The workplace is changing – fast. Hybrid work, distributed teams, AI, culture, leadership, collaboration, flexibility, and the role of the physical office are all in flux. So what does the future of work really look like?

With experience at Slack, Google, and leading one of the most influential workplace research programs of the pandemic era, Brian brings real data, practical insight, and a grounded perspective on how organizations must evolve.

What the F is Happening to the Office?, is NOW on Spotify! New episode every other week!

Main Takeaways 

• Why the workplace conversation is bigger than “remote vs. hybrid”
• The mindset shift leaders need to navigate change
• Flexibility, talent strategy, and organizational performance
• Workplace design trends and the role of technology
• AI and automation in workplace experience and operations
• How companies are using workplace strategy as a leadership tool
• What the Flex Index reveals about real policy vs. headlines
• The future of office space, culture, engagement, and employee experience

Meet Brian Elliott

Brian Elliott is CEO of Work Forward, executive-in-residence at Charter, and a Senior Advisor with BCG. A recognized expert on the future of work, he’s the bestselling author of How the Future Works and a noted speaker and columnist. He spent 25 years building teams and leading companies as a startup CEO and executive at Google and Slack before co-founding Future Forum, a think tank focused on the future of work. He publishes Flex Index and the Work Forward newsletter, and was named to Forbes’ Future of Work 50.

Key Moments

1:28 – Intro: Why the office still matters
3:00 – Brian Elliott’s journey, WorkForward & Flex Index
5:18 – Talent strategy and leadership mindsets (System X vs System Y)
9:53 – What we learned (and missed) about the office
13:57 – Why executive alignment is make-or-break
17:07 – Command-and-control, Elon, and why RTO mandates fail
21:09 – Using space as a storytelling and leadership tool
24:33 – New metrics: from cost per square foot to cost per event
29:56 – Inside the Flex Index: what companies are really doing
32:49 – Policy vs behavior: how hybrid actually works
35:40 – Airbnb’s “one week a month” model and performance
37:34 – Designing for hybrid collaboration and connection
41:52 – Integrating workplace tech with physical space
44:06 – How AI will reshape workplace and facilities operations
46:54– Where to begin a workplace redesign (listen to your employees)
49:12 – Human-centric workplaces, wellbeing & performance
51:03 – Experimenting with space: PagerDuty, flex space, iteration
54:49 – Closing thoughts & where to learn more (Flex Index & Brian)

The post Why Offices Still Matter appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The world of workplace pods is vast – from ultra-acoustic focus booths to agile phone units that move as fast as teams do. Before jumping into specs or purchases, it’s crucial to understand what your client or your coworking space really needs from these flexible, enclosed spaces.

Below are five expert-level considerations that ensure you’re recommending the right pod — one that aligns with the project’s goals, budget, and brand story.

Plus we share some of our favorite pods on the market from:

 

 

Mind the Airflow

Pods can feel stuffy fast. Confirm whether ventilation is active (fans) or passive (vents), and align with HVAC teams to maintain comfort standards.

Check the Decibel Data

Go beyond “soundproof” labels. On certified acoustic reports, look for dB(A) reduction ratings.

Don’t Forget ADA & Clearance Requirements

Ensure door widths, turning radii, and threshold heights meet code before finalizing layouts and purchases.

Finish Coordination Matters

Select finishes that complement your palette; pods should integrate seamlessly, not stand apart.

Think Beyond Installation Day

Clarify maintenance, warranty, and tech servicing responsibilities and resources upfront – especially for pods with lighting or ventilation systems.

Leading Pods in the Market

ROOM Phone Booth by ROOM

The ROOM Phone Booth, along with the full suite of ROOM’s modular office products, has received a certified autism resource badge from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) supporting neurodiversity in the workspace. The Phone Booth is designed to reduce sensory overload, providing a calm, controlled environment perfect for neurodiverse individuals, facilitating concentration and reducing stress in dynamic workplace settings.

Sustainability Highlights

All ROOM products are built out of recycled materials and replace multiple cycles of construction. We’ve saved tens of millions of plastic bottles from reaching a landfill. By thinking cyclically, we’re helping to reduce the near 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste created each year. Plus, our products have been tested for over 10k chemicals, and have met rigorous low-emissions standards supporting healthy office environments.

Key Features

• Exterior Dimensions: W 41.5” x D 43.8” x H 88.8”  
• Installation time: 60 minutes or less. One tool. Two team members.
• Acoustic rating in dB: Three layers of sound insulation made from recycled materials, including 100% natural breathable wool and no-dye-added acoustic felt, reduce noise by 30 decibels.
• Lighting details: An overhead LED light strip powered by a motion-activated smart sensor ensures bright ideas don’t stay in the dark.
• Air ventilation details: Each booth comes equipped with two ultra-quiet fans that wholly replenish air every 60 seconds. Discreet airflow inlet constantly pulls in fresh air while two ceiling fans push warm air out, keeping the air inside fresh at all times.

Top 3 Customizable Options

• Choice of a crisp White Phone Booth exterior with an off-white powder coated metal or sleek Black Grey powder coated metal exterior. Both “Light” and “Dark” Phone Booths come with oak accents.
• Each Phone Booth is flat-packed for seamless delivery and assembly. Your choice of DIY or professional assembly available. No hardwiring required. All it takes is one tool, one hour, and two team members.
• Available with Expedited Delivery options for quick shipping.

*Pricing depends on location. Contact ROOM for pricing.

LEARN MORE

hushFree.S.Hybrid Pod by Hushoffice

The hushFree.S.Hybrid acoustic pod is designed for longer video conferences, meetings and online presentations. The booth comes standard with a comfortable free-standing sofa and ergonomic desk. It allows for longer individual work or video meetings. The aesthetically designed LED side lighting of the user’s face ensures that he or she is even more visible during video meetings. HushAssistant – touchscreen module for changing to the color and intensity of the light (2200-6500 K), the speed of the fans, and gives the possibility to manage the reservations.

