Thinking Works
Thinking Works is an Australian commercial furniture designer and manufacturer founded in 1984, producing height-adjustable desks, modular tables, workstations, seating, and acoustic solutions for enterprise and mid-market customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, the USA, and Asia via direct sales and exclusive regional distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Thinking Works does
Thinking Works (legally Thinking Ergonomix Pty Limited) is an Australian commercial furniture designer and manufacturer founded in 1984 in Sydney as Ergonomic Equipment by robotics engineer John Edwin Grout, who patented Australia's first height-adjustable desk. The company designs and produces modular tables (Rosie, Blade, Silo, U.R, EONA, I.AM, Diva, Okidoki), workstations (Ovation, Bambusa Stix, Blade Workstation, Thinking Quietly), seating (Easypeasy, Okidoki/Okidoki Too, XOXO, CIRCOLO), acoustic solutions (Thinking Quietly Modular Workbay, Cone of Silence, Screenliner, and the HIGHRISE booth range), screens, monitor arms, folding tables, and accessories. Products use FSC-certified timber, recycled PET acoustic materials, post-consumer recycled aluminium, and are designed for 100% disassembly and recycling, supported by Life Cycle Assessments and certifications including GECA Level A, AFRDI Blue/Green Tick, ISO 14001:2015, UN Global Compact participation, and carbon-negative operations since July 2021.
The business operates a quote-based B2B model targeting enterprise and mid-market commercial customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, the USA, and Asia. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales from the Sydney Head Office and Melbourne sales team with exclusive regional partners — Stylecraft (Australia), VIDAK (New Zealand), StudioWorks London (UK/Europe), Darran (USA) — and a dedicated Asia sales manager. Sales are specification-driven, working with architects and interior designers (e.g., Bates Smart, Cox, Unispace, Perkins Will, Mim Design) to embed Thinking Works products into commercial fit-outs for marquee customers including Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Lander & Rogers, Hollard Insurance, Aristocrat Technologies, Premier League, Here Technologies, and Genesis Energy.
The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or parent company. Its primary differentiators are 40 years of design heritage, international design awards (Red Dot 2018, Australian Good Design 2023, Good Design Korea 2023, Interior Design HiP 2017), and a sustainability programme that achieved carbon neutrality in 2010 and carbon-negative status in 2021. Recent strategic activity has focused on sustainable product evolution (Okidoki Too 2024), new acoustic booth categories (HIGHRISE 2026 with Square Bear), and geographic expansion through partner channels rather than owned subsidiaries.
Thinking Works firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thinking Works
- Legal name
- Thinking Ergonomix Pty Limited
- Website
- https://thinkingw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Thinking Works is an Australian commercial furniture designer and manufacturer founded in 1984, producing height-adjustable desks, modular tables, workstations, seating, and acoustic solutions for enterprise and mid-market customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, the USA, and Asia via direct sales and exclusive regional distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thinking Works industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Office Furniture
- NAICS
- Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (3372), Office Furniture (except Wood) Manufacturing (337214), Showcase, Partition, Shelving, and Locker Manufacturing (337215)
- SIC
- Office Furniture (2520), Office Furniture (No Wood) (2522), Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Office Furniture & Workspace Accessories Retail (CRALABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where Thinking Works is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices5 records
Markets served
Thinking Works business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commercial Furniture Sales: Thinking Works generates revenue through the sale of commercial office furniture including tables, workstations, seating, screens, acoustics, monitor arms, and mobile furniture. Products are sold directly to enterprise clients and through distribution partners in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, and other markets. The company operates on a quote-based B2B model with specification-driven sales to architects, designers, and corporate clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B commercial furniture - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Thinking Works product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thinking Works designs and manufactures commercial office furniture in Sydney, Australia, founded in 1984 as Australia's first designer and manufacturer of height-adjustable desks. The product portfolio spans tables (Rosie, Blade, U.R, EONA, I.AM, Diva, Silo, Okidoki, Easypeasy), height-adjustable and modular workstations (Ovation, Bambusa Stix, Blade), ergonomic seating (Okidoki Too, Easypeasy, XOXO, Circolo), acoustic workplace solutions (Thinking Quietly Modular Workbay, Cone of Silence, Screenliner), screens (Lovoc, Cicada, Butterfly), monitor arms, folding tables, and the HIGHRISE acoustic booth range. Products are sold via specification-led B2B sales to architects, interior designers, enterprises, and government clients across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, USA, and Asia.
