Why it matters: Good multifamily design is not just about units delivered. It can support dignity, durability and stronger neighborhoods. In this I Hear Design episode, RKTB Architects’ Peter Bafitis and Alex Brito discuss how architects can help affordable housing serve residents, communities, and cities for the long term.

Project note: Reverb’s Chicago headquarters shows how adaptive reuse can connect brand culture, employee experience, and place. Inside the Salt Shed, Gensler designed a headquarters where music, gathering space, and local identity give employees a reason to return.

Get materials insights that inform well-being and performance decisions: The most important discoveries during Chicago Design Week may not be the newest products, but the questions designers ask about what those products are made of.

Color cue: Sherwin-Williams’ “Loneliest Color” is less about one shade and more about growing comfort with expressive design. Offbeat Green points to a shift beyond neutral-heavy palettes, as designers use unexpected color to support wayfinding, brand identity, and emotional connection.

Register now: Connect market outlook, brand strategy, and design trends for hospitality environments. Join our upcoming hospitality market webinar to explore how guest expectations, business pressures, and experience-driven design are informing the next wave of hotel and resort projects.

Product lens: Our Chicago Design Week trend watch points to a desire for solutions that do more. From sensory textiles and modular systems to biophilic surfaces, acoustic solutions, and high-performance back-of-house products, new products are poised to help designers support healthier, more flexible, and more responsible interiors.