Sustainability Highlights

Lightweight cardboard boxes that can be easily recycled; environmentally conscious component suppliers; wood-based components with an Environmental Product Declaration (ISO 14025), PEFC Certified (PEFC/04-31-2920).

Key Features

• Exterior Dimensions (W x D x H): 48.97 x 35.43 x 90.53 in
• Installation time: about 2 hours by two persons
• Acoustic rating in dB: 30,2 dB according to ISO 23351-1:2020
• Lighting details: LED ceiling light 20W / 4000 K, lm – 2300; lux – min. 300 / medium 500 / max. 700. Adjusted in the range of 2200 – 6500K. Integrated 3.5W LED strips x2 (adjustable, 4000k).
• Air ventilation details: 2 fans x 80 m3/h with a maximum airflow 94 CFM. Total air exchange 39 seconds, 92 l/s.

Top 3 Customizable Options

• Inside panels available in 8 timeless colors, and body color available in two options
• Screen  brackets
• Occupancy sign

*Pricing is individualized and depends on region and product configuration.

LEARN MORE

CALL-1 by JUUNOO

Whether you need privacy for a call or a moment to recharge, the Call 1 booth provides a secure, quiet space for clear and uninterrupted conversations and video meetings. With a streamlined design and minimal silhouette, JUUNOO Pods blend naturally into any workspace.

Sustainability Highlights

Designed with circularity in mind, every booth is built to be reused or reconfigured, helping create a truly sustainable workspace. Our materials are sourced in Belgium and selected for durability, recyclability, and a low environmental impact.

Key Features

• Exterior Dimensions (W x D x H): 44” × 43 3/4” × 89 3/8”
• Installation time: 45 minutes
• Acoustic rating: 30 db
• Lighting details: Adjustable light dimmer up to 700 lm
• Air ventilation details: Multiple fans fully refresh air every 60 seconds

Top Customizable Options

Our standard exterior finishes come in black or white, with full customization available by request.

*Starting Price 5495 USD

LEARN MORE

Om Pod by National

Kolo 1 Pod by National

Designed to offer a choice for privacy in open settings, Kolo Pods are an ideal solution for working, learning, and healing spaces. Employees and guests appreciate spaces that can flex to support focus as well as collaboration. Kolo Pods give your team control over their environment, with no contractor required. Every pod (except our ADA-compliant model) is equipped with easy-to-use rollers, so you can move them anywhere in your office, even after installation.

Closing Thoughts

As offices evolve into ecosystems of focus, collaboration, and choice, pods are becoming an essential design tool — but not all pods are created equal. Taking into account the right considerations upfront ensures that your solution delivers on comfort, compliance, and culture – not just square footage.

The post Specifying Pods Like a Pro appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

What happens when Gen Z starts reshaping the rules of work—while the Boomers are still playing by the old ones? With different expectations, communication styles, and a deep desire for purpose, connection, and transparency, they’re challenging traditional norms—and raising new questions about how we work, lead, and collaborate across generations.

Warren brings decades of insight from his work at Gallup and now as CEO of Second Wave, helping organizations understand the generational forces shaping culture, leadership, and performance. Together, they unpack what’s driving Gen Z, how it compares to Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials, and what organizations need to do now to prepare for the future of work.

Main Takeaways 

• Gen Z is reshaping workplace dynamics with different values.
• Understanding generational differences is crucial for effective leadership.
• Technology and AI are significantly impacting entry-level jobs.
• Younger generations prioritize emotional safety and inclusivity.
• Career success for Gen Z is defined by purpose, not just money.
• Organizations must adapt to the changing expectations of younger workers.
• Collaboration and flexibility are key in modern workspaces.
• Diversity and equity are essential for attracting Gen Z talent.
• Training and development are critical for retaining younger employees.
• Generational collaboration can enhance workplace innovation.

Meet Warren Wright

Warren is one of the nation’s leading experts on researching generations, working with leaders to uncover their influence and insights on business strategy and outcomes. He advises leaders on ways to humanize the workplace, putting autonomy and ownership in the hands of the individual worker while improving engagement and results in the process. Warren has over 2 decades of experience in consumer research and demography, leadership development, and workshop facilitation.

Key Moments

05:52 What’s Shaping Work Today

08:00 The New Paradigm for Work

10:55 4 Generations and Their Expectations

12:48 How Generations See Leadership

16:17 The Lived Experience of Each Generation

19:13 Gen Z’s Priorities and Fears

20:57 Why Gen Z Wants In-Person Work

22:15 Social Media’s Impact on Gen Z

26:30 Rethinking Career Success

28:09 Managing Across Generations

30:19 Gen Z’s Relationship with Technology

33:03 Gen Z’s Superpowers

35:30 Building Multi-Generational Teams

39:24 Creating Safe Work Environments

39:43 Bridging the Communication Gap

43:15 AI’s Impact on Entry-Level Work

46:15 The “Chief Z Officer” Idea

46:56 Designing Workplaces for Gen Z

50:43 DEI, Belonging, and the Long View

52:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

The post 4 Generations, One Office appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

From that high-energy, donut-fueled session came Better Endings, the newest Circular Workplace Field Guide from Green Standards — a collection of bold, practical ideas for how to design, measure, and market a truly reusable built environment.