Product overview
Thinking Works is an Australian commercial furniture manufacturer founded in 1984, specializing in ergonomic and sustainable workplace furniture. The company operates from Sydney with a sales team in Melbourne servicing Australia and New Zealand, and manages UK sales from London. Their product portfolio spans multiple categories including modular tables (Rosie, Blade, Silo, U.R, EONA, I.AM, Diva, Disc Base, Okidoki), workstations (Rosie Workstation, Ovation, Bambusa Stix, Elevation, Blade Workstation, Thinking Quietly), seating (Easypeasy, Okidoki, Okidoki Too, XOXO, CIRCOLO), acoustics (Thinking Quietly Modular Workbay, Thinking Quietly Cone Of Silence, Screenliner), screens (Cicada, Butterfly, Lovoc), monitor arms (Glider, Vader, C.ME), folding tables (U.R Folding, I.AM Folding, Okidoki Folding, Blade Folding, Jojo Electric, Okidoki XL), and accessories (Power Planter, Seamless, Fuel). Products are designed for flexibility, collaboration, sustainability, and workplace well-being, with features including height adjustability, modularity, acoustic performance, cable management, and power solutions. The 2026 HIGHRISE acoustic booth range was developed in partnership with Square Bear for Nexus Interiors Australia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rosie Table System Modular table system designed for collaboration, available in three heights with optional soft trend, lockable castors, and integrated foot rail system on standing-height tables. For commercial office and agile workplace environments.
- Blade Table System Table system providing unlimited configurations using flexible standard components (one leg profile, one hub — fixed or flexible — and one rail) with Aero leg option for folding tables. For commercial offices and meeting spaces.
- Okidoki Table Flexible table with solid timber legs in choice of styles, powdercoat steel and aluminium framework, rounded design theme and multiple shapes and finishes. For home and office use.
- U.R Table System Environmentally considered table system designed for 100% disassembly for recycling, with materials selected through Life Cycle Assessments and components produced from die cast aluminium engineered using Finite Element Analysis. For sustainable commercial environments.
- EONA Table System Modular table system manufactured from post-consumer recycled materials — 100% recycled aluminium legs, recycled steel supports, and recyclable polypropylene — designed for full disassembly and recycling. For sustainable workplaces.
- I.AM Table System Flexible table base system with a complete family of options, including the tilt-top stacking I.AM Turn variant with frame spacers for varying top widths to infinite length configurations. For offices requiring frequent reconfiguration.
- Diva Table Stylish table with wooden exterior and smart powered legs with concealed wiring, hidden under-carriage for power leads, and power sockets housed in the foot sections. For boardrooms and meeting spaces.
Quantifiable outcome
- 59% reduction in carbon emissions over 15 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Thinking Works
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Thinking Works technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Thinking Works partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- StylecraftcoreExclusive Australian distributor for Thinking Quietly acoustic products and other ranges including Silo. Serves as the primary distribution channel for Australian clients outside of direct sales from Thinking Works Head Office.
- VIDAKcoreExclusive New Zealand distributor for Thinking Quietly products including Workbays, Cone of Silence, Tables, and Blade Folding tables. Primary channel for New Zealand market.
- StudioWorks (StudioWorks London Ltd)coreUK distribution partner managing sales and deliveries from a London showroom and office. Distributes multiple Thinking Works ranges including Easypeasy, Okidoki, Thinking Quietly, and U.R in the UK and Europe. Also handles OFL London distribution for Great Portland Estates project.
- DarrancoreExclusive USA distributor for Thinking Works Design Studio. Distributes Thinking Quietly, U.R, Rosie Table, Rosie Laptop Table, and Easypeasy in the United States market.
- Square BearcoreCo-manufacturer of the HIGHRISE acoustic booth range, designed and manufactured in Sydney alongside Thinking Works. Square Bear contributes manufacturing expertise for the four-model acoustic booth product line featuring FSC-certified timber and recycled PET acoustic materials.
- EuroplanminorNew Zealand distributor supplying Thinking Works products (Rosie Table) for the Government Agency Smales Farm project in Auckland.
- StylecraftcoreAustralian distributor supplying Thinking Works products including Disc Base Table for the Hayball Melbourne Studio project.
- CastledexminorAustralian distributor supplying Thinking Works products (Okidoki Folding Table and Okidoki Coffee Table) for the PetSure Offices project.
- Cox (Design Firm)minorArchitecture and design firm that designed the Agile Workplace government project in Sydney, specifying Thinking Works Okidoki Chair and U.R Folding Table products.
