Design Lives Here

Did you know 1 in 4 people in the workplace are neurodivergent? Or that Barclays reckons every £1 spent on inclusive design at their new Glasgow campus saved them £100 in retrofitting?
In this episode of Design Lives Here, I sit down with Martha Andrews, interior designer at Keppie, to dig into what neurodiversity really means for workplace design — and why it's so much more than a box-ticking exercise. Martha's background in healthcare design gives her a fascinating perspective on how offices can (unintentionally) make people feel exactly like those big, daunting hospital buildings we all dread.
We talk acoustics, lighting, colour (why red is a no-no!), pattern, wayfinding, biophilia — and the great fake plant debate. Plus why choice and flexibility are the golden rules, what SMEs can do without a Barclays budget, and why Gen Z are turning down jobs because of the office environment.
This conversation follows on from my episode with Morag Dearsley of Form Design on perimenopause and menopause — where "perimenopause made me neurodivergent" was the line that stuck with me and inspired this one.
⏱ Chapters below — and if this resonates, subscribe for more conversations about the spaces we live and work in.

Brain fog. Anxiety. Hot flashes. These aren't personal failings — they're real, they're disruptive, and for too many women, they're the reason a career quietly ends before it should.
Small design shifts can signal something much bigger: quiet zones, adjustable temperature, natural light. But this isn't just about square footage — it's about culture. About normalising conversations around hormonal health the same way we talk about mental health or neurodiversity.
This is a snippet from my recent conversation with workplace specialist Morag Dearsley of Form Design — recorded for both Design Lives Here and The Peri Survivor. It's one of those interviews that stayed with me long after we stopped recording.
What's one change you think workplaces could make right now?

What does it actually take to bring a neglected part of a city back to life — properly, not just on paper?
In this episode I sit down with Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway, and Lisa Blyth of 7N Architects, to dig into one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in Scotland right now. We talk about what it means to build a genuine ecosystem — not just housing, not just offices, but a living, breathing community where people can walk out their front door and into their life.
We cover everything from biodiversity strategies and the power of landscape, to the 20-minute neighbourhood, the role of independent hospitality, and why volume house builders are driving us all a little bit mad.
This one's for anyone who cares about how our cities are shaped, who shapes them, and why leadership, collaboration and a clear set of values make all the difference.
Recorded at East Works, Dalmarnock — right in the heart of the Clyde Gateway masterplan area.

In this episode of Design Lives Here, Sara Seravalli sits down with Nicky Wightman, Director of Emerging Trends at Savills, to explore a topic the built environment has overlooked for far too long: food.
What does “good” look like in design today?
And why should real estate developers care about what’s on our plates?
Together, Sara and Nicky dive into the powerful intersection between food systems, property, placemaking and community wellbeing. From Scandinavian leadership in progressive design to Glasgow’s vibrant youth culture and food scene, this conversation challenges the industry to rethink how cities nourish their people — physically, socially and economically.
They explore:
How food choices impact both personal health and the environment

Why access to healthy food is a real estate issue

Global cities leading the way in food systems thinking

The cultural power of local produce

Why food connects communities and brings joy

And there’s a special little cameo from our wonderful in-house chef Darren Morton, reminding us that design and food are never just theoretical — they’re lived, tasted and shared.
As always, there’s also a personal thread woven through the conversation — Sara is currently fundraising for Macmillan in the boldest way possible 💚
If you care about the future of cities, community and meaningful design — this one is for you.
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New Episode: Nurturing Leadership in the Built Environment
In this powerful conversation, four respected leaders from across the built environment - Gillian Stewart, Rebecca Heald, Caroline Baker, and Emma Lepley - join me to unpack what it truly means to lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose in an industry still shaped by legacy behaviours and systemic challenges.
Drawing on ONS statistics, lived experience, and years spent navigating high-pressure environments, our panel reflects on the state of representation, the impact of everyday culture, and why genuine leadership requires more than performative gestures. While the numbers still show a stark gender imbalance, the discussion moves beyond the idea of “women in construction” and instead centres on how we nurture future leaders, build healthier workplaces, and create conditions where talent can thrive.
This is not just a conversation about inequality - it's a call to action for better leadership across the industry.
Key themes include:
• The realities behind the latest ONS statistics
• Why progress isn’t linear—and why it matters
• How to recognise baked-in systemic issues
• Leadership vs performative inclusion
• The next steps for building a more equitable industry
Whether you're in architecture, construction, development, or simply care about shaping better places, this episode offers insight, honesty, and a clear reminder: there is still a long way to go, but change starts with leadership.