To celebrate International Women’s Day, we connected with 8 women in workplace design, architecture and strategy across the globe. We asked them about their experience in the industry, how empathy plays a role in design and what more can be done as we work toward a more equitable future workplace.
From New Delhi and Washington, D.C. to South Africa, the United Kingdom and Sweden, Work Design went worldwide to highlight some of the amazing leaders in the A&D industry.
Is empathy an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design? And if so, does it shape how spaces are created, experienced, and lived in?
At the core of architecture lies the responsibility to craft spaces that serve functional needs while enhancing the human experience. While discussions around women’s innate or conditioned empathy shaping design are gaining momentum, I believe empathy in architecture is not solely gendered—it is an essential and evolving approach that all designers should consciously cultivate.
By virtue of social conditioning or instinct, women often bring a heightened awareness of the lived experience into their designs. This manifests in an acute sensitivity toward inclusivity, accessibility, and well-being—whether in housing, workplaces, or public spaces. However, empathy is not exclusive to women; instead, it is a mindset that must be nurtured within the design discourse. The ability to understand and anticipate the needs of diverse users—children, the elderly, women, and marginalised communities—makes spaces truly responsive and human-centric.
In a rapidly urbanising country like India, where function and economic efficiency often take precedence over user experience, designing with empathy becomes even more critical. Whether incorporating shaded walkways to counter extreme heat, planning safer, well-lit public spaces, or designing homes that balance private and community spaces, architecture must move beyond the rigid binaries of function and economy to prioritise how spaces are truly lived in.
True change, however, requires more than individual effort. Policies, urban frameworks, and data-driven insights must reinforce empathy as a fundamental design principle, ensuring that human experience remains central to decision-making. As designers, our role is to create structures and shape environments that foster comfort, dignity, and belonging.
Therefore, the conversation should extend to how we, as an industry, can foster a culture where empathy is not an assumed trait but an intentional design approach. By making it a fundamental design principle rather than an assumed trait, we can shape spaces that are efficient and deeply connected to the people who inhabit them.
How do you believe women’s unique perspectives or lived experiences influence the design process?
I don’t know if it’s just my gender, but I’ve often wondered if the combination of being female, neurodivergent and having a background in textiles has been a great asset to me in what I do. As a design researcher, I work with neurodivergent people, particularly collaborating with autistic individuals who have intellectual disabilities and limited speech. What I do centres around connecting with others, building trust and above all, empathy.
At first, I believed empathy was something I naturally possessed. Over time, though, I’ve realised it’s a quality that has grown and evolved through my practice, especially when working with people whose sensory perceptual experience of the world can differ greatly from my own. Being neurodivergent myself has certainly played a role in this journey, as it allows me to understand and relate to the challenges of perceiving the world in ways that can be overwhelming or disorienting.
My background in textiles has also been crucial to my approach. It’s a field that trained me to engage all my senses—sight, touch, sound, and smell—to fully experience the materials and environments I work with. This heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli has helped me become more attuned to the needs of the people I work with, especially those who experience sensory sensitivities. I’ve learned to slow down, listen carefully, and watch closely to understand what’s happening beyond words, to communicate in a way that transcends spoken language.
Through this process, I’ve learned a great deal about vulnerability. I’ve come to understand that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength that allows for deeper connections and trust.
Empathy, as I understand it, is a skill—a skill that is not confined to gender but is deeply influenced by one’s life experiences and personal values. While I don’t believe empathy is inherently tied to being female, I do believe that our diverse backgrounds and experiences shape the way we approach design. It’s these differences that play a key role in creating environments that truly address the needs of people.
The design industry lacks enough women and non-binary people in leadership roles, and that needs to change. Historically dominated by white, cisgender men, the field must embrace more diverse perspectives and experiences for more inclusive and people-centred design. To create a truly inclusive industry, we must elevate these qualities and empower underrepresented groups to lead, resulting in better, more impactful designs.
While architecture has traditionally been male-dominated, there’s growing discourse around how women’s innate or socially conditioned empathy translates into more human-centred spaces. Is this a perception, or does it hold weight in practice?
Empathy is a key component in architecture, informing the design of spaces and how we experience them. I have found that listening, communicating, and approaching challenges from multiple perspectives in my practice leads to more user-centric and holistic solutions. While many believe women naturally possess these qualities, I see them as critical skills developed through experience and a conscious approach to design.
For me, designing with empathy is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating functional, efficient, and sustainable spaces while being intensely responsive to users and the environment. This is particularly relevant in India, where urban development prioritises function and economy over lived experience. I believe women architects add a nuanced perspective to this discourse that ensures that buildings are structurally sound, socially inclusive, and contextually relevant.
