Tech as an Amplifier
Date
May 15, 2025
Catagory
Events
As technology continues to evolve at a lightning pace, it forces us to constantly reckon with our relationship with physical spaces and human-made systems. Yet, in this rush to innovate, human needs—unchanged throughout history—are often overlooked. In this virtual event, we sit down with Raphael Gielgen, Trendscout of Vitra to discuss how we can harness technology to amplify human strengths rather than letting it dictate our direction.

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In the final installment of the WorkShape Labs series, we explored the rapidly evolving relationship between technology and the workplace with Raphael Gielgen, Trendscout at Vitra. As someone who visits 15-20 countries annually in search of emerging workplace trends, Rapha offered a unique global perspective on how technology is reshaping not just where and how we work, but the fundamental nature of work itself.
The Accelerating Pace of Change
"Never before has the future become present so fast," observed Rapha, highlighting how multiple concurrent forces are transforming our world at unprecedented speed. Among these catalysts:
COVID-19 served as our "first entering in the gym" to challenge knowledge work status quo
The war in Ukraine created economic and social pressure in Europe
A massive technology transition with AI at the forefront
Green transition with companies committed to net zero
Demographic shifts creating labor shortages in developed economies
Geo-economic fragmentation leading to supply chain realignment
Persistent economic uncertainty
What makes this moment unique is that we're simultaneously facing all these challenges while developing the resilience to navigate them. As Mark Benioff of Salesforce recently observed, "We are the last generation of CEOs who only deal with humans. The next generation will deal with humans and machines."
The Changing Nature of Assets
Perhaps the most profound shift Rapha highlighted is the fundamental change in what we value economically: "Fifty years ago, 90% of the assets on S&P 500 balance sheets were physical assets—cars, buses, machinery. Now it's the opposite—90% are intangible assets—code, content, knowledge, relationships."
This transformation creates a new competitive reality where "every physical product today competes with a virtual alternative—something faster, more scalable, affordable, often more instantly accessible." This includes buildings, workplaces, and even furniture.
Rapha explained that AI has two fundamental powers: to augment and to automate. Currently, most organizations focus on automation, but the greater potential lies in augmentation—using technology to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.
Reimagining Physical Spaces
When Brett asked what would draw people to physical spaces in the future, Rapha offered a fascinating insight: "When we are faced with challenging material, our brains are forced to work harder. We grapple with concepts, make connections, and ultimately the way we work together is much more meaningful."
He described future workplaces as "exercise halls for the brain" where space settings are intuitive, and the limitations come from people themselves, not from the environment. These spaces won't constrain what's possible—they'll expand it.
Rapha shared examples of this emerging approach at institutions like the Royal College of Art in London, the MIT Media Lab, and various forward-thinking companies creating spaces where "software and hardware, man and machine, codes and connection all merge together."
The Desk Dilemma
A significant portion of the conversation focused on questioning the central role of desks in workplace design. Brett pondered whether technology might enable entirely new postures and ways of working, while Rapha described two divergent futures:
The Utopian Perspective: Rapha highlighted emerging fields like neuroarchitecture and neurodesign that are merging neuroscience with design principles. He mentioned the University of London's first international center for neuroarchitecture and neurodesign, where they invite "real estate developers, museums, shopping mall operators to transform environments into adaptive ecosystems that nurture both people and the planet."
The Dystopian Possibility: The conversation also acknowledged the potential for technology to create new forms of surveillance and control—where spaces monitor our every interaction and algorithms serve as managers. As Brett noted, there's a fine line between technology that coaches and supports us versus technology that constantly evaluates and judges us.
Learning and Growth in a Technological Age
When discussing Kevin's chat question about the future of universities, Rapha championed the continued importance of contextual and social learning. He described the Bright Rock School in San Francisco where students build their own chairs on the first day—an exercise in hands-on problem-solving that technology can't replace.
