The inaugural Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival will take place at Koelnmesse’s Halls 6 and 9, as part of ORGATEC. Organized by the German Interior Business Association (IBA), the event will feature more than 100 international speakers across six stages and focus on the transformation of modern work environments. The festival will explore the evolving dynamics of where and how people work, emphasizing the flexibility and adaptability required in today’s professional landscape.
The Work Culture Festival is set to be a key highlight of ORGATEC 2024. Designed by the IBA, which also serves as the conceptual sponsor of the fair, the event reflects its title, “Wherever Whenever,” capturing the spirit of flexible and mobile working conditions. It is expected to attract professionals from architecture, design, New Work, HR, and trend research, offering them a platform to explore cutting-edge workplace trends and innovations.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer our visitors fresh impetus, inspiration and hands-on solutions for transforming the world of work with the IBA’s Work Culture Festival,” says ORGATEC Director Thomas Postert.
Interactive experience for shaping future work environments
The Work Culture Festival promises four days filled with discussions, keynotes, panel talks, workshops, and exhibitions. Spread across six stages, the festival will host over 75 scheduled events featuring speakers from a range of disciplines. Attendees will also experience interactive exhibitions, art spaces, and workshops, all designed to inspire new ideas. Complementing the lively discussions will be food trucks and live music, particularly marking the conclusion of the third day.
Helmut Link, president of the IBA, notes, “The Work Culture Festival will enrich ORGATEC as the sector’s leading international trade fair with new experience components. The festival creates an interactive platform that will allow visitors to experience visions of the future and new forms of collaboration and coexistence first-hand.”
Three tracks explore diverse work concepts
The festival will feature three key tracks: TEAM, LIFE, and IMPACT, each designed to provide a different perspective on the future of work. The TEAM track will emphasize building strong communities within organizations, focusing on team processes and employee retention. LIFE will explore well-being and health within work environments, adopting a holistic approach. IMPACT will tackle the relationship between people, organizations, and the environment, with a special focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
The unique layout of the festival will allow participants to move freely between the various sections, blending the boundaries between discussions on work, living, and societal impact.
Prominent speakers headline the event
The festival boasts a high-caliber speaker lineup, including musician and racing driver Smudo, football coach Ralf Rangnick, neurobiologist Bernd Hufnagl, and digital expert Sascha Lobo. Other notable figures include UX expert Sophie Kleber, designer Sabine Marcelis, HR executive Cawa Younosi, and architect Ben van Berkel. This diverse roster promises to provide attendees with exclusive insights into the evolving nature of work and collaboration.
With its interactive and multi-disciplinary approach, the Wherever Whenever – Work Culture Festival will offer a comprehensive platform for professionals looking to navigate and shape the future of work.
