Design
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
Reflecting on 2025: a year of contrasts in workplace environments
From competing expectations to rebalancing the office attendance equation, 2025 has been a year of contrasts in the workplace – and with it comes great opportunity for change
NEXT NEXT: redefining science work for the AI and machine era
Gensler's new design concept looks at how AI and automation are redefining the science workplace and reshaping the future of labs
