Walk into most offices today and you’ll notice a trend: uniformity. Rows of identical desks, copy-paste meeting rooms, and a muted palette of greys and whites. But according to workplace designer Kay Sargent, this sameness is failing us — especially in an age of neurodiversity and rising sensory sensitivity.

As director of thought leadership at HOK, Kay Sargent has spent four decades at the forefront of global workplace design, and she's calling for a fundamental shift. Her philosophy? “Design for the extreme, benefit the mean.” In other words, workplaces built to support the most sensitive among us — those overwhelmed by sound, light or texture — end up being better for everyone. And with new research suggesting up to 50% of Gen Z identify as neurodivergent, the stakes have never been higher.

In her conversation with Georgina Godwin, Kay outlines the science of sensory design, the business case for inclusive spaces, and the cultural blind spots holding many organisations back. What emerges is a compelling vision for offices as human-centred cultural platforms — not productivity machines, but places that support deep focus, meaningful connection, and long-term wellbeing.

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Visionary returns in 2026! To mark the new year, we begin with a special tribute to a true visionary: Giorgio Armani — a fashion icon whose quiet authority reshaped the meaning of modern luxury. Armani, who passed away in September 2025, never chased scale. His vision was built on restraint, refinement and staying power.

Bestselling author Dana Thomas reflects on the legacy of a designer who understood that beyond a certain size, brands risk losing control — of their quality, their mission, and their meaning. While others raced for market share, Armani built something lasting. His company may have earned less than the likes of Dior or Louis Vuitton, but in terms of influence, he stood alone. On Hollywood’s red carpet, one name still means elegance: Armani.

Visionary is presented by Here East in London — soon to be home to NABA, the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts), as it opens its first campus outside Italy.

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As we step into 2026, the world feels more uncertain than it has in years. Economies are wobbling. Politics is in flux. And the rise of AI has left many wondering not if, but how our lives will be reshaped.

To mark the new year, we’ve brought together three standout voices from our first season: artist Jason Bruges; Professor Amanda Broderick, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London; and Sol Rogers, Director of Innovation at Magnopus.

From how tech is reshaping our cities to the fundamentals of great communication — and whether AI might change them — these conversations offer a glimpse of where we’re headed next.

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