The best design conversations don’t happen in isolation. They happen when designers, manufacturers, dealers, and industry partners come together to exchange ideas and consider what’s next.
On October 20 from 10:30a to 3:15p, WorkSpace Interiors is bringing the spirit of collaboration to our Knoxville office with a full day of continuing education followed by KnoxCon, creating an opportunity for East Tennessee’s design community to learn, connect, and experience new ideas together.
Meet the Experts: Four Perspectives on Design
A full day of continuing education means more than earning CEUs. It’s an opportunity to hear from professionals bringing different perspectives to the design conversation. WorkSpace Interiors’ 2026 CEU Day brings together experts from HON, Designtex, OFS, and Steelcase for four sessions spanning inclusive design, materials, workplace strategy, and architectural history.
SESSION 1 | Environments for All: Inclusive Design Considerations with Kelly Fraher, HON
The day begins with a look at inclusive design and the ways thoughtful environments can better support the people who use them. Kelly Fraher is a Business Development Manager with HON and works closely with the design community on workplace solutions.
SESSION 2 | 3M Architectural Finishes with Theresa McLoughlin, Designtex
Next, Theresa McLoughlin of Designtex will explore 3M Architectural Finishes and their potential to transform interior surfaces. McLoughlin is Designtex’s Tennessee Sales Representative and has extensive experience working across the commercial interiors and workplace design industries.
SESSION 3 | Humans Over Hierarchy: Panel Discussion with OFS & Panelists
The afternoon shifts toward the human side of workplace design with OFS’s Humans Over Hierarchy discussion. The CEU explores how workplace environments can move beyond traditional hierarchies to better support individual needs, connection, mentorship, accessibility, and psychological safety.
This is particularly interesting because the concept challenges the traditional idea of the private office as a symbol of status and instead asks how leadership spaces can be designed around connection and purpose. OFS describes the broader conversation as a shift toward designing for people rather than positions.
SESSION 4 | Restoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House: Timeless Architectural Insights for Today’s Designer with Walter Williams, Steelcase
The day closes with a look at one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s notable residential works and the restoration of the Meyer May House in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wright designed the home in 1908, and Steelcase later played a major role in its restoration.
The session offers a different kind of design perspective, looking backward at an influential piece of architectural history and considering what today’s designers can still learn from Wright’s approach to space, materials, and the relationship between architecture and interiors.
And Then Comes KnoxCon
When the CEU sessions wrap, the conversation continues at KnoxCon, IIDA Tennessee’s annual design industry showcase. Taking place that evening at The Press Room, KnoxCon brings the commercial design community together to explore the latest products, materials, and trends from more than 70 vendors.
For designers and industry professionals, it’s a chance to move from education to exploration, seeing new solutions firsthand, connecting with manufacturers and peers, and continuing the conversations sparked throughout the day.
For WorkSpace Interiors, the combination of CEU Day and KnoxCon creates a full day centered on what makes the local design community stronger: learning, sharing ideas, making connections, and staying curious about what’s next.
Reserve your spot for CEU Day here → https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workspace-interiors-ceu-day-2026-tickets-2001893443178
Learn more about KnoxCon here → https://events.humanitix.com/knoxcon