The workshop was led by Benjamin Errett and Heidi Frasure of Green Standards and Celeste McMickle of the U.S. Green Building Council. Together, they guided participants through hands-on exercises and spirited discussion built around Stewart Brand’s “Shearing Layers” model from How Buildings Learn. Brand’s framework — Site, Structure, Skin, Services, Space Plan, and Stuff— captures how buildings change over time. Some layers endure for centuries; others shift with every renovation or occupant. The group’s challenge was to apply that model to the modern workplace — to design spaces that evolve gracefully, reuse intelligently, and never truly “end.”

To design better endings, we started with the knowledge that every ending is planned, intentionally or not, in the beginning. Inspired by Lego, we call for materials and systems that “snap apart and back together,” encouraging reversible connections and modular design. “Screws over glues” becomes a mantra — flexible walls, salvageable cabinets, and adaptable layouts that allow buildings to keep learning and changing instead of being demolished.

To measure better endings, we think about the metrics that truly matter. It challenges professionals to quantify what reuse is worth — tracking salvage value, resale revenue, and deconstruction labor alongside community impact. How much of each project came from, or returned to, the local area? What’s the baseline reuse rate, and how can we boost it next time? Measurement turns ideals into data, and data into action.

To market better endings, we look at the ideas that cut through jargon to truly resonate. We reframe reuse as both storytelling and service: every scratch on a reused chair becomes a “beauty mark,” every item a narrative of continuity. The guide urges teams to make reuse irresistible — “smash that easy button” — by adding value through white-glove services, warranties, and narratives that celebrate legacy over novelty.

Throughout the session, participants reimagined language. “Disposal” became “offboarding.” “Demolished” turned to “polished.” “Old” became “heritage.” By shifting words, we shift mindset — from wasteful endings to circular beginnings.

Better Endings is written for everyone shaping the built environment: interior designers, architects, facility managers, developers, sustainability leads, and anyone who believes buildings can be as adaptable as the people who use them. It’s a resource for those designing workplaces that last by changing — buildings that learn, and teach.

Green Standards leads this mission globally, helping organizations decommission offices sustainably by keeping assets in use and out of landfill. Since 2009, we’ve partnered with 40% of the Fortune 100, donating more than $50 million worth of furniture, fixtures, and equipment to schools and nonprofits in over 40 countries.

Want to Hear More From Green Standards? Check Out Loop ‘Em In: How to Sell Circularity to Skeptical Stakeholders.

Want to Hear More from Heidi Frasure? Check Her Talk Out at 2025 CoreNet! 

Learn more and join the movement toward a zero-waste workplace at circularworkplace.com

See What WDM’s Cynthia Milota Learned from the Build Reuse Conference. 

This article was created in partnership with Green Standards. Images courtesy of Green Standards.

The post Designing Better Endings: How the Built Environment Can Learn, Adapt, and Begin Again appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The systems established by Tarkett’s SourceOne® turnkey service program and its ReStart® take-back and recycling program laid the foundation, but those systems are only as strong as the partners who support them. 

Carpet is one of the most common design elements in corporate interiors—and one of the most frequent contributors to landfill waste. For decades, the end of life for broadloom and carpet tile was simple: cut it up, load it in a dumpster, and send it away. But what if those old floors could have a second life?

Across the industry, innovators are proving that they can. Tarkett’s ReStart® take-back and recycling program is pioneering new ways to reclaim and recycle old flooring, turning waste into resources. At the heart of these efforts are countless unsung heroes—flooring contractors who are rolling up their sleeves, working with the manufacturer to establish new processes, and setting examples for what circularity looks like in action.

Building a New Model for Flooring Reclamation

For years, Dave Knaub, owner of Flooring Foundation in New Jersey, had been removing carpet as part of routine renovation projects. The process was straightforward but wasteful: pull it up, haul it out, throw it away. That changed when sustainability leaders, along with his partnership with Tarkett, inspired him to commit to a better way.

As a longtime supplier with Tarkett’s SourceOne division, providing turnkey services for deinstallation, reclamation, and installation for major accounts, Dave was no stranger to the company’s ReStart program. He’d also worked closely with Rachel Palopoli, Tarkett’s director of circular economy, and the two had frequent conversations about how to reduce construction waste and their personal commitments to living and working more sustainably. After a few months of planning, Dave took what he knew about flooring recycling, worked with Rachel to refine a few details, and built recycling into a fully integrated service model for all his clients. Today, he offers recycling as a standard component of his contracting services and recently expanded his business with a dedicated reclamation facility, where deinstalled materials are staged, stored, and sorted for their next life. For anything that can’t be reused, he knows that Tarkett’s ReStart program will likely have a solution.

“It’s about more than removing carpet. It’s about making sure it gets somewhere it can do good, instead of ending up in the ground.”

 – Dave Knaub, Owner of Flooring Foundation Corp

Creating Value Through Reuse

Not all carpet pulled from an office space is ready for the recycling stream. Much of it can be reused outright, extending its life in creative ways.

Dave and his team have found strong demand for high-quality, second-use flooring products in settings like apartment buildings, where owners accustomed to lower-grade broadloom are thrilled to find premium carpet tile at a fraction of the cost. For corporate clients, reclaimed carpet often finds its way into back-of-house areas, keeping the most visible spaces fresh while ensuring nothing usable goes to waste.

This growing reuse market isn’t without challenges. Once a pallet of reclaimed carpet is gone, it’s gone—making proactive inventory management and close collaboration with specifiers essential. But the payoff is clear: on a typical project, up to 40% of carpet can be reused, and in some cases, the reuse rate reaches as high as 60%.

Partnership Is the Key to Removing Barriers

The success of these takeback initiatives depends on more than just one stakeholder. Contractors like Dave play a central role, but architects, designers, and manufacturers all have to work together to make circularity practical.

