The Office Isn’t Dead—It’s Just Badly Designed for Today’s Workers

Great Mondays Radio

For years, we’ve debated whether the office still matters. But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question? What if the problem isn’t where we work—but how those spaces are designed to support us?

On this episode of Great Mondays Radio, host Josh Levine talks with Valerie Jardon, Managing Director of Strategy at Interior Architects, about the intersection of space, experience, and culture. Valerie leads multidisciplinary teams that bring human science into architecture, helping organizations build spaces that don’t just look good—but feel good to work in.

Together, they unpack the quiet signals physical space sends, how poor design can erode trust, and why the return-to-office conversation needs to shift from mandates to meaning. You’ll learn how something as small as a wellness room—or as subtle as scent—can impact employee engagement, and why convenience is more than a perk. It’s culture in action.

Whether you’re reimagining your workplace or just trying to understand what’s keeping people from coming in, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer a new lens on what office design can—and should—do for today’s workforce.

About Our Guest:

Valerie Jardon is the Managing Director of Strategy at Interior Architects, where she leads teams focused on aligning culture, experience, and space. Her background in human-centered design helps organizations turn research into real-world environments that support autonomy, wellness, and connection. Learn more at interiorarchitects.com.

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