Work Design Magazine is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Next Work Environment Student Competition, an annual initiative recognizing the boldest ideas from students around the world about the future of work. This year’s program saw unprecedented engagement, with a 700% increase in submissions over 2024, highlighting growing global interest in workplace innovation across disciplines.
Submissions addressed topics ranging from hybrid work and community connectivity to spatial experience and workplace culture. The jury, composed of leading voices in design, strategy, and technology, was inspired by the fresh thinking, relevance, and originality presented by this year’s participants.
2025 Competition Winners
· Overall Winner
Tk Hybrid Pod – Redefining Work & Empowerment in Mopti
Adama Traoré – Intec Sup (Mali) An inclusive and sustainable hybrid work model designed for underserved regions.
· Pick-A-Problem Category Winner
Commuter Connect
Rylee Zandstra – Miami University (Ohio) A responsive platform to enhance the daily commuter experience and well-being.
· Workplace Category Winner
Seamless Synergy: Redesigning the Future of Work at Fujitsu
Faila Pierre-Louis – Florida International University A comprehensive proposal to align space with company culture, hybrid strategy, and employee needs.
· Experiential Category Winner
NEXT’s Chicago Office
Kaylee Hui – Arizona State University A layered, sensory-rich office design promoting creativity and collaboration.
· Third Space Category Winner
Drive-Thru IT – Technology Help On-the-Go
Marwan Shagar, Ibrahim Bilau, Jingyuan Shen – Georgia Institute of Technology An inventive mobile tech support concept modeled after the classic drive-in.
Global Reach, Diverse Disciplines
The 2025 competition drew participation from students across more than 20 countries, studying subjects ranging from architecture and interior design to computer science, business, and public health. Participating institutions included Columbia University, Florida International University, Georgia Tech, Arizona State University, Miami University (Ohio), the University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka), and Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität (Germany), among others.
What’s Next
Winners are featured with custom editorial coverage here, receive custom LinkedIn promotional kits, and be celebrated across the magazine’s digital platforms.
“We continue to be inspired by the creativity and clarity of vision these students bring to the table,” said Michelle Weiss, Publisher of Work Design Magazine. “They’re not just imagining future workplaces—they’re designing systems and solutions we can implement today.”
About the Competition
The Next Work Environment Student Competition is an international workplace challenge hosted by Work Design Magazine, inviting students to propose bold, implementable solutions for today’s work environments. The competition is made possible thanks to the support of our jurors, academic partners and sponsors including: Tango, Kimball, National, Workplace Evolutionaries and Allwork.space .
Media Contact
Michelle Weiss Publisher, Work Design Magazine [email protected] 847-650-0020 workdesign.com
