Designing for Impact: Creating Workspaces that Inspire People & Drive Business Performance

By: Reema Bhandari, Director, M Moser Associates

Reema Bhandari, with over 15years in Design and Construction, leads projects from concept to completion. She prioritizes innovative, flexible workplaces that promote well-being, DEI, and safety, delivering impactful, client-focused spaces across over seven million sq. ft. and more than 50 projects.

In an engaging interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review Magazine, Reema sheds light on how workspace design can impact business performance and employee productivity. She sheds light on the evolution of workspace design in addressing emotional, cultural, and performance needs, influencing KPIs like innovation and cohesion, while balancing well-being elements with brand identity in hybrid work environments. Reema believes design leadership is about foresight and influence—helping organizations not just respond to change, but stay ahead of it.

To know more about Reema Bhandari’s thoughts on workspace design for impact, read the article below.

As organizations reassess workspace needs post-pandemic, how is design responding to function, and emotional, cultural & performance triggers embedded in today’s business objectives?

Design today is no longer a passive backdrop; it’s a powerful influence on how people feel, think, and work. The pandemic has shifted focus from pure efficiency to emotional resonance. Spaces now need to foster psychological safety, cultural expression, and personal connection. At the heart of this shift is empathy; understanding how people behave and what they need to thrive. We’re designing environments that inspire trust and inclusivity while keeping performance front and center. When a space reflects shared values and emotional cues, it doesn't just support the business; it becomes a catalyst for innovation, loyalty, and growth.

As the market shifts toward hybrid work, how are spatial design decisions influencing measurable KPIs like innovation velocity, team cohesion, and cultural assimilation across distributed workforces?

Hybrid work has redefined the workplace—from a place of attendance to a space that builds culture and sparks creativity. Today, design creates moments of intentional interaction, helping teams feel connected across geographies. Flexible planning, quiet zones, and vibrant collaboration areas encourage spontaneous exchange and clarity of purpose. These aren't aesthetic choices—they directly impact outcomes like faster decision-making, team cohesion, and cultural continuity. The space itself becomes a quiet but powerful enabler of trust and innovation. By focusing on how people come together—physically or virtually—design supports business performance in measurable, meaningful ways.

As demand for well-being-centered environments grows, how do you balance biophilic design, neuro-aesthetics, and acoustic strategy to influence productivity without compromising identity and brand expression?

Designing for well-being doesn’t mean losing sight of identity—it means layering the two with care. Biophilia brings nature’s calming rhythm into the space, while neuro-aesthetic principles guide how light, form, and proportion enhance the cognitive flow. Acoustics support both focus and conversation, honoring different work styles. But it’s not just about comfort—it’s about character. These elements are choreographed to reflect the brand’s personality, from material choices to the pace of space. When well-being strategies align with a company’s visual and cultural voice, the result is a workplace that feels both healthy and deeply authentic.

With increased P&L ownership embedded in design leadership roles, how is workspace strategy viewed as a business performance lever rather than a cost center by top decision-makers?

Today’s workspace strategy is viewed less as overhead and more as a tool for transformation. With design leaders increasingly taking on P&L ownership, the conversation has matured. It’s now about how space supports faster onboarding, strengthens retention, and boosts performance. Workspace decisions are informed by data—utilization patterns, engagement metrics, and ROI indicators. Design isn’t just supporting business outcomes—it’s shaping them. This deeper alignment with leadership thinking reinforces that a well-designed environment is a strategic investment that impacts the bottom line. In this context, space becomes a business lever, not just a functional container.

How do you see high-performing environments emerging from the intersection of human-centric insights, agile build methodology, and ROI-focused space utilization in today's competitive design landscape?

High-performing environments emerge when design aligns human needs with agile delivery and strategic value. It starts with understanding people—what motivates them, how they collaborate, and where they thrive. Agile methodologies then bring flexibility, allowing workplaces to evolve alongside shifting priorities. ROI-driven decisions ensure each element serves a purpose—enhancing productivity, reducing operational friction, or improving user experience. At this intersection, design moves beyond aesthetics. It becomes a responsive system that adapts to real-time needs and long-term goals. The true measure of success? A space that performs as intelligently as the people within it.

What aspects of design leadership have become essential in co-creating future-ready environments that don't just support business transformation but also anticipate it?

Design leadership today is about foresight and influence—helping organizations not just respond to change, but stay ahead of it. Co-creation is key, bringing diverse voices into the process to ensure relevance and adaptability. Strong leaders blend intuition with data, storytelling with systems thinking. Emotional intelligence is essential—guiding teams through transformation with empathy and clarity. The role now reaches beyond design to business impact, culture building, and innovation readiness. In this evolving context, design leaders don’t just shape space—they shape how companies adapt, grow, and imagine the future.