Dave has quickly been able to train his team to identify which materials can be recycled back to the manufacturer, which can be cleaned and reused, and which need to move through alternative reclamation streams. The result is a cost-neutral approach: when Dave manages both deconstruction and installation, reclamation comes at no added cost to the client—removing the common excuse that “it’s too expensive to recycle.” Dave shared, “By integrating reclamation into our services, we’re removing the barriers for clients. It costs no more than a dumpster but delivers so much more value.” 

For architects and designers, that partnership is critical. They can specify new Tarkett products for front-of-house spaces while reserving reclaimed materials for back-of-house areas, ensuring clients get both design impact and sustainability wins.

Innovation Spotlight: The Various Paths to Circularity

For flooring that isn’t suitable for reuse, Tarkett has several recycling options through its innovative ReStart program, depending on the material. As the company shares, every type of material has its own path to circularity, and Tarkett is actively innovating solutions for each of its product categories. For example, Tarkett’s ethos® carpet tile backing now has a closed-loop circular solution, meaning the backing of every ethos carpet tile collected through ReStart is recycled into new ethos carpet tile backing. Through a partnership with Avery Automats, all vinyl sheet and tile products collected through ReStart become raw materials for new automotive products. And now through the power of mushrooms, reclaimed broadloom and Powerbond® hybrid carpet are transformed into new biobased raw materials, which is slated to be used in future Tarkett products. Recently, Dave and Rachel partnered to take old broadloom carpet out of a global financial institution and, through ReStart, the material is being processed using this technology.

Each of these approaches underscores Tarkett’s commitment to forging new paths to circularity, proving that even the most stubborn materials can be reimagined when  companies partner with each other around shared values.

A Changing Landscape of Legislation

These efforts are not happening in isolation. Across the U.S., lawmakers are beginning to require manufacturers and contractors to take responsibility for flooring at end of life. Due to legislation requirements, California’s carpet recycling rate now hovers above 40%, compared to less than 5% in most of the country. In New York, a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) law is slated to take effect in 2026—and Dave’s company is ready to support it.

For designers working in corporate interiors, this is a glimpse of the future. Circularity won’t be optional – it will be expected. Tarkett’s ReStart program, and the contractors already embracing it, are building the infrastructure today that will make compliance tomorrow both achievable and cost-effective. According to Dave, “This work has opened doors I never expected — from architects to Fortune 500 sustainability officers. Circularity is no longer a side conversation, it’s the future.” 

The Human Side of Sustainability

For Dave, the work goes beyond compliance or even innovation. It’s about pride. “It feels fantastic to know we’re keeping this material out of landfills,” he says. “It validates all the extra effort.”

That extra effort—stopping to palletize old carpet rather than tossing it—is what makes the difference. Small actions, multiplied across projects and partners, create the systemic change needed for the industry to truly close the loop.

“We’re proving that circular economy solutions don’t just work in theory – they work at scale, and they work today.” 

 – Dave Knaub, Owner of Flooring Foundation Corp

Looking Ahead

Every year, Flooring Foundations and SourceOne divert hundreds of thousands of pounds of carpet from landfill. With new partnerships forming, legislative drivers accelerating, and Tarkett continuing to pioneer next-generation recycling technologies, that impact is only set to grow.

Circularity in corporate interiors isn’t a dream for the future—it’s already happening. And it’s happening because contractors, designers, and manufacturers are choosing to work together.

Tarkett is proud to lead this movement by investing in innovation and collaborating with partners across the industry who help make the concept of circularity a reality on the ground.

Learn more about how Tarkett is leveraging the power of partnership to reshape the future of flooring.  

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This article was created in partnership with Tarkett.

Images courtesy of Tarkett.

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Tarkett’s ReStart® Recycling Program: Keeping Old Flooring Out of the Landfill

The post Circularity in Action: Flooring Contractors Driving the Future of Reuse appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The workplace is no longer judged by square footage or amenity checklists – it’s judged by how well it aligns with people’s values, supports their wellbeing, and enables them to do their best work. Few leaders understand this shift more deeply than Christina Piper, Senior Vice President of Workplace Design at JLL.

With more than 20 years of experience spanning corporate interiors, healthcare, higher education, aviation, residential, and hospitality, she has mastered the art of designing spaces that balance function, inclusivity, and flexibility. Christina’s perspective challenges organizations to think beyond free lattes and foosball tables, and instead ask: how does our workplace reflect who we are, how we care for people, and how we drive business forward? In this conversation, she unpacks what Gen Z and future employees expect, how design can reinforce culture and connection, and why “outcome-optimized” spaces are becoming the new ROI.

WDM: Employee experience is often called the new ROI. How can organizations move beyond surface-level perks – like great coffee and free meals – to create workplaces that truly support how people work and how they feel?

Christina Piper: When we talk about return on investment within the workplace, it’s important to acknowledge the efforts employers have made to create an optimized environment already, often supported by perks like an on-site barista or free lunch. Equally valuable, it’s really important to understand what brought someone to this organization in the first place, what values they were attracted to, and what keeps them happy and proud to work for this company. For example, when we poll employees about their workplace preferences, it’s a range of questions from “do I feel safe in expressing my opinions?” to “do I have regular access to leadership?” These are inherent aspects that matter to an employee long after the free snacks are digested. 

You might ask, “when we talk about how these ideals fold into the workspace design and experience, what does that entail?” We start with understanding how people do their best work and focus on environments that support employee and organization goals. We plan for a balance of community and focus areas, specifying furniture that supports all body types, abilities and postures. We incorporate lighting and acoustical solutions that limit distractions and create psychological safety. We build inclusive spaces that speak not just to the employee during the workday, but to the individual who may play multiple roles of parent, caregiver or student; to the people who have different cognitive abilities or work styles. We recognize that on a day-to-day basis, people may carry joy, sadness, stress, grief, positivity or negativity, and that aspects of the workday may alter their moods and productivity levels multiple times. 

