KI Advances the Future of Learning Spaces Following EDspaces 2026

KI reflects on what it means to design educational environments around the individual learner

GREEN BAY, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At EDspaces 2026, KI asked attendees to look at learning environments through a different lens: before designing the space, see the learner.

Through its “Portraits of a Learner” theme at Booth #2001, education programming and conversations with educators, architects, designers, and industry professionals, KI explored the idea that there is no average learner and that the spaces surrounding students can play an important role in how they experience learning.

Held Oct. 28-30 at the Kansas City Convention Center, EDspaces brought together professionals shaping the future of education design. For KI, the show provided an opportunity not only to showcase new and existing solutions, but to listen to the people designing, specifying, and using educational settings every day.

“EDspaces is always an important opportunity for us to listen,” said Bryan Ballegeer, vice president of sales & marketing, education markets at KI. “We came into the show with a belief that every learner experiences a space differently, and we leave with an even deeper appreciation for the conversations happening across education. Our responsibility is to keep learning alongside educators and designers and translate those insights into environments that help students and educators thrive.”

From Portraits to Possibilities

At the center of KI’s booth was Portraits of a Learner, a visual expression of the many layers that shape how students think, move, feel, and engage.

Rather than presenting classrooms as one-size-fits-all solutions, the experience explored how thoughtful design can create opportunities for movement, focus, comfort, choice, collaboration, and connection.

KI’s Neara emerged as a standout at EDspaces, making a powerful impression on attendees and, in some cases, generating even greater enthusiasm than the Kiaura Collection™. Attendees were particularly impressed by the thoughtfulness behind Neara’s design and its ability to translate user observations and insights into meaningful product solutions.

One school principal summed up Neara’s impact, sharing, “Kiaura is cool, really cool, and we’ll use it—but Neara solves problems all my faculty have, whether they realize it or not. It’s what I need, not simply what I want.”

For KI, those conversations reinforced the importance of starting with the individual rather than the furniture.

Bringing the Conversation Into the Classroom

KI’s newest solutions provided tangible examples of that approach throughout the show floor.

The Neara Collection, Foray Collection and Havara Lounge Seating made their first EDspaces appearance, giving attendees an early look at solutions designed for teaching, library, and lounge areas.

Cogni Seating continued its story as an example of how KI is designing classroom seating around movement, comfort, and choice. The Kiaura Collection™, built with Cognetic Technology™ also made its EDspaces debut, offering attendees a firsthand look at KI’s newest exploration of human performance seating.

Across the booth, solutions from KI, KI Wall, and Pallas Textiles demonstrated how furniture, architectural elements, and materials can work together to create surroundings that are adaptable, welcoming, and responsive to the people who use them.

Continuing the Conversation

The conversations at EDspaces reinforced an idea that continues to shape KI’s approach to education spaces: designing for students starts with understanding the individuals who use those spaces.

As KI continues to explore how classroom interiors can better respond to the people who use them, the company will carry the perspectives and conversations from EDspaces forward into its ongoing work with educators, designers, schools, and institutions.

“Learning is layered, and so is the work of designing for it,” Ballegeer said. “We don't believe there is one answer for every learner, every educator, or every school. We believe the best learning experiences are those that recognize those differences and give people the ability to learn, connect, and thrive in ways that work for them.”

For more information about KI’s approach to education design, visit ki.com.

ABOUT KI

KI manufactures innovative furniture for education, healthcare, government, and corporate markets. The employee-owned company is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with sales and manufacturing facilities worldwide. KI tailors products and service solutions to the specific needs of each customer through its unique design and manufacturing philosophy. For more information, visit ki.com.