MCM

Sharing some photos from a great panel at the Workspace Design Show London this past month! It was a pleasure to speak alongside my fellow Interior Design Declares - UK Design Declares members, Cat Hoad, Helen Gordon, and Mathew Freeman in a thought mindful discussion around Circularity and Social Value. Our conversation delved into social and ethical supply chains, circularity, and, most importantly, how collaboration can drive real, impactful solutions. A great example was our partnership between MCM and Nested Living Ltd for office fully dismantlable walls. . Once again, the WDS event was fantastic, and we had a lovely biophilic stage design by Umbrella Furniture, giving me Mediterranean vibes! A huge thank you to Workspace Design Show London, Esha Bark-Jones, and Charlie Bark-Jones for the invite. MCM

Will be there, celebrating B Corp Month! Join us, as it's a great opportunity to hear from Deepak Parmar, who has been deeply passionate about this journey and led the process nearly four years ago for MCM! B Lab UK

B Corp Networking Breakfast – Thursday 27th March 2025, Modus | B Corp™ As a B Corp, we’re a part of an inspiring community - sharing ideas, learning from each other’s journeys, and working together toward a more socially and environmentally responsible future. MCM’s Design Director and B Corp Lead, Deepak Parmar, will be speaking on the panel at a B Corp Networking Breakfast hosted by Modus Furniture. This event brings together fellow B Corps and B Lab UK members from the built environment to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen a community of like-minded businesses committed to driving meaningful change. The discussion will explore the benefits of being a B Corp, the challenges within the current standards, and insights into the upcoming new standard set to launch later this year - all whilst highlighting the power of collective action. Interested in joining? Register your interest with Lucy Crane (PIEMA), Head of Sustainability at Modus Furniture: lcrane@modusfurniture.co.uk #MCM #BCorpMonth #InteriorDesign #Architecture #Consultancy #PeopleBeforeSpace

It’s B Corp Month! B Lab and the global B Corp community come together every March to celebrate what it truly means to be a B Corp - driving positive change for people and the planet. At MCM, we’re proud to be part of this movement, using business as a force for good and shaping a better future. We’re #GenB. Here’s to a brighter tomorrow, starting today. #BCorpMonth B Lab UK #MCM #BCorp #InteriorDesign #Architecture #Consultnacy #PeopleBeforeSpace

This time last week, I joined a panel at the Workspace Design Show London discussing "How we use AI to optimise the workplace experience."   It was a fascinating conversation with Lorena Espaillat and Hamza Shaikh, expertly moderated by Alys Bryan.   We discussed many topics, but one key challenge stood out: AI-driven workplace optimisation is heavily influenced by historical data. It identifies patterns in what has been done before and refines them—but what if those patterns are flawed? If we train AI on decades of office design that prioritised cost-cutting over creativity and wellbeing, then AI will likely optimise for those same priorities—unless we deliberately introduce new success metrics that focus on human experience, adaptability, and performance.   ⚠️ The risk? AI doesn’t question whether those decisions were the right ones in the first place. It just optimises them further.   Instead of just repeating the past, we should be using AI to challenge it. Here are some of the themes we raised.   ✅ AI as a provocateur – What if AI was used to disrupt conventional thinking rather than reinforce it? ✅ Real-time feedback loops – AI shouldn’t just rely on old standards or predictive analysis; it should continuously adjust based on how people actually experience spaces. ✅ AI for options, not solutions – AI can be a powerful co-creation tool, offering innovative approaches—but it still requires human validation to bring cultural nuance and meaning.   We don’t need AI to perfect the past. We need it to help us imagine and create a better future.   💡 Drop me a message if you've seen any great examples of AI being used to improve workplace experience?

