SXSW 2025 – here are our favorite takeaways 🚀

Tech is changing work—we know that. But how do we design spaces that truly keep up? Our CEO Gerhard was at SXSW 2025 to explore exactly that. He returned from Austin with three key insights that resonate deeply with our work at PLANET

👉 Third places matter. Cafés, co-working spaces, cultural hubs—real social networks happen offline. If we don’t design for serendipity, we risk losing something essential. The best spaces don’t just function—they connect.
👉 Work is being rewritten. Not just tweaked, but fundamentally redefined. Where, when, and why we work is shifting. Either we shape it, or it shapes us. Flexible, adaptive environments will define the future of work.
👉 Neurodiversity isn’t a niche—it’s the future of workplace design.
Most workspaces are still built for a one-size-fits-all workforce. But people process their environment differently. Acoustics, lighting, spatial zoning—designing with diversity in mind creates spaces that work for everyone.

A huge thank you to Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria, Georg Tremetzberger, Kathrin Pfleger-Weiß, Reanne Leuning, and the Upper Austrian Delegation for making this exchange happen! 

📌 Want to dive deeper? Read Gerhard's full SXSW takeaways:

📌 Rethinking Work – Rishad Tobaccowala: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1146922

📌 Breadth is the new depth – Mike Bechtel: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1146822

📌 The Future of Innovation: Spaces for Humanity & Connection - Dan Burgar, Kristine Colosimo, Mark Masongsong: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1146822

📌 Science of Design: Leveraging Data To Address Neuroinclusion - Kay Sargent: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP1147489