If you are a careful reader of officeinsight magazine (and I hope you are), you may have noticed a slight change of tone in our editorial offerings. We are still writing what I believe are the best and most important stories in our industry, but we are also adding more content from the designers on the front lines.

We’re adding more columns and voices focused on research from design experts. I’m always amazed at how much research is out there that never gets the attention it deserves, not only from major design firms, but from manufacturers as well. And a lot of that research simply sits buried on some website, never to be discovered by those that would benefit from reading it.

I want to introduce you to our newest columnist, Yong In. Yong is a multiple award-winning interior designer and design educator with more than 25 years of experience in spatial design and design strategy. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Purdue University and a Creative Director/Design Strategist at INxD Studio. Her background spans interior architecture, workplace strategy, product design, and experience design, cultivated through roles at firms such as Gensler, SOM, HOK, and VOA/Stantec, among others.

As a whole-brain designer, Yong advocates for a research-based, science-backed, experience-driven, and people-first design approach. She is passionate about crafting spatial stories and creating environments that elevate human experiences and transform how people feel, engage, and thrive, through the power of design. As a design educator, she is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of creatives.

And as a columnist for officeinsight magazine, I know that Yong will bring that deep thinking to the industry, which will help you, dear reader, do your job with a little more knowledge and tools for your tool belt. That is why I think these columns on research are so very important for our readers and our industry.

Yong jumps right in this week with the first in a series of columns on neuroaesthetics and designing for emotion.

This from her column: “With most people in developed countries spending over 90% of their time in built environments, understanding how these spaces affect our emotions, cognition, and well-being has never been more critical. According to acclaimed designer Ilse Crawford, ‘Good design is more than the way something looks, it’s about well-being and making life better. How the interior space is designed really affects how we feel and how we live.’”

We are not stopping there. In the coming weeks, we are going to feature the work of TPG that will provide readers with a comprehensive pulse on current trends in the industry. IIDA experts are contributing fantastic columns every week. We are tapping experts from Gensler and other design firms to help explain how the industry is changing and what we can do better. And not all of it is simply research. In a recent issue, we featured a guest column from Kirsten Cessna, a busy mother of two and a co-managing director of Gensler Austin, who explained how she juggles career and family.

I believe there is room in our magazine for images of pretty offices and cool new products too, but without some meat and real substance, it can feel as if you are fed cotton candy as the main course. It might be tasty for a minute, but if that’s all you are ingesting, you’re going to get sick of it very quickly.

So welcome to the officeinsight buffet, where we are going to feed you a well-balanced meal that includes weighty topics and news you can actually use along with some tasty deserts as well.