NBS From Healing to Learning: Design Trends to Watch in 2025

From Healing to Learning:
Design Trends to Watch in 2025

As we kick off 2025, my mind is racing with all the ideas around the possibilities of design in healthcare and education. After attending the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD) in Indianapolis and EDspaces in Houston last year, I’m more excited than ever about the future of these verticals. Thoughtful design continues to shape how we heal, learn, and connect, and the trends emerging this year are sure to push the boundaries in the best ways possible.

As someone who lives and breathes the intersections of healthcare and education design at NBS Commercial Interiors, it’s always exciting to see how these spaces are evolving. Last year’s conferences were packed with innovative products, clever applications, and design solutions that not only look good but truly improve how we experience spaces – whether in a hospital, school, or anywhere in between.

Here are a few standout trends I’ve observed that, in my opinion, are likely to shape the year ahead:

  1. Healing Through Design: At HCD, we saw and heard a lot about patient-centered solutions that put comfort at the forefront. Flexibility and modularity are still important but must be coupled with inviting materials that replace the cold sterility of the past, making patients feel much more at home during their visit.
  1. Dynamic Learning Spaces: Flexibility is still king of the classroom from what we saw in Houston. Fresh ideas that adapt from group to focus modes will play a key part in ensuring that the diverse needs of the students and teachers are met within the space. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a significant focus for many school districts in the K-12 realm. The design of these spaces is dynamic with the integration of tools, technology, and even AI-driven equipment to simulate real-life situations for career training.
  1. Wellness at the Core: Wellness is a term that’s been buzzing around for years but has become a design imperative. Finally! Biophilic design is being seen as non-negotiable as it’s crucial to nurturing mental and physical health of inhabitants. In addition to incorporating green elements and natural light, amenity spaces, like quiet rooms for decompression, are now welcomed expectations vs. niceties of the past.
  1. Embracing Neurodiversity: This topic is by far the most important to me. I was in awe of some of the great speakers we heard at HCD and loved that these conversations and ideas were also present at the EDspaces breakout sessions I attended. Supporting individuals with different cognitive needs and sensory preferences will help to foster a culture of belonging in the classroom and in the workplace.
  1. Breaking Down Barriers: Intentionality in design, beyond the requirements of ADA and other regulations, will be key in satisfying the needs of a population that’s much more aware of our mental and physical needs than ever before. Empathy, which for those of you who know me know, is one of my favorite words, and is so important when considering spatial needs for end-users. How does this marry with the idea of a “typical”? Designing with a one-size-fits-all approach often means designing for no one. But of course, balance is key when it comes to budget.
  1. Tech-Infused Spaces: This one is a shocker, right? Wrong. You all know technology is getting better and better and moving at a pace that can be challenging to keep up with.  Supporting and encouraging user interaction is crucial – think interactive whiteboards in classrooms, talking robots utilizing AI to help with teaching, smart hospital beds, virtual monitoring, and the use of technology to secure and alert for safety.
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Muzo’s Juice Bot acts as a teacher’s aide to help excite students about learning their ABCs, a new language, or even math!

NBS Smith System Constellate

Out with the casework, in with flexible furniture! Smith System Constellate offers a variety of customizable configurations.

NBS eSports spaces infused with technology

Spaces like esports are infused with the latest and greatest technology and the furnishings to support it.

The conversations around the future of design in healthcare and education I witnessed throughout 2024 were all centered around inclusivity, adaptability, and were human-centered at the core. 2025 will no doubt be a continuation of this with the huge focus around mental health on social media and other platforms. These experiences reinforced why I love what I do so much – creating spaces that inspire, heal, and empower.

Want to see for yourself how NBS is implementing the latest trends into learning environments? Book your visit to the NBS Launchpad, our education Experience Center in Ann Arbor, MI! To explore real-life examples of work we’ve done for healthcare spaces, check out our healthcare project profiles.