Why Headcount Is the Wrong Starting Point for Workplace Design Most workplace projects start with the wrong question: How many employees do we have? It sounds reasonable. The number of people in an office is simple, measurable, and easy to build a target around. However, this single assumption often drives organizations toward workplace decisions that … Read more
What Return-to-Office Mandates Reveal About Modern Workplace Design Hybrid Workplace Design Isn’t Broken. The Thinking Behind It Is. Collin Burry has been in workplace design for 40 years. Twenty-nine of those years at Gensler, where his portfolio has included Apple, Pixar, Nike, Samsung, and Airbnb. He has had a front-row seat to every major shift … Read more
Hybrid Work Is a Mirror: Why Better Workplace Design Wins What if hybrid work did not fail? What if it simply revealed what was already broken? That is the question more workplace leaders need to ask before moving straight into return-to-office mandates. The conversation is often framed as a debate about where people work, but … Read more
Why Ergonomic Workspaces Start With People, Not Products A workspace can look beautiful, feel modern, and include all the right “ergonomic” furniture, but still fail the people using it.That is the uncomfortable truth in many offices, home workstations, and shared work environments. We often assume that if a chair is adjustable, a desk moves up … Read more
Why Better Workspaces Start with People, Not Floor Plans What if the biggest mistake in workplace design is that we start with the building instead of the people? For years, many organizations have approached workspace planning the same way. They look at square footage, occupancy targets, budget constraints, and a rough list of room types. … Read more
Designing Workspaces That Actually Work for Humans Most people assume that if a workspace looks modern, clean, and expensive, it must be productive. But some of the most visually impressive offices quietly undermine focus, creativity, and wellbeing. The real issue is not effort or attitude. It is design that prioritizes appearance over human behavior. Workspace … Read more
How do you design workspaces that truly support how people think, feel, and thrive?In this episode, we explore neuro-inclusion in the workplace, not as a trend, but as afoundational approach to thoughtful design. Our guest shares how evidence-basedenvironments can empower cognitive and sensory differences, creating a betterexperience for everyone. From reducing overstimulation to supporting variedcommunication … Read more
What does it take to build a podcasting business from the ground up, and what can workplace designers learn from the mindset behind it?In this episode, I sit down with David O Gara, founder of APodcastGeek, whose journey from radio DJ to podcast production leader is filled with insight, grit, and a clear vision for … Read more
Discover how to align organizational goals with human needs through data-driven design and intentional behavioral shifts. This episode explores the critical role of trust and connectivity in the modern office. In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park talks with Kati Barklund, Senior Workplace Strategy Advisor and Global Chair of Workplace Evolutionaries … Read more
Discover how sensory-aware design and inclusive ergonomics can transform both the classroom and the corporate office. This episode explores the untapped potential of designing for neurodiversity in every learning and working environment. In this episode of Workspace Design Lab, host Syl Vander Park takes a deep dive into the concept of sensory-friendly environments. Drawing inspiration … Read more