Boardrooms without screens?

Many organisations invest in the latest technology to future-proof their boardrooms. Yet in practice, we often see technology unintentionally demanding attention. A boardroom should be a space where people collaborate, exchange ideas and make important decisions.

Our colleague Marco Kramer, an Account Manager with more than fifteen years of experience in boardroom solutions, encounters this regularly. He visits organisations looking to modernise their boardrooms and sees the same pattern time and time again: technology dominating the room, while personal interaction becomes increasingly important.

“I showed an IT Manager our boardroom concept with no screens on the walls. His first reaction was: ‘How can we hold effective meetings without them? Those screens really impress our stakeholders.’ After the implementation, he called me back. ‘Marco, we should have done this years ago. Our board finally feels connected again. We’re never going back.'” Marco Kramer Account Manager AVEX

It’s an experience we’re seeing more and more often at AVEX. And there’s a good reason for that.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• Why traditional boardrooms don’t always lead to better meetings
• How integrated technology creates greater focus and connection
• The benefits of a people-first boardroom
• Which organisations are best suited to this approach
• How to make the transition step by step

After reading this article, you’ll know whether a people-centred boardroom is right for your organisation and which choices matter most.

The IT Manager who completely changed his mind.

This IT Manager certainly isn’t the only one.

We regularly see organisations assuming that larger screens, more technology and impressive-looking setups automatically result in better meetings.

But something remarkable happened during the first meeting in the new boardroom. Because the technology was fully integrated into the meeting table, board members started looking at each other again. Cameras, microphones and displays were still there, but they no longer dominated the room.

Afterwards, the IT Manager told us:

“It felt like we were having real conversations again. No distractions, no technology taking over the room. Just focus on the people and the decisions we needed to make together.”

And that’s exactly the point.

Good boardroom technology supports the conversation. It shouldn’t dictate how people communicate with one another.

Why traditional boardrooms often distract from the conversation

You’ll probably recognise this.

During a presentation, almost everyone automatically looks at the large screen on the wall. That’s perfectly understandable, because that’s where the information is displayed.

But something else happens too.

Eye contact disappears.

Non-verbal cues become harder to pick up.

And it’s precisely these subtle interactions that play a vital role in strategic discussions, board meetings and decision-making.

Traditional boardrooms often face three key challenges:

The result? Technology that’s meant to support collaboration can sometimes create distance instead.

The new standard: integrated technology

More and more organisations are taking a different approach to meetings.

Not by adding more technology, but by making technology less visible.

In modern boardrooms, cameras, microphones and displays disappear from sight. They’re fully integrated into the meeting table, putting the focus back on the people sitting around it.

That doesn’t mean technology disappears.

Quite the opposite.

All the functionality remains available, but it supports the meeting without dominating the space.

Cameras rise up only when needed and are built into the table itself. This allows participants to be filmed from the front while maintaining natural eye contact with one another. For remote attendees, it feels as though the speaker is looking directly into the camera.

Microphones are also discreetly integrated while still capturing conversations with exceptional clarity.

Displays are embedded beneath the table’s glass surface, making it easy to share information without large screens taking over the room.

The result is a boardroom where technology is present, but no longer the main attraction.

Meeting with people in mind

Integrating displays into the meeting table changes the way people collaborate.

In traditional boardrooms, everyone looks at the same screen mounted on the wall. Eye contact is lost in the process.

When information is displayed within the table, participants can continue looking at documents while maintaining engagement with the people around them.

This leads to:

• More eye contact during discussions
• More natural interaction
• Better non-verbal communication
• Greater focus during decision-making

Especially in board meetings, executive discussions and stakeholder conversations, these advantages make a significant difference.

The Quarta Boardroom

At AVEX, we’ve translated this vision into the Quarta Boardroom concept.

A boardroom where technology is fully integrated into the meeting table, ensuring people remain the focus. No large screens dominating the space. No visible technology causing distractions.

Instead, you get an elegant meeting environment that brings together high-end audiovisual technology, design and ease of use.

The result is a boardroom that’s not only ideal for hybrid meetings, but also encourages better conversations and better decision-making.

You’ll notice the benefits immediately

A boardroom where technology stays in the background doesn’t just change the appearance of the space. It changes how people work together.

More human conversations

When screens no longer demand attention, there’s more room for genuine interaction. Participants make more eye contact, listen more carefully and feel more engaged in discussions. This encourages open conversations and stronger collaboration.

A more representative environment

For many organisations, the boardroom is their shop window. Clients, investors and stakeholders often form their first impression here. A calm, elegant space free from dominant technology communicates quality, innovation and professionalism.

Better decision-making

Good decisions depend on good communication. With more eye contact and fewer distractions, deeper discussions become possible. Non-verbal signals are easier to read, and participants feel more involved in the conversation.

Ready for the future

Integrated boardrooms offer technical advantages too. They support hybrid working and can easily adapt to new platforms and future developments. You’re investing in a solution that works today and remains relevant tomorrow.

Which organisations benefit most from a screen-free boardroom?

Not every organisation has the same boardroom requirements. An integrated boardroom is particularly attractive for organisations that value personal interaction, representation and high-quality decision-making.

Strategic decision-making
Board meetings, executive discussions and investment decisions where trust and personal interaction are essential.

A representative space for clients and stakeholders
Your boardroom reflects your organisation. Investors, partners and key clients often form their first impression here.

Design and experience as part of your identity
Organisations where design, innovation and exclusivity are part of who they are, and where the boardroom serves a greater purpose than simply hosting meetings.

Common misconceptions

When organisations first hear about a boardroom without screens, we often see the same misconceptions.

From idea to reality

Every organisation is different. The available space, meeting culture and way of working all influence which boardroom solution fits best. That’s why every project starts with an informal exploratory conversation.

During this discussion, we’ll cover:

• Your current boardroom setup
• The challenges you’re experiencing
• Opportunities within your existing space
• Different concepts and their pros and cons
• An indicative budget
• Planning and next steps

This gives you a clear understanding of what’s possible without any obligation to commit.

Experience the difference for yourself

You can talk about a boardroom without visible screens all day long. But you only truly understand the difference once you’ve experienced it.

That’s why we invite organisations to attend a demo at AVEX or visit one of our reference customers who use the Quarta Boardroom concept every day.

Together with your colleagues and leadership team, you’ll experience how integrated technology creates greater calm, better interaction and a more natural meeting dynamic. Only then does it become clear why so many organisations are choosing boardrooms designed around people rather than technology.

From boardroom to experience

Today’s best boardrooms aren’t defined by the amount of technology they contain. They’re defined by how technology is used.

Where traditional boardrooms often revolve around large displays and visible equipment, more and more organisations are choosing spaces where people come first. Technology supports the conversation without demanding attention.

The result is a boardroom where executives, board members and stakeholders genuinely connect, collaborate more effectively and make decisions with greater focus.

Just like the IT Manager at the beginning of this article.

“We should have done this years ago. Our board finally feels connected again. We’re never going back.”

When technology fades into the background, it creates space for what matters most: meaningful conversations, trust and better decisions.

AVEX helps you design a boardroom that puts people first

A successful boardroom doesn’t start with technology. It starts with how people work together.

That’s why at AVEX, we look beyond cameras, displays and microphones. We design boardrooms where technology, interior design and user experience work as one.

With the Quarta Boardroom concept, we create meeting spaces where high-end audiovisual technology is fully integrated, resulting in a calm, professional environment where executives, employees and guests can focus entirely on the conversation.

Every organisation is different. That’s why every boardroom is designed around the available space, meeting culture and business objectives.