Essentially, we create space for all that a person is bringing into their workday by enabling flexibility within our workspaces that support celebration, defeat, coaching, mentorship, privacy and collaboration.

So, how do we get maximum return on investment? Remember, people are the most important, and most costly asset to any organization. Unmotivated, disengaged and unhappy people cost the company in culture, replacement and onboarding. Let’s listen to our workforce and engage them at several intervals. Often, subtle changes done in response to employee feedback are not costly – and when communicated through the proper channels, build a continued or even increased pride for the employee’s workplace and experience.

WDM: Gen Z employees are vocal about wanting values-driven, inclusive, and sustainable workplaces. How should companies translate those expectations into the actual design and function of their spaces?

Christina Piper: Gen Z brings a refreshing reminder of how important transparency and authenticity are within our organizations. They prioritize working with companies and leadership that genuinely embody their values, and are equally inclined to call out a toxic work environment or companies that are only offering lip service without follow through on delivery.

Some of the biggest indicators that we hear during employee interviews and when we talk to stakeholders are when they tour a prospective new employee through their workspace and they can see immediate indicators of either a healthy or toxic culture. These are some of the things they’re evaluating:

• Is leadership present and connecting with their teams? Does the built environment support these connection points?
• Are people smiling and communicating? 
• Does the brand permeate through the built construction and are values visible and applied in a brand-centric way? 
• Is investment present in health and wellness programs (e.g., healthy snacks, adjustable lighting, access to natural light, quiet and inclusive spaces)?
• Do people have space that enables different ways of communicating?

When we talk about inclusive and sustainable workplaces, these are values that Gen Z was immersed into from a very young age – so these things are just assumed as baseline – not as “extra.” Most demand sustainability advocacy and action from their organizations, and are equally enthusiastic about doing their part. When we think about spaces that are inclusive, it’s no longer about having a mother’s room or a wheelchair accessible bathroom, but about including many aspects of life that happen during work hours for different types of people. We need to look at how different spaces are used by diverse people who implicitly connect experiences at work with their lifestyles outside the office, and we need to make sure that we’re continuously moving the bar higher to really elevate these experiences.

WDM: JLL’s Social and Spatial Strategy framework shows how team rituals and decision-making structures need to align with spatial design choices like adjacency, pathways, and reconfigurable layouts. How do you help clients strike that balance – so the space isn’t just well-designed, but actually reinforces the way people connect, collaborate, and innovate?

Christina Piper: We don’t look at space as a collection of rooms and adjacencies, but as a journey map with experience touchpoints tied to moods and outcomes. We explore how to knit spaces together in terms of pathways, sightlines and technology, based on the intersectionality of social and spatial strategies. 

An example of this: many of our clients ask us to “design with flexibility in mind.” This ultimately means that, at any time, any group could lift and shift from one area into another as an organization’s structure evolves—avoiding reconstruction and downtime. Our solution here is adaptable spaces that could be equitably and universally applied across business units. We use modular furniture, reconfigurable layouts, power and data to design with future flexibility in mind. 

WDM: What does inclusive design look like when it’s done right?

Christina Piper: When inclusive design is done right, it naturally blends into the workplace ecosystem, and it benefits every occupant. Your design shows you considered specific needs, you thought of the way people enter space, experience space and you anticipate sensitivities within space. JLL recently published research on design trends and discusses the “street to seat” concept – which means we’re thinking about the experience from the very moment we enter the workplace environment. To clarify, that moment isn’t when I enter my office suite, but far in advance. That moment is when I drive to the building, park my car, walk in, get coffee, watch a news update on my way up in the elevator—before I even get to my desk. 

When considering the initial 5-10 minutes of the user experience, we can equate this to the hospitality experience we have when we go to a really great hotel which focuses on all the details:

• Soft lighting that illuminates with intention
• A check-in experience with a concierge who recognizes our needs
• A signature scent which shifts our mind and our mood right away
• Various spaces to nourish our bodies and minds

When we envision a well-designed workspace with inclusivity in mind, we don’t think about a new mom hunting to find the only Mother’s Room that is located in the middle of a bustling corridor. Instead, we work with HR to place one on every floor in a discreet location, with controlled access for specific individuals who need it. We have moved from “gender neutral” to “all gender” restrooms that accommodate more than just alternate bathrooms: there’s private space for administering fertility shots, accommodating medical and accessibility needs, and access to hygiene products at no cost. 

Again, spaces such as these are thoughtfully integrated into the user experience the very same way a premier hotel curates environments that meet every guest’s needs: striving for comfort and optimal experience every single day at multiple touch points during the day.

WDM: With hybrid now the norm, what are the design strategies that best balance collaborative energy with the need for focused, individual work?

Christina Piper: The recurring theme we always hear C-Suite concern for is how to avoid the “graveyard effect”—meaning diluted energy in a workspace because so many workstations sit empty. People want to be part of space that is bustling. They would rather get creative to find a seat in a full neighborhood than set up in the middle of 10 empty desks.

Our research indicates that from an employee perspective, the top three reasons to be in the office are to socialize, participate actively in internal meetings and for team brainstorming.

While these three focus heavily on the collaborative and social aspects of the process, we still must have time and environments that are conducive to distraction-free, heads-down, uninterrupted work. Don’t forget, too, that the hybrid and global workplace demands more intentional 1:1 sessions. These days, it’s quite common to have a manager that doesn’t sit in the same location, time zone or even country. Therefore, private spaces outfitted with proper technology and acoustics are crucial for conversations that may include workshopping or constructive feedback.

