As the needs of employees continue to evolve, it is crucial for the spaces that support them to adapt accordingly. Our aim is to create an environment that caters to individual requirements while fostering growth and development.

Recently, our Workplace Practice teammates, Chen Hui Spicer, Alexis Trainor, and Cam Pierce, served as jurors for NeoCon’s “Best Of” program, where they observed the latest emerging trends. These trends highlight a focus on comfortable sensory experiences to address neurodiversity and ensure that all individuals feel supported and included.

Choice Matters: Comfortable Seating

In the dynamic landscape of modern workplaces, prioritizing comfort and providing choices that cater to individual needs and preferences has become an indispensable strategy. The Hightower Flote Lounge Chair was not only named in NeoCon’s Best Of program, it is comfortable, yet supportive and functional. It emulates the comfortable seating people became accustomed to while working from home, recognizing the same sensory experience could be experienced when in the office.

Chen Hui Spicer, NCIDQ, CID, Regional Design Leader

Staying on Task: Flexible Focus Rooms

Traditional private office setups have given way to adaptable and employee-centric approaches. Flexible focus rooms and phone booths like Omniroom by Mute, are an ideal addition for flexible workspace concepts. Recognized for its innovation at NeoCon, it takes flexibility a step further, offering informal work settings that replicate the comfort and familiarity of being at home, promoting relaxation and rejuvenation.

Alexis Trainor, Senior Interior Designer

Sound it Out: Acoustic Excellence

Enhancing the acoustic setting cannot be underestimated in today’s workplace. By improving sound quality within the built environment, distractions can be diminished and stress can be eliminated for employees creating a balanced sensory experience. Gather Acoustical by Wolf Gordon was recognized at NeoCon for offering form and function. As a sustainable wall treatment, it effectively absorbs and diffuses noise, while boasting visually appealing textures, patterns and designs.

Cam Pierce, Interior Designer

There are many things in this world that transcend boundaries, like art, literature, human rights, science, food, the environment, and emotions. While I count many of these among my passions, I’d like to focus on one – design.

Imagine the chaotic, high-energy atmosphere of a store compared to the respectful, serene healing spaces of a doctor’s office. At first glance, they might seem worlds apart, but look closer, and you’ll find that design – specifically human-centered design – is the bridge that connects them.

Human-centered design isn’t confined to one industry or another; it’s a universal language that enhances the human experience no matter the location, application, or size of a space. Let’s talk about some commonalties:

The Art of Creating Experiences

Human-centered design is all about creating experiences that put people…humans… at the epicenter of the experience. Whether you’re stepping into a captivating retail space, enjoying a relaxing stay in the hospitality sector, optimizing your workspace for productivity, or seeking wellness in a healthcare facility, the essence remains the same. It’s about making people’s lives better by delighting, informing, and engaging them and their unique needs. It’s about designing environments that heal, guide, uplift, or fuel productivity.

One Financial, Boston

Personalization and Human-Centered Design

Personalization is a fundamental component of design, enabling the customization of the experiences to individual preferences and needs. Brands that incorporate personalization into the design of their experiences see a significant 10-20% increase in satisfaction. This trend is evident across various industries, illustrating the shared human desire for recognition and individualism in a “me”-centric world.

ispace, Minneapolis

Seamless Journeys and Wayfinding

Have you every struggled to navigate a hotel, searched for the restrooms in a workplace, been lost in a store, or been challenged to find your way around a hospital? Effective wayfinding ensures visitors can effortlessly navigate spaces, whether they’re hunting for latest gadget, on their way to a doctor’s appointment, or navigating the new hotel property where they’ll spend their vacation week. According to the International Sign Association, a well-designed wayfinding system reduces confusion and stress levels, enhancing the overall user experience.

Madison Yards, Atlanta, GA

Tech as an Enabler

Technology has transformed from a simple tool to an essential part of our everyday lives. It’s the thread that ties us to our modern world, shaping our global experiences and interactions. This tethering of humanity to technology is a fundamental aspect of design; we rely on it as our primary source of information, entertainment, and communication. How tech is integrated into the experience can and should range from loud and visible to calm and discovered.

American Girl, Various Locations

The Power of Cross-Collaboration

In today’s interconnected world, it’s increasingly clear that collaboration across disciplines is essential to drive design innovation. Designers, architects, and strategists from all sectors bring distinct perspectives, sources of inspiration, and best practices, opening channels of communication and sharing that unlock the potential for growth, innovation, and positive change. This collaborative dynamic is a testament to the versatility of design principles that prioritize people at the center of every experience, sparking new, exciting possibilities that can shape a brighter, more connected future.

The Gathering at South Forsyth, Alpharetta, GA

As a collective design community, we share a fundamental truth that transcends the boundaries of our individual industry sectors: we have more similarities than differences when it comes to creating, designing, and building experiences that are not only brand relevant but also engaging for us – humans. Whether we’re optimizing workplaces, shaping healing healthcare spaces, crafting relaxing hospitality getaways, increasing productivity in a warehouse, or shaping retail, the core principle remains constant. It’s about putting people, their needs, and their emotions at the center of our creative process. This shared commitment to enhancing the human experience unites us in a common mission, as the universal language of design thrives on its ability to inspire, innovate, and transform the world around us.

