What if the future of work isn’t about the things we’re accustomed to today, like places, policies, or trends, but instead centers on the most dynamic element of all: people? In this candid conversation with Kay Sargent, Senior Principal and Director of Thought Leadership, Interiors at HOK, we explore what’s missing from today’s workplace dialogue: a deep understanding of how human behaviors, tools, and processes are changing.

Employee engagement is at a historic low. New terms like “quiet cracking” point to dissatisfaction that runs deeper than ever. Yet, too often, workplace design still reacts to the past instead of anticipating the future. Together, we’ll explore the subtle signals of change at the human level and discuss how designers and organizations can adopt a proactive approach to shaping the future of work.