Let’s talk more about avoiding the workstation graveyard! Seat sharing can balance count of furnishings, control costs and respond to a flexible schedule of teams. The establishment of neighborhoods helps keep teams together and also creates mini ecosystems of meeting spaces outfitted with varying furniture configurations and technology, balanced out with easy-to-find focus spaces or quiet zones. Additionally, furniture sizes and needs are still shrinking, so storage requirements don’t matter as much as they used to, when all workstations were assigned 5 days per week.

WDM: Underutilized office space is still a reality for many companies. How can space utilization data be used not just to shrink footprints, but to redesign spaces that actively boost productivity and engagement?

Christina Piper: Underutilized space can be depressing and create the impression that people have been forgotten. People don’t feel energized. People don’t do their best work. They start to regret their commute in because they feel they’re getting nothing out of their office visit. We like to change these situations from “underutilized” to “outcome optimized!”

An outcome-optimized space is one that people want to be a part of – that if they can’t make it to the office, they feel that FOMO effect!

These spaces are born out of the notion that effective space drives ideal outcomes – and we work backwards from those outcomes to determine all the factors that contribute to their achievement. The trick is to define what success means for each company or business unit.

No matter the client, when we optimize space, that includes better technology that actually connects a workplace – not just in meeting rooms, but with an understanding of who is in the office and when, and guiding occupants into the right environment based on the agenda of their workday. These spaces also drive more creative and diverse room layouts, more flexible and intelligent lighting solutions, more adaptability with furnishings or moveable walls, and more inclusive, ergonomic furniture solutions. When we talk about how we can optimize workspaces to boost productivity and engagement, we have to think about what people want out of a workspace. 

When it comes to productivity and engagement, the best test of this is when you see people in an office environment and they’re using spaces exactly how they were designed. This is a “high-five” moment for the design and client stakeholder team. It celebrates months or years of planning, surveying stakeholders and designing an environment that enables people to do their best work.

WDM: Sustainability isn’t just an aspiration – it’s increasingly a requirement in workplace design. What practical steps are you seeing companies take to reuse, repurpose, or recycle in their fit-outs, and how do those choices impact overall business goals and budgets?

Christina Piper: First, we’re socializing sustainable expectations better and with more upfront intention in design projects. I started my career in the era of LEED certification being the benchmark of whether or not a space was considered sustainable, and I’m so happy that sustainability is no longer just a number of points on a scorecard. Rather, it’s measured by how a sustainability mindset is applied to every aspect in the design process, from how we program space to how we buy furniture to how we retire equipment.

Unfortunately, the reality is that in many markets it’s more cost-effective to throw out used furniture and purchase new. But JLL challenges our clients to think differently: doing the right thing will often add efforts and cost, but could be a better reflection of the organization’s ESG goals and a more authentic mission of the brand, if sustainability is truly a cornerstone. Employees notice this more than you might think!

Some of the common sustainability practices that we see during projects are reconfiguring, retrofitting used furniture to modernize it and making workstations more ergonomically functional. We often ask, “what parts can we keep? Can we reskin panels with a fresh fabric? Can we add acoustic products that are going to better the experience? Can we swap a fixed tabletop for a sit-to-stand?” Our furniture manufacturer and dealer partners are champions at making this happen while ensuring that we’re not creating excessive waste.

Another encouraging trend in sustainability is the transparency that is being demanded. Organizations are asked to justify how they set and support ESG goals, so they have to quantify and share how those goals are reached. That’s why you are seeing more sustainability campaigns incorporated into marketing programs, interior signage and storytelling moments. For example, in many of our JLL offices we have bottle fillers that have signage that encourages us to use a reusable bottle and how many plastic bottles we are diverting from landfills each year. Although subtle, this welcomes accountability to end users: the space is the framework for a sustainable story, but the occupants drive the contents of that story through their actions and involvement.

WDM: Traditional productivity metrics often miss the value of connection, mentoring, and innovation. What new measures should companies consider to capture the impact of their workplace experience?

Christina Piper: Traditional productivity metrics tend to focus on output or revenue numbers. While these are important sources of truth, equally important is the capture of employee sentiments which help relay the WHY behind the numbers. 

One of the most important questions that we ask when we start to team with organizations is: “what change do you want to make and why?”

To encourage “blue sky” thinking, we build in some targeted workplace strategy initiatives upfront – like an executive visioning session, stakeholder focus groups and strategic interviewing – to capture all perspectives and show how leadership values employee input. That allows us to dive into what’s working and what isn’t from people who are regularly using space. 

WDM: If you had one piece of advice for leaders designing workplaces with future employees in mind, what would it be?

Christina Piper: Don’t be afraid to get it wrong! And if you do get it wrong, make it right—and quickly. What I mean by that is, employees don’t expect leaders and organizations to do everything perfectly right – they know that the hybrid workplace is an evolving normal to be navigated and experimented with on an ongoing basis. As I talk to leaders and stakeholders across several business units within organizations, employees acknowledge that their workplace goofed or didn’t get a certain aspect of design right. But then I hear the admiration when leadership addresses it, they solicit their feedback and they say, how could we do this better? When you can bring people along on the journey and come from a place of humility – it’s amazing how people come from a place of understanding and appreciation.

We as people tend to not expect perfection. What we do expect is transparency, involvement in decisions and when feedback is solicited, communication on how it’s used to make a difference and create a better outcome.

Want more insights?

JLL’s Susan Chang reveals how “vibrancy mapping” and seamless tech integration are reshaping office design for engagement, flexibility, and long-term value.

The post Designing for the Future: Christina Piper on How Values, Inclusivity, and Sustainability Define the Next Generation Workplace appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

If you care about how work connects to people, culture, performance—and where AI fits in—this one’s for you. If you enjoy this, please share this with others who are passionate about workplace design.