🎤 🔥 🎨 What a turnout for our panel on AI, creativity, digital & data in architecture and design. I discussed our proactive approach to digital innovation at Gensler fusing human creativity with cutting-edge technology. - Sharing the stage with Lorena Espaillat, Zaha Hadid Architects and Deepak Parmar, MCM Chaired by Alys Bryan, Design Insider Thanks to Charlie Bark-Jones, Collin Burry FIIDA, LEED AP

For nearly 18 months, Design Insider has been leading the conversation on AI, ensuring its challenges and opportunities are examined beyond surface-level innovation. Our goal is to explore how AI can be meaningfully integrated into design to drive efficiency, enhance sustainability, and improve well-being. We were delighted when Workspace Design Show London invited our editor, Alys Bryan, to moderate a key discussion within their main stage talks programme: Optimising Spaces, Improving Well-Being, and Increasing Productivity – Can AI Do It All? A huge thank you to our brilliant panellists—Lorena Espaillat (Zaha Hadid Architects), Hamza Shaikh (Gensler), and Deepak Parmar (MCM)—for sharing their expertise and perspectives. They challenged us to think harder about the way in which AI can be an effect tool in workplace design. And, of course, our gratitude to event organisers Charlie Bark-Jones and Esha Bark-Jones, as well as Jodie Moore for curating such a thought-provoking talks programme. Key takeaways from the discussion: 🔹 Optimisation starts with purpose. Before leveraging AI, we must first define what we aim to optimise and why—a unique consideration for every designer, studio, and project. 🔹 Data is king. AI is only as powerful as the information we provide. By identifying key data points and systematically building a library, we can train AI to deliver more accurate and meaningful design solutions. The conversation doesn’t stop here. What would you utilise AI to optimise? #AIinDesign #WorkspaceDesign #FutureofAI

Ahead of International Women's Day 2025, Young Enterprise UK is proud to highlight activities taking place across the country that celebrate inspiring examples of Female Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Today they are showcasing Female Leadership to young women at a school in East London. MCM’s Managing Director, Shannon Pope-Ellis is guest speaking to students taking part in YE’s Learn to Earn programme to mark International Women's Day. “As someone who works in a construction related industry, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to speak to students about careers in which women are often underrepresented. Challenging stereotypes and encouraging girls to develop their career aspirations is something I’m really passionate about.” – Shannon Pope-Ellis, Managing Director – MCM #MCM #internationalwomensday #iwd #interiordesign #architecture #consultancy #peoplebeforespace

Introducing our latest project for a Leading Marine Underwriter – London, Bishopsgate. Partnering with MCM to undertake a transformative workplace redesign in Bishopsgate, marking a new era after four decades in their previous location. This dynamic space was thoughtfully crafted to reflect the company’s values, heritage and commitment to innovation. This has fostered an environment that supports collaboration, well-being and productivity. By integrating modern workplace strategies with a deep respect for tradition, the new office empowers employees with an energising and inspiring setting, reinforcing their identity as a globally unified and forward thinking organisation and leading marine underwriter. https://lnkd.in/e4RyNPje #MCM #InteriorDesign #Architecture #Consultancy #PeopleBeforeSpace

Are we optimising the right things?   I’ll be participating in a panel this Thursday at the Workspace Design Show London, where we’ll be tackling a big question:   Can AI do it all? Can it truly ‘optimise’ space and deliver on the promise of bettering human life?   There’s no doubt that AI is revolutionising the workplace—it’s already helping us optimise many things from space allocation to energy usage and workflow automation.   But the trouble with optimisation is that it all depends on what we’re measuring.   Right now, the (limited) AI-driven workplace optimisation we see focuses heavily on: 📏 Efficiency – How many desks can we fit? ⏳ Time-saving – How much faster can we complete a task? 📉 Space reduction – How do we cut down on ‘wasted’ space?   But what if we’re optimising for the wrong things?   A truly high-performing workplace isn’t just about squeezing more out of every square metre—it’s about enhancing: 🧠 Cognitive performance – Does the environment actually help people think, focus, and create? 😊 Wellbeing – Is the workplace reducing stress and supporting mental health? 🤝 Social connection – Are we fostering relationships, innovation, and meaningful human interactions?   Right now, these metrics aren’t factored into AI training models. If AI isn’t learning to optimise for them, it’s reinforcing a narrow definition of ‘better’—one that prioritises efficiency at the expense of human experience.   Maybe it’s time we redefined what optimisation actually means—so that AI isn’t just making workplaces more efficient, but making them better for the people who use them.   This is one of the themes we’ll be exploring in the panel—so if you’re attending, come along and let’s discuss! I'll be joined by Alys Bryan Lorena Espaillat Hamza Shaikh   💡 What do you think? How should we redefine what ‘good’ looks like in AI-driven workplace optimisation?