Whiteboards have become a standard part of modern workplaces.

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The problem is, most of them still feel exactly that: standard.

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For years, writable surfaces have been treated as purely functional additions to a space added in at the end of a project with little consideration for how they sit alongside the wider interior.

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For The Collective, that disconnect became impossible to ignore.

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As a studio specialising in acoustic interiors, the team repeatedly noticed the same thing across workplace projects: wherever there were acoustics, there was almost always a writable surface nearby. Despite existing side by side, the two rarely felt connected through material, colour or overall design language.

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“We kept seeing beautiful, carefully considered interiors interrupted by standard whiteboards,” says founder Lucy Abraham. “The functionality was there, but visually they often felt disconnected from the space around them.”

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That observation became the starting point for Collective Cast, a writable glass surface designed to integrate more naturally into contemporary interiors.

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Rather than developing another standalone whiteboard product, The Collective approached Cast as part of a wider interior system shaped through acoustics, material and colour. Designed to sit alongside Collective Core and Re.Wrap® acoustics, the system allows acoustics and collaboration surfaces to work together visually and functionally across a space.

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One of the biggest areas of focus during development was the surface finish itself.

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While most writable glass products on the market remain highly reflective, Collective Cast is available in a refined matte finish designed to soften glare and improve visual clarity. The result is a calmer, more considered writable surface that feels better suited to contemporary workplace environments, particularly in spaces with changing natural light and long periods of screen use.

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The matte finish also gives the product a softer and more architectural appearance, moving it away from the clinical feel often associated with traditional whiteboards.

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Colour played an equally important role in the process.

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The Collective developed a curated palette of 21 colours, carefully designed to complement the tonal values and surface qualities of its acoustic PET materials. Reflective values, depth and light interaction were all considered to help create more cohesive relationships across glass, walls and ceilings.

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Designed and manufactured in the UK, Collective Cast is available in both magnetic and non-magnetic formats, with sheet sizes up to 2000mm alongside timber and powder coated aluminium trim options.

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For The Collective, the launch reflects a broader shift towards interiors that feel more connected and intentional.

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“Spaces are experienced as a whole,” says Abraham. “We wanted to create a writable surface that felt considered within the architecture of a space, rather than something simply added onto it.”

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