Jeremy traces his roots from the Seattle Design Nerds and the city’s Design Festival to leading global workplace strategy for top tech companies. We dig into AI-driven team rooms, immersive storytelling in space, low-tech counter-movements, and how to balance tech, culture, and wellbeing without losing the human experience.

What They Discuss

1. From maker culture to workplace: Public, hands-on design experiments (Seattle Design Nerds/Festival) sharpened Jeremy’s focus on user experience and immersion in office design.

2. AI reshapes planning: For AI teams, the sea of desks gives way to small 4–6 person prompt rooms feeding into larger critique rooms for rapid iteration.

3. Senior talent matters more: As AI handles production, experienced curators (senior engineers/designers) guide prompts, evaluate outputs, and set direction.

4. Human first, then tech: Great offices start with culture and purpose alignment; technology should be invisible, seamless support—not the driver.

5. The low-tech counterwave: Expect tech-free zones and more authentic materials/craft alongside advanced sensing, automation, and mixed reality.

6. Wellbeing gets smarter: Adaptive environments (lighting, air, nudges) personalize comfort and health—while protecting time for real, in-person connection.

Meet Jeremy Reding

Jeremy leads the firm’s Workplace sector. He serves as a lead designer for many of the DLR Group’s global technology clients, including Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Microsoft. Jeremy leads studios in all DLR Group locations to deliver workplaces that work for public and private sector clients.

Jeremy provides this design and thought leadership across DLR Group’s 30 locations to create award-winning, technology-enhanced, and employee-centered workplaces for public and private clients. He also teaches a post-pandemic graduate design course at the University of Nebraska where he can work with students to explore what-if scenarios that inform the future workplace.

Key Moments

01:08 Introduction – Who designs AI workplaces?

02:25 Origins in experimental design (Seattle Design Nerds)

06:02 Public Involvement in Design

07:18 Scaling up – from grassroots to citywide design festival

11:22 From festivals to workplace design – immersive storytelling

16:28 Post-pandemic priorities – intentional connection & culture alignment

18:36 Sources of inspiration – cross-industry insights & teaching future designers

22:06 Balancing authenticity with technology in workplace design

23:53 Designing culture into space – beyond logos and colors

26:20 AI & Future Design – new ideas about the workplace

27:00 How AI companies shape new workplace typologies

28:32 AI in the design process from creation to curation

30:16 Space planning today

32:09 Metrics, density, and user experience

36:09 The counterbalance – tech-free zones & human imperfection

38:56 Health and wellbeing as a design driver

40:26 Personal Use of AI

41:46 How AI is Changing the Profession

43:18 Advice to the next generation of designers

45:00 How to Approach the use of AI

45:45 How AI is transforming design practice today

The post Who is Designing AI Workplaces? appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

While designing this new 62,000 sq. ft. facility in Mumbai, our primary goal was to transform the space to align with the client’s global standards, where bold aesthetics meet thoughtful functionality, integrating technology, sustainability principles, and creating a vibrant, people-centric workplace.

The welcome space – Reception is designed to create a bold & tevy savvy outlook to the office. This was achieved by a perforated metal wall & ceiling panel serving as a dramatic backdrop. This feature wall is both decorative and functional, utilizing strategic backlighting to cast dynamic shadows, creating a play of light that enhances spatial depth and energy. Warm wood paneling lines the walls and ceilings of the seating area, balancing the cooler tones of the front reception with organic warmth. Light oak and blonde wood finishes are used extensively to ground the space in natural textures. A mix of soft, pastel-toned furniture in hues of teal and navy introduces comfort without sacrificing sophistication.

From the reception, a modern and welcoming holding area strategically located behind the entrance to the office , is designed to provide an open, inviting atmosphere. This holding area is designed as a transitional, multifunctional space that leaves a lasting first impression. It embodies hospitality, functionality, and visual tranquility—ideal for both visitors and Employees to pause, relax, or connect. The redeveloped office space is a thoughtfully curated environment that seamlessly integrates functionality with design. At its core is a commitment to fostering collaboration through a strategic mix of spaces that support both focused work and team interaction.

Meeting rooms are easily accessible, while work zones are smartly positioned near essential support elements such as phone booths, reprographic counters, and informal discussion areas, ensuring maximum efficiency.

A standout feature of the new design is the inclusion of 12 collaboration pockets, each uniquely crafted to promote creativity and comfort. These zones are enhanced with Privacy screens inspired by traditional Indian jali patterns, Acoustic ceiling elements to reduce noise and enhance focus, Soft seating arrangements for relaxed interactions, Integrated AV provisions to support hybrid meetings and presentations.

The recreation room is thoughtfully designed for a modern office which balances fun and relaxation with style and practicality while incorporating the client’s brand values, promoting employee well-being, with a touch of biophilia, A long planter with lush green foliage divides the space, injecting natural elements that contribute to a calming, balanced vibe.

Every design decision—from layout to materiality—has been made to create a workspace where people are closely connected to the client’s values, enhanced spaces to collaborate, and thrive.

Special Thanks to Our 2025 Innovative Brand Partners:

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Special Thanks to Our 2025 Industry Partners:

The post People’s Choice Winner – Confidential Client by Acorp Consultants appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The Sound of Productivity: Designing Smarter Soundscapes for Workplaces

In India’s workplaces, noise consistently ranks among the top three reasons employees choose to work from home. The constant hum of conversations, ringing phones, and clattering keyboards chips away at focus, wellbeing, and collaboration. At Digantara, a pioneering aerospace company in Bengaluru, we saw an opportunity to turn this challenge into an advantage. By rethinking how sound interacts with space, we designed a workplace where the acoustic environment actively supports how people work and grow.