That said, I don’t believe design empathy should be confined to gender differences. While women bring a strong level of intuitive problem-solving, I see a more general movement toward human-centred design evolving across the profession. Architects, regardless of gender, are increasingly integrating empathy into their work by balancing efficiency, sustainability, and user experience.
Ultimately, the emphasis needs to be placed on how we, as architects, approach the challenges of the built environment rather than who is doing the design. Women have played a crucial role in shaping this dialogue. Still, the real goal is to make empathy a fundamental design principle throughout the discipline so that it is part of designing spaces that work for people.
Kay Sargent, Principal and the Director of Thought Leadership, HOK
It’s biological – women tend to relate to people differently than men. As noted in The Athena Doctrine by John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio, female leaders tend to be more expressive, reasonable, loyal, flexible, patient, intuitive and lead more by consensus. They also tend to be more personable and relate to people through stories.
Being the mother of five kids has significantly impacted my view and perspectives. It’s helped me understand how unique we each are, and how we all process sensory simulation differently. Some people need to see something to comprehend it, while others need to touch it or physically interact with things and others are auditory processors. As a designer, I understand the impact the built environment has on us, and how we need to create diverse environments that enable everyone to engage as we best see fit so we can all thrive. One size misfits all.
As a female designer, have you encountered any challenges or biases within the industry that have pushed you to redefine or reshape your creative vision?
I’ve been a practicing designer for 40 years. The industry was definitely different when I first started. It was not uncommon to be the only woman on a job site or in a meeting. Our opinions were not always “heard” in the same way our male colleagues were, and that still occurs today. There were many times where I was the senior person in the room, but the men would address their comments to my male colleagues, who were more junior than I was.
I learned that we can’t control other people’s bias, but you can control how you chose to rise to the occasion and use it as motivation.
Architecture definitely tends to be more male dominated, and the interior design profession may have started that way also, but is now more female dominated. Instinctively, women tend to have the nurture gene, and interior designers are trained to think from the human perspective outward, while architects tend to focus on creating buildings that are monuments. In recent years, there been a movement to make architecture more human-centric – a welcome shift and one that designers have embraced for some time.
The interior design profession is often still not given due credit compared to the architecture. And now, since the interior designer profession tends to be more female dominated, it presents a double-edged sword. But I do believe that there is a growing recognition of a sensitivity and professional expertise that designers bring to the table. It’s debatable whether it’s their training or their female instincts that is making space more human centric and relatable. But in a world where we’re trying to create spaces that are enticing and authentic experiences, those are important aspects to have. But it’s important to note that I know a lot of fabulous male interior designers who have the same sensibilities, and many architects that are truly gifted in creating human-centric spaces.
Is empathy an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design? And if so, does it shape how spaces are created, experienced and lived in?
Empathy in design is often associated with a more intuitive, human-centered approach that considers how spaces are experienced rather than just how they function. In architecture, where form and efficiency have traditionally been dominant considerations, the lived experience is often secondary to economic and functional imperatives. Yet, there is growing recognition of the need for a more empathetic approach in all forms of design and architecture. One that integrates cultural context, history, sustainability and human-centric design. Empathy, then, is not just a gendered trait—it is a critical design tool. Whether through materiality, spatial planning or the integration of local heritage, architecture that prioritizes human experience is becoming increasingly relevant.
Women in architecture and design are deeply passionate about reinterpreting traditional values and the essence of construction in modern practice. Their work often focuses on preserving India’s neglected monuments and significant heritage structures, ensuring that cultural narratives remain woven into contemporary spaces. Women designers frequently draw from local arts, culture, and heritage, using them as foundational elements. This allows them to create spaces that reflect the essence of India and encourages the use of indigenous natural resources—both actively and passively—promoting sustainability in their projects. This approach fosters a deep connection to place and encourages the use of indigenous natural resources—both actively and passively—promoting sustainability in contemporary projects.
This approach does not merely stem from a gendered perspective but from a deeper understanding of how spaces are lived in. It fosters environments that are not only functional but also responsive—supporting diverse interactions, encouraging engagement, and ensuring that every space remains welcoming, accessible, and secure.
I believe that women’s perspectives and experiences contribute significantly to workplace design by emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity and human-centered solutions as well as sustainability. The ability to understand group dynamics and psychological safety helps shape work environments that support both well-being and productivity. In physical workplaces, this translates into designing spaces that foster flexibility, social connection, and accessibility—ensuring that workplaces truly support diverse needs and ways of working.