- Bates SmartminorArchitecture firm that designed the Corrs Chambers Westgarth offices, specifying Thinking Works EONA Table for the project.
- UnispaceminorGlobal design firm that designed the Here Technologies Paris office, specifying Thinking Works Blade Table for the installation.
- Jones + PartnersminorDesign firm that co-designed the Thinking Quietly Modular Workbay with Thinking Works Design Studio.
- Global MarkminorExternal auditing company that conducts annual audits of Thinking Works' ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system compliance.
- Pangolin AssociatesminorCarbon management consultancy referenced as part of Thinking Works sustainability credentials and environmental management approach.
- World VisionminorPartner through World Vision's Clean Cookstove Initiative for carbon offsetting. Thinking Works supports developing nations through this initiative as part of its carbon reduction strategy.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Thinking Works competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Haworth: Privately held global office furniture manufacturer with comparable product breadth in workstations, height-adjustable desking, seating, and architectural interiors. Family-owned like Thinking Works but at much larger scale.
- MillerKnoll (Herman Miller): Major global office furniture conglomerate encompassing Herman Miller, Knoll, and other brands. Comparable in designing and manufacturing premium ergonomic office furniture, height-adjustable desks, and acoustic solutions for commercial fit-outs worldwide.
Regional players
- King Furniture: Australian premium furniture manufacturer with strong design heritage and international presence. Comparable as an Australian design-led manufacturer with strong sustainability credentials and global retail/showroom distribution.
- Zenith Interiors: Australian commercial furniture distributor and manufacturer focused on workplace solutions. Comparable as an Australian-based office furniture provider with a design-led portfolio and architectural specification sales model.
Direct peers
- Orangebox: UK-based designer and manufacturer of office furniture and acoustic solutions including Smartworking pods. Comparable product overlap in acoustic pods, workstations, and commercial office furniture for the UK and European market.
- Vitra: European designer and manufacturer of office and home furniture with a strong sustainability and design-led philosophy. Directly comparable positioning as a premium, design-award-winning commercial furniture brand.
- Humanscale: Global designer and manufacturer of ergonomic office products including monitor arms, sit-stand desks, and seating. Comparable focus on ergonomics, design awards, and sustainability in commercial office product categories.
- Steelcase: Global leader in office furniture manufacturing, including height-adjustable desks, workstations, and acoustic solutions. Directly comparable as a designer and manufacturer of commercial office furniture serving enterprise customers and architects across the same product categories as Thinking Works.
- Schiavello: Australian designer and manufacturer of commercial office furniture, systems furniture, and architectural products. Most direct Australian-headquartered peer, serving similar enterprise and government customers in Australia and Asia with comparable product categories.
Emerging players
- Framery: Finnish manufacturer of acoustic pods and booths for office environments. Comparable as a design-led, rapidly growing player in the workplace acoustic solutions category that Thinking Works is entering with its HIGHRISE range.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thinking Works social profiles
Digital presenceThinking Works compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Thinking Works financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thinking Works leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Thinking Works funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thinking Works M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Thinking Works
What does Thinking Works do?
Thinking Works designs and manufactures commercial office furniture in Sydney, Australia, founded in 1984 as Australia's first designer and manufacturer of height-adjustable desks. The product portfolio spans tables (Rosie, Blade, U.R, EONA, I.AM, Diva, Silo, Okidoki, Easypeasy), height-adjustable and modular workstations (Ovation, Bambusa Stix, Blade), ergonomic seating (Okidoki Too, Easypeasy, XOXO, Circolo), acoustic workplace solutions (Thinking Quietly Modular Workbay, Cone of Silence, Screenliner), screens (Lovoc, Cicada, Butterfly), monitor arms, folding tables, and the HIGHRISE acoustic booth range. Products are sold via specification-led B2B sales to architects, interior designers, enterprises, and government clients across Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, USA, and Asia.
Is Thinking Works a public or private company?
Thinking Works is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Thinking Works founded?
Thinking Works was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Thinking Works based?
Thinking Works is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Thinking Works make money?
One revenue line is on record: commercial Furniture Sales.
Who are Thinking Works's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Haworth and MillerKnoll (Herman Miller). Regional players are King Furniture and Zenith Interiors. Direct peers are Orangebox, Vitra, Humanscale, Steelcase and Schiavello. Framery is listed as an emerging player.
Does Thinking Works have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thinking Works.
What industry is Thinking Works in?
Thinking Works's product category is Commercial Office Furniture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALABAE, Office Furniture & Workspace Accessories Retail, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 3372 and its SIC code is 2520.