Design
Design across borders: why culture matters in workplace design
As workplace design becomes increasingly global, creating spaces that resonate culturally is a growing challenge. New research shows how cultural values can shape expectations of workspace design
Investing in people: why good ergonomics is good economics
Ergonomic design is one of those invisible infrastructures that sit below the waterline inside organisations. But failure to address employee discomfort can be costly, says Humanscale
Whiter shade of pale: why the colour of the year is slightly off
Pantone’s choice of Cloud Dancer as its colour of 2026 is fine for those who just want to chill while our world collapses. Could a different shade make a difference? A neuroscientist explains
Scent management: a signal of maturing emotional design at work
As organisations explore how environments influence mood, scent is resurfacing as a complex design layer within experience-led workplaces
From noise to knowledge: what happens when workplaces learn to listen
As noise becomes one of the lowest-rated aspects of workplace experience, organisations are beginning to treat sound as a source of insight to better design for behaviour and wellbeing
Handling hybrid: what design steps can heal a fractured culture?
The new year is seeing some familiar plotlines about return to office and the tension between technology and community. Insights from a new Stantec report shine a light on key challenges
Gilt complex: decoding the new interior design of the Oval Office
An audience with the President and his inner circle in the remodelled White House is designed to make visitors feel disoriented, mute and acquiescent. A neuroscientist explains
Close to colleagues: the benefits of sitting next to team members
Sitting directly alongside teammates at work can make a real difference to performance according to new research – and having an assigned seat matters too