My experience has taught me to trust in people’s ability and drive—when given the right conditions, both individually and collectively, people can achieve remarkable things. The workplace plays a key role in this by fostering engagement and empowerment, bringing people together to support an organization’s mission and vision. I’ve seen how truly listening to employees and aligning workplace design with their needs creates people-centric, inclusive, and adaptable environments that enhance both well-being and performance.
While A&D has traditionally been male-dominated, there’s growing discourse around how women’s innate or socially conditioned empathy translates into more human-centered spaces. Is this a perception, or does it hold weight in practice?
I absolutely see it in practice. Empathy is a key skill in designing workplaces that truly work for people, helping to bridge the gap between individual needs and business goals. That said, it’s not just about gender—it’s about fostering inclusive leadership that values diverse perspectives and recognizes the human side of workplace design.
There is definitely increasing recognition of the value women bring to leadership in workplace strategy, but challenges remain—especially in decision-making structures. To keep the conversation moving forward, we need to tie it to business outcomes: workplaces designed by diverse teams often deliver better results. The focus should be on fostering environments where different perspectives are not just included but truly shape the future of work.
How can the idea of “designing with empathy” impact future generations of designers and women in design?
Empathy is central to my design philosophy, guiding the creation of spaces that resonate deeply with those who inhabit them. While empathy is often considered an instinctive quality in women’s approach to design, it transcends gender, shaping how environments are created, experienced, and lived in.
By deeply understanding and connecting with users’ emotional experiences, I aim to craft spaces that are functional and profoundly human-centred.
From my early days leading ideation and implementation, I have integrated mentorship with innovation, fostering a collaborative environment at Studio IAAD. My hands-on approach, reminiscent of a passionate newcomer, reflects a deep-seated commitment to understanding and addressing the nuanced needs of users. This empathetic lens is not confined to my professional sphere; it permeates my daily life. Whether interacting with my children and pets or evaluating designs during my travels, my sensitivity to design intricacies underscores my belief that technology cannot replace emotional intelligence. This conviction drives me to infuse a personalised touch into every project, ensuring that spaces are functional and emotionally enriching.
My leadership extends beyond the confines of my studio. As a jury member for prominent awards and a speaker at key industry events, I aim to inspire the next generation of designers to balance innovation with intuition. My journey as an entrepreneur, marked by challenges, showcases resilience and a steadfast focus on meaningful design. Investing my entire salary into building supportive infrastructures for home and office, I underscore the importance of a robust support system in balancing professional aspirations and personal responsibilities.
My approach illustrates that while empathy may be instinctive or socially conditioned in women, its application in design transcends gender. It is a conscious, evolving approach that, when embraced, leads to creating spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and deeply human-centred.
In a country like India—where urban growth often prioritizes function and economy over lived experience, how can empathy in design create more inclusive spaces?
Empathy in design is increasingly recognized as a transformative force in architecture, particularly as women reshape the field with approaches that prioritize human connection and inclusivity. While empathy is not inherently gendered, the lived experiences of women—often shaped by societal roles that emphasize caregiving and community building—can inform a design ethos that centers on accessibility, safety and emotional well-being. This perspective is critical in India’s urban landscape, where rapid development often overlooks the nuanced needs of diverse populations.
Socially Conditioned Lens
Women architects and designers frequently integrate empathy into their work through community engagement and participatory processes. For instance, Phyllis Birkby’s projects emphasized how spaces connect people to nature, using frameless windows to merge interiors with landscapes. Such practices highlight empathy as both a response to exclusion and a tool for inclusive design rather than an innate trait. Similarly, participatory projects like Quinta Monroy Housing in Chile or the Aranya Housing closer to home—though led by male architects—show that empathy-driven design transcends gender when rooted in active listening and co-creation.
Impact on Urban Realities
In India, where urban growth often prioritizes efficiency, empathetic design challenges norms by addressing disparities. For example, Mumbai’s “vertical slums” reflect a failure to consider residents’ dignity. In our projects, like the Gulshan Experience Centre in Noida, we demonstrate how biophilic design principles and planning for climate adaptability can enhance well-being when designers prioritize user needs.
Beyond Gendered Stereotypes
While women have historically championed empathetic design—partly due to societal expectations—the approach itself is not exclusive to gender. Empathy in architecture demands intentionality: collaborating with marginalized communities, leveraging tools like BIM for energy efficiency and addressing spatial inequities. Empathy in design is less about instinct and more about conscious practice. While women’s contributions have expanded its reach—particularly in India’s push for sustainable, inclusive cities—the future lies in universalizing this mindset. By valuing lived experiences over gendered assumptions, architecture can evolve into a discipline that bridges equity gaps and transforms urban spaces into ecosystems of belonging.
