The real estate industry is approaching a critical juncture, with design playing a central role in addressing future challenges and opportunities. A new JLL report reveals the emerging trends that will significantly influence the design of workplaces, retail spaces, and mixed-use developments in 2025 and beyond.
Drawing on extensive research and industry insights, JLL identifies four pivotal design trends that will shape the future of real estate.
The report, which analyses responses from corporate real estate decision-makers and employees across various sectors, underscores the evolving nature of design in response to changing work patterns, technological advancements, and sustainability concerns.
Forward-thinking organizations are leveraging design to create spaces that not only meet functional needs but also enhance user experience, foster community, and drive sustainability.
JLL outlines four key design trends that will continue to shape future workplaces, retail spaces, and mixed-use developments:
1. Prioritising “street to seat” experience design
With the continued rise of in-office attendance and urban foot traffic, there's an increased focus on creating comprehensive experience journeys. This “street to seat” approach considers every touchpoint of an individual's interaction with a space, from their commute to their workstation.
“We're seeing a shift from designing isolated spaces to creating holistic experiences”, explains Stephen Jay, Global Design Advisory Retail and Branding Lead at JLL. “This involves integrating spatial design, brand strategy, and technology to deliver seamless, engaging experiences that encourage people to return to physical spaces”.
The report notes that 44% of organisations globally expect employees to be in the office five days a week by 2024. To support this trend, designers are focusing on reconfiguring existing spaces to support social activities, maximising experiential value from current assets, and enhancing collaboration opportunities.
2. Fostering community through socially focused design
The importance of social connection has emerged as a key driver in design decisions. From individual workplaces to entire neighbourhoods, fostering community and building social capital is paramount in attracting people back to physical spaces.
JLL's research shows that 94% of consumers agree that a “strong sense of place and identity in my home city” is important when choosing where to live or work. This trend is reflected in workplace design, with face-to-face collaboration and cultivating culture and belonging cited as top reasons for returning to the office by both employers and employees.
“The future of work is in flux, with debates over virtual, hybrid, and in-office models, as well as AI integration, which poses challenges for designing long-term workplace solutions,” says Adrian Davidson, Global Design Advisory Lab Lead at JLL. “However, amidst our focus on technological advancements and change, we must not overlook what does not change: human biology and psychology. Understanding these fundamental aspects of human nature is crucial in creating environments where people can truly thrive, regardless of evolving work trends”.
3. Unlocking holistic value in retrofit through design
As global building stock ages and ESG requirements increase, retrofitting and conversion of existing buildings continue to gain momentum. The role of design in unlocking holistic value from these investments is accelerating.
JLL's Future of Work Survey shows that 60% of employers plan to increase investment in existing building refurbishment over the next five years. Effective design strategies for retrofits go beyond energy efficiency and functional upgrades, embracing a more holistic approach that integrates local identity, culture, brand strategy, and community connection.
4. Leveraging AI tools for science-led design
The convergence of AI and “Science-led design” is opening up exciting opportunities in the design field. This trend goes beyond efficiency gains, focusing on increased data integration in creative processes and wider collaboration opportunities between designers and experts in fields such as psychology, biomedical science, and robotics.
JLL's research indicates that 90% of organisations surveyed will accelerate investment in AI over the next five years. This investment is driving innovation in design processes and outcomes.
As the real estate industry navigates these trends, JLL emphasises the importance of data-driven design strategies, early integration of interior design with brand strategy and experience design, and new partnerships to connect design investments to broader outcomes such as talent attraction and operational efficiency.
The future of design in real estate is evolving towards creating multifaceted spaces. These spaces aim to be functional while also focusing on experience, community-building, sustainability, and human-centric design. Organisations adopting these design trends are likely to create environments that attract talent, enhance productivity, and contribute positively to urban vitality.
For more detailed insights and case studies, read the full JLL report on Design Trends for 2025.