Similarly, he pointed to MIT's "How to Build Almost Everything" course, where students learn practical skills across multiple disciplines. As Rapha explained, "90% of undergraduates go there and learn everything—metal workshop, wood workshop, fabric, additive manufacturing, electronics. If you do research, you'll find blogs from MIT students explaining how important this education was for them."
The key, Rapha suggested, is not abandoning educational institutions but evolving them to teach "future literacy, technology literacy, human literacy, data literacy."
Work-Life Boundaries
One of the most profound observations Rapha shared came from his experiences in different cultures. He noted that in China, despite technological surveillance, people in residential areas maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life: "They have their rituals for lunch or dinner together, how to chit-chat, play, spend time outside. They separate their work habits from their private habits."
By contrast, in the West, "we mix it up—there are no boundaries anymore, and that makes it complicated." Rapha recalled his early career as a carpenter: "Those days when I worked as a carpenter and left the workshop at four o'clock, my work went to sleep. Since deciding to do something different, my work never went to sleep anymore."
This reflection resonated deeply with Brett, who envisioned a future where technology might help us create more meaningful work with clearer boundaries—where we're "not doing dumb things like sending emails all day or sitting in meaningless meetings about meetings, but actually doing things we're passionate about, connected to other people, very engaged, not distracted."
The Beta Office
When asked if organizations are fundamentally changing how they work before discussing furniture or workplace design, Rapha estimated that about 30% of Vitra's clients are genuinely focused on "what is beyond the gloss—finding the truth behind it."
These forward-thinking companies share a common trait: they embraced agile working methods with flatter hierarchies years ago. They understand the concept of the "beta office"—a workplace in permanent beta mode, continuously evolving and adapting. Rapha noted that these organizations "don't talk about office rules because they understand what's non-negotiable for success—when to stay home and when it's critical to be at the office."
Interestingly, Rapha observed that companies producing physical products often find this transition more challenging because "the product is the center of gravity, and this product gives an influence into the body language of the space." However, he cited On, the Swiss sportswear company, as an example of a manufacturer embracing this beta approach to workspace design.
The Human Element
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the conversation came at the end when Brett asked Rapha about the most impressive thing he'd seen recently. Rather than highlighting a technological innovation, Rapha described visiting Manthey Racing in Germany, where 300 people work on racing cars for Porsche and other manufacturers.
What struck him wasn't their tools or systems but their dedication: "No Kanban boards, no OKRs, no KPIs, nothing of that—just amazing teamwork and the task given by a deadline." The passion, precision, and purpose these craftspeople brought to their work transcended any management system or technological enhancement.
Similarly, Rapha admired the culture of Liverpool Football Club, where "a deep social connection in the way of a tribe aligns all actors—the spectators, the players, the trainers, the investors, and even the entire city." This human connection creates something technology alone cannot replicate.
Key Takeaways for the Future Workplace
Think ecosystem, not organization: Future-focused companies will be embedded in ecosystems of partners, learning institutions, investors, and communities. "A company by themselves is not strong enough anymore to step into this new world."
Reimagine space as an amplifier: The most innovative workplaces will be "exercise halls for the brain" that enhance human capabilities rather than constrain them.
Prioritize augmentation over automation: While automation eliminates tasks, augmentation enhances human capabilities—focus on how technology can make people better at what they do.
Embrace the "beta office": The most successful organizations adopt a permanent beta mindset, continuously evolving their spaces and practices rather than seeking a fixed solution.
Rediscover work-life boundaries: Technology has blurred the lines between work and personal life; intentionally recreating these boundaries may be essential for wellbeing.
Don't forget the human element: The most impressive workplaces are still those with deeply committed people aligned around shared purpose—no management system or technology can replace this.
As we navigate this period of unprecedented change, Rapha's insights remind us that technology should serve as an amplifier of human potential rather than a replacement for it. By focusing on how technology can enhance our uniquely human capabilities—creativity, connection, purpose, and passion—we can create workplaces that are both more productive and more fulfilling.
Want to continue this conversation? Contact Omar or Sandy to participate in our follow-up podcast where we'll explore these ideas further with additional experts.