spots. They spark social interaction, shared learning, and relaxation. Thoughtful furniture selection can morph these spaces into social hubs, mirroring an institution's values and nurturing community bonds. Mobile and adaptable furniture can enhance creativity, allowing various configurations to suit different needs, from brainstorming sessions to quiet reflection. Investing in versatile design elements ensures an inspiring setting where creativity thrives, and collaboration flows naturally.

Haven Social Tables Image 5 — Haven social tables with locking casters empower individuals to engage with their setting. Opting for non-traditional surface finishes like this markerboard tabletop let’s brainstorming happen whenever inspiration strikes.

4. Inviting Café and Transition Zones

These dynamic and inviting spaces encourage students to gather, interact, and unwind, fostering a sense of community. Strategically positioned furniture creates defined walkways and intimate spaces for connection. These carefully planned areas become vibrant hubs, where relationships flourish, and inspiration meets relaxation. The artful placement of products turns everyday pathways into meaningful opportunities for engagement.

Haven Perch Image 6 — Inviting touches like the footbar, coat hooks, and rounded shape of this standing-height Haven Perch Table work in tandem to create a functional setting for chance encounters like waiting outside busy classrooms or meeting areas. The elongated table also helps to define lanes in an oversized walkway helping with the flow of foot traffic.

Flip Tables Image 7 — Many cafes double as study environments. This flip table has plenty of surface area for group collaboration and can be easily stored at the end of the day for facilities and janitorial services.

5. Faculty and Administrative Spaces

Administrative areas range from private offices to shared resource rooms. Solutions should prioritize adaptability, longevity, and organization. Storage solutions streamline focus and order in open layouts or multipurpose private offices.

Admin Spaces Image 8 — The storage in this setup plays a key role in offering solutions for personal belongings, filing, shared resources, and supplies.

Modern education design is not stagnant; it ebbs and flows. By intentionally leveraging adaptable, timeless products we forge flexible and engaging spaces.

Watson blends human-centered design, durable construction, and environmentally responsible materials to craft beautiful furniture that meets the evolving needs of learning environments. By focusing on adaptability, creativity, and community, we help shape the future of education.