Clerkenwell Design Week: A Roundtable on Inclusivity in Design
Late last month, our Director, Andy Love, was invited to join design company, HOP , at Clerkenwell Design Week to discuss his ideas on developing offices that incorporate diversity and welfare principles. Andy was eager to contribute his insights during the discussion, and he brought up a number of crucial points.
The first surrounded the necessity of ensuring that all design aspects are backed by relevant data, ensuring a science-driven approach to inclusive interiors.
“At our consultancy, we run thermal comfort analysis as part of our services. Moving forward, I believe the industry will increasingly require evidence to support claims of comfortable and functional spaces. It's not enough to say a space is comfortable; it needs to be backed by science.”
“Personally, with my background, I see the importance of integrating science into office design. This includes ensuring spaces are acoustically sound and maintaining comfortable temperatures. For our neurodivergent colleagues, factors like acoustics and lighting are crucial.
We need to back up our designs with evidence, ensuring that we are truly creating optimal work environments.”
However, he also stressed that with this comes a responsibility for business owners to continue educating themselves in best practices for ensuring their workplaces are fit for purpose, with regards to the diversity of their staff.
“Being a business owner comes with a myriad of responsibilities and challenges, and the expectation to also be an expert in areas like neurodiversity can feel overwhelming. It's understandable to want to meet the evolving expectations of employees and society, but it's also important to recognise that no one can be an expert in everything.”
“Navigating the complexities of neurodiversity and other aspects of workplace inclusivity requires ongoing education, openness to feedback, and a commitment to continuous improvement. It's okay to acknowledge that you may not have all the answers and to seek support from experts or resources to help you better understand and address these issues.”
This Fringe event was hosted by HOP, who design and build brilliant workplaces that maximise creativity, collaboration, and productivity. This event, run in partnership with acoustic treatment specialists Resonics and leading acousticians Hawkins & Associates, consisted of a roundtable discussion of industry experts to explore the design of workplaces for diversity and wellbeing, with a particular focus on the importance of acoustics.
Hosted by HOP’s Creative Director Josh Towle and Interior Designer Alicia Spibey, the event also brought together:
Rosalind Lambert-Porter, MD (Acoustics) at Hawkins & Associates;
Bolívar Marcon Pinheiro Machado, Workplace Design Manager Lead at Landsec;
Philip Bentley, Group Head of Premises at Mott Macdonald;
Sarah Bewers, Coach and Founder at Lead With Health;
Andy Love, MD at Love Design Studio;
Lewis Harman, Business Development Director at Hunters Contracts.
This was just a snippet of the overall event. To read more about this event, please click the following link.
From 21-23 May this year, Clerkenwell Design Week returned to this bustling and creative corner of London to show off all the latest innovations in the world of interior design. Now in its 15th year, CDW has grown to encompass over 600 events spread across their 160+ showrooms, and boasting tens of thousands of attendees, making it the UK’s leading design festival. Playing host to industry-leading architects, designers, and interiors enthusiasts, this was a must-attend event for anyone in the industry.