Designing with Empathy: Trends Shaping the New Work-Hospitality Experience

Drawing on key insights from The New Habitat 26/27 trend report by Ape Grupo, this WOD panel discussion will explore the growing convergence between hospitality and workplace design.

As users seek comfort, personalisation, and emotional wellbeing in every environment— from hotels to hybrid offices—design is no longer about aesthetics alone; it’s about empathy, adaptability, and meaningful experience. This session brings together designers from both sectors to unpack how current macro trends—such as hyper-domestication, inclusion, resilience, and multifunctionality—are reshaping our expectations of built environments.

Objective: To spark a dialogue between hospitality and workplace design professionals on how to create emotionally intelligent, future-resilient spaces that support wellbeing, flexibility, and community—regardless of typology.

Discussion Themes: Empathy as the New Metric: How emotional wellbeing, sensory design, and inclusivity are becoming central to both hospitality and workspaces

• Blurring Boundaries: Exploring the “Workspitality” model—spaces that foster comfort, collaboration, and concentration

• Designing for Change: From modular layouts to transformable furniture— how adaptability is redefining value

• Inclusion and Universality: Designing for neurodiversity, multigenerational users, and hybrid living/travel/work needs

• Resilience and Sustainability: How material choices, passive systems, and design foresight can future-proof environments

• From Transactional to Transformational: How design can create a sense of belonging and purpose in both hospitality and the workplace

Speakers: Gurvinder Khurana (Mmoser), Megan Dobstaff (Gensler), Harsha Kotak (WOD), Amani Al Ibrahim (Kristina Zanic Consultants), Alys Byran (Design Insider Magazine)

Agenda: 5.00pm – Welcome and Registrations

5.15pm – Introductions and Presentation of report by Futurea & Ape Grupo

5.45pm – Panel Discussion Start

6.30pm – Audience Q&A (Time Permitting)

7.00pm – Networking Drinks