The Realities Shaping the Indian Workday

Our design process began with a close look at everyday rhythms of work in India. Two insights stood out:

• The Cognitive Load of Commutes
  • For many employees, the workday starts long before they arrive at the office. Hours spent navigating traffic-choked roads or crowded metro lines leave them mentally drained before their first meeting. Without a moment to decompress, that stress carries into the workday, reducing concentration and performance.
• High Density and Noise Overload
  • To maximize real estate, many Indian offices prioritize headcount over spatial breathing room. This results in high background noise, reduced privacy, and constant interruptions, particularly in open-plan layouts where sound travels unchecked.
• Designing for a Healthier Soundscape
  • Our goal was to create a workplace where sound works for people, not against them. The design for Digantara integrates spatial planning, material choices, and behavioral cues to support focus, collaboration, and wellbeing.

• Calm Arrival Lounges and Break Rooms
  • Quiet transition zones, including arrival lounges and restorative break areas, allow employees to reset before engaging in deep work.
• Orbital Layout for Acoustic Zoning
  • Inspired by orbital patterns, the floor is organized into concentric rings of activity. Focus zones form the core, buffered by collaboration areas. This intuitive zoning limits noise transfer while reinforcing natural behavioral boundaries.
• Mission Control Room
  • For high-energy discussions and leadership meetings, an enclosed, acoustically treated room equipped with dedicated HVAC and AV systems ensures focus zones remain undisturbed.
• Natural Light and Material Strategy
  • Biophilic materials such as stone, timber, and soft textiles enhance wellbeing while absorbing and diffusing sound. Ample daylight improves mood, health, and cognitive performance.
• Custom Furniture as Acoustic Buffers
  • Modular islands, and soft seating function as both storage and sound barriers, balancing openness with acoustic comfort.

• Private Pods for Calls and Focus
  • Soundproof booths offer privacy for calls and deep work, helping reduce noise levels in shared spaces.
• Aligning Visual and Sound Identity
  • Orbit-inspired forms and soft curves guide circulation and signal acoustic expectations, embedding workplace etiquette directly into the design.

Shaping the Future of Work in India

The challenges we addressed: commute fatigue, high-density layouts, and noise overload are not unique to Digantara. They define countless workplaces across India. What makes this office distinct is its holistic approach: acoustics, spatial logic, materiality, and behavioral design working to create an environment that looks exceptional and sounds right for the future of work.

Special Thanks to Our 2025 Innovative Brand Partners:

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Special Thanks to Our 2025 Industry Partners:

The post People’s Choice Winner – Digantara by Studio AsA appeared first on Work Design Magazine.

The Oculus Design Studio partnered with Nestle to create its new India Information Technology Hub in Bangalore, a forward-looking workplace that embodies the global values of “Adapt, Include, Empower.” The vision was to design a high-performance environment that nurtures innovation while staying rooted in human-centric experiences.

Spanning 30,000 sq. ft. and housing over 200 employees, the Nestle IT Hub is more than an office. It is a purpose-built space that promotes collaboration, well-being, and adaptability. Every design decision reflects Nestle’s ambition to go beyond efficiency, creating spaces that are agile, empathetic, and engaging.

Future Grid Planning and Strategy

At the heart of the design lies FutureGrid, a modular spatial framework that enables flexibility and adaptability. The plan balances focus, collaboration, and social interaction through:

• 208 workstations
• 103 seats in formal meeting rooms
• 65 collaborative seats
• Phone pods, focus rooms, and digital studios

The main work zone exemplifies this ethos, featuring acoustically treated cubicles, counter seating by the windows, and suspended cloud-inspired lights under a calming blue soffit. Every corner of the floorplate is within reach of either collaboration hubs or quiet nooks, encouraging seamless transitions between focus and flow.

Brand and Culture in Space

The design language draws from “NestTech Pulse”, a rhythm that reflects Nestle’s digital transformation journey.

• The Reception welcomes visitors with a sculptural desk, an LED-lit world map, and a parametric ceiling with kinetic blue-violet lighting.
• A dramatic entrance portal with neon lines in electric hues creates an immersive transition to the work area.
• Reflective panels etched with global skylines reinforce Nestle’s international identity.
• Vibrant hues of purple, lime, and sky blue are layered over tactile neutrals, blending energy with calm. Indian cultural motifs, artwork, and graphics ground the global brand in a local context.

Designed Around People

Human-centered design anchors the workplace.

• Ergonomic seating and pedal-powered desks encourage movement.
• Abundant daylight, green ceiling treatments, and wooden textures foster biophilia.
• Accessibility is supported with sound insulation, clear wayfinding, and circulation.
• Wellness is integrated through health rooms, lounges, and diverse posture-friendly furniture.

Collaboration and Learning Spaces

The Boardroom features a sky-gradient ceiling, ergonomic seating, and built-in window benches. The Training Room supports multiple learning formats with modular tables, dual displays, and acoustic wall finishes, energized by a Nestle-branded mural. The Pantry doubles as a social hub with swing chairs, a vibrant counter, and a red-toned product display. A “Thought Space” wall inspires creative exchange. The Cafeteria bursts with greenery, murals, trellises, and a glowing “Good Food, Good Life” neon. A teal-tiled coffee counter nods to Nestle’s Nescafe heritage. Townhall with stage, modular seating, Ikat wall celebrates culture.

A Blueprint for the Future

The Nestle IT Hub is not just a workplace. It is a blueprint for the future of work. By blending adaptability, inclusivity, and global design sensibilities with a local touch, Nestle reaffirms its identity as both a food and beverage leader and a visionary workplace pioneer. This space embraces change, empowers people, and sets a new benchmark for human-centric workplaces.

Special Thanks to Our 2025 Innovative Brand Partners:

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Special Thanks to Our 2025 Industry Partners:

The post People’s Choice Winner – Nestle by Oculus Design Studio appeared first on Work Design Magazine.