See what’s ahead for design in 2013 with our newest publication, the Gensler Design Forecast 2013 (PDF).
Sonya Dufner 
Photo courtesy of Grind
Every time I hear someone question the growing power of social media, I’m tempted to jump in the conversation with a few salient points:
Matt Jackson 
Photo credit: Gensler
Changes abound within the European tech sector. An increasing number of companies are fleeing sprawling corporate campuses in favour of urban digs.
Philip Tidd 
Photo credit: Level 39 Europe's largest 'Fin/Tech accelerator', Canary Wharf, London (Gensler).
Following his participation as a panelist at two Gensler ‘The Office is Dead’ seminars at the Developing Cities Exhibition and the 100% Design Exhibition in London, Neil Usher (@workessence) returned the favour by inviting our own Philip Tidd to participate in his ‘Virtual Cuppa’ series published in December’s edition of On Office magazine.
For companies with mobile employees, work continues despite empty offices.
It goes without saying that Superstorm Sandy was a devastating natural disaster that will not soon be forgotten in cities on the East Coast. While the focus remains on helping those who need it most, something that cannot be overlooked is the disruption to business continuity experienced by many organizations, which simply wasn’t anticipated by most disaster recovery plans. The scenario goes like this: the building is standing, and the power is even back on, but no one can get here!
Philip Tidd 
The Damien Hirst designed Union Jack at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games.Photo courtesy of the Daily Mail.
The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) should get gold themselves for organizing a showcase games in terms of planning/design/execution, sustainability and a legacy of urban regeneration. After the euphoria of Britain’s very own goldrush and stellar performances from global superstar athletes, we now return to post-Games reality in London. In time, we will see lasting benefits to the East London area as the Olympic Park physically transforms itself to become a new vibrant quarter of London, eventually to be rechristened Queen Elizabeth Park.
So what other likely Olympic legacy themes will we see emerge, post-Games? The strapline of The Games was “inspire a generation” (to participate in more sports), but what about “inspiring a (re)generation” of working styles? I believe this theme - largely unexplored until the Games themselves were upon us – has enormous potential for the Capital and other major metropolitan cities: inspiring a flexible working revolution.
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