NEW YORK — February 17, 2023 — Award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide welcomes Shay Lam as Studio Leader of Workplace, Asset Strategy, and Hospitality. Shay will collaborate with firm leadership to establish NELSON Worldwide as a stronghold in the New York and tri-state area.

“Shay’s vast industry experience has strengthened his level of design leadership,” says NELSON Worldwide Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr. “He is well-versed in the New York market, with work spanning across the country and the globe. His expertise will extend beyond the workplace, asset strategy, and hospitality practices and contribute to the firm’s overall growth.

Passionate about storytelling through design, Shay has spent the last 20 years of his career crafting hospitality spaces that have redefined the guest experience. Shay believes that to create a memorable space for guests, the right materials, details, and layouts need to be incorporated to evoke the appropriate level of comfort and excitement. With a proven track record for delivering successful projects, Shay has gained experience building practices and supporting their short and long-term growth. His experience driving design innovation and developing projects that inspire the masses will allow him to seamlessly step into his new role. At NELSON, Shay will lead a multi-disciplinary studio across the workplace, asset strategy, and hospitality teams and will be responsible for building client relationships to grow the firm’s portfolio. He will oversee projects, manage teams, and deliver innovative results while working alongside the NELSON team to offer clients new and exciting concepts for the industry.

“Hospitality touches nearly every aspect of design,” says Shay. “The ability to infuse hospitality into multiple sectors is important, especially regarding workplace and asset strategy because we’re helping bring people back to the office and tenants back into buildings. As Studio Leader of Workplace, Asset Strategy & Hospitality, I look forward to working with the talented NELSON team to push the boundaries of design.”

As NELSON Worldwide grows and scales across the Eastern Seaboard, Shay will work alongside leadership to support the firm’s expansion.

###

About NELSON Worldwide

NELSON Worldwide is an award-winning firm, boldly transforming all dimensions of the human experience through architecture, interior design, graphic design, and brand strategy. With more than 700 teammates across 20 offices, the firm’s collective network provides strategic and creative solutions that positively impact where people work, serve, play, and thrive. The team combines industry knowledge, service expertise, and geographic reach to deliver projects across the country and around the world. Client partnerships across the NELSON network include Hilton, Macy’s, Comcast, Simon Property Group, Prologis, Yum! Brands, Boston Consulting Group, T-Mobile, Emory Healthcare, SAP Fieldglass, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Kroger, Hyatt, Bayer, Target, and many more.

PHILADELPHIA — APRIL 24, 2023 — NELSON Worldwide, an award-winning architecture, design and strategy firm, is excited to announce the promotion of Jeff Cumpson to Director, Sales Marketing. By guiding the direction of all sales marketing activity, Jeff will play an important role in cultivating relationships with stakeholders, and create a lasting impact on the firm’s business development and overall brand reputation. 

“Jeff has proven to be a valuable and impactful contributor to both the Sales Marketing team and the firm,” says Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at NELSON Worldwide, John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr. “I’m confident that his ability to strategize and effective leadership skills will result in new, exciting achievements and his continued success at NELSON.”

Formerly Marketing Manager, Strategy at NELSON, Jeff brings over 10 years of marketing experience to his directorship. His existing familiarity with the brand and team give Jeff a critical advantage in his elevated role, enabling him to effectively and efficiently execute his responsibilities. Aligned with NELSON’s guiding principles, Jeff will remain committed to thinking critically and strategically, connecting the “big picture” to the day-to-day operations of the Sales Marketing group. Across all of his job functions, from identifying new opportunities to creating and implementing marketing materials to supporting departmental and organizational projects, Jeff’s multifaceted skill set and thoughtful approach will ultimately contribute to his success in this new endeavor.

“I am very excited for this opportunity,” says Jeff. “I feel incredibly fortunate to work with such talented and dedicated teammates and to have supportive senior leadership. I’ve learned so much from so many people in my time at NELSON, and I hope that continues while we advance toward our collective goals.”

Jeff prides himself on his ability to understand what will resonate with different types of clients. Prior to joining NELSON, he worked for institutionally-focused architecture and engineering firms and contributed to developing productive relationships with clients, including Harvard University, Center City District of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. At NELSON, he has worked closely with the Workplace practice, driving pursuit strategy and helping to articulate the firm’s thoughts on the future of the workplace. He also enthusiastically embraces management and operations and will continue to encourage his teammates’ individual development as well as that of the department. Jeff graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Gettysburg College.

###

About NELSON Worldwide

NELSON Worldwide is an award-winning firm, boldly transforming all dimensions of the human experience through architecture, interior design, graphic design, and brand strategy. With more than 700 teammates across 20 offices, the firm’s collective network provides strategic and creative solutions that positively impact where people work, serve, play, and thrive. The team combines industry knowledge, service expertise, and geographic reach to deliver projects across the country and around the world. Client partnerships across the NELSON network include Hilton, Macy’s, Comcast, Simon Property Group, Prologis, Yum! Brands, Boston Consulting Group, T-Mobile, Emory Healthcare, SAP Fieldglass, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Kroger, Hyatt, Bayer, Target, and many more.