Knoll, known for workplace furnishings, kicked-off National Design Week in New York City last week with an exhibition showcasing office furniture through the ages and an exclusive panel where Cara McCarty, curator of the Cooper Hewitt, discussed the future of design with Masamichi Udagawa + Sigi Moeslinger (Antenna Design) and Lee Mindel (Shelton, Mindel & Associates).

The event—inspired by Knoll's win of the Corporate & Institutional Achievement Award earlier this year—drew a large crowd who came to hear about the future of design from current and past winners of the National Design Award at the Knoll showroom. The panelists touched upon the roles that human behavior and user experience play in defining the design process and how design affects quality of life, which is a tenet of the National Design Awards. In this, Masamichi Udagawa + Sigi Moeslinger of Antenna Design delved into their work with the MTA (in designing Metrocard machines and even subway cars)—thus providing plenty of humorous anecdotes about how the machines succeeded their work with Las Vegas slots.

The exhibition highlighted key decades, harnessing the look of the 1960s (the era of the Mad Men) by featuring pieces like the 1961 Executive Table Desk by Florence Knoll, the 1963 Pollock Chair, and the 1950 Desk Lamp by Clay Michie. It concluded with the modern day office of featuring 2011 Antenna Workspaces and the Generation by Knoll chair by Formway.

While Knoll is known for its iconic furniture pieces, its ability to consider and plan for evolving times is a large part of its award-winning success.