Inclusive Design as a Business Strategy: PwC Barangaroo Case Study

Inclusive Design as a Business Strategy: PwC Barangaroo Case Study

By Angela Ferguson

At Futurespace, we believe inclusive design isn’t a niche consideration—it’s a foundational strategy for organisations that want to lead with purpose, performance and people. When PwC engaged us to design their client-facing floors at Barangaroo, they weren’t just seeking a new fitout. They were investing in a future-forward, human-centric experience.

Designing for Everyone—With Neurodiversity in Mind

PwC’s brief focused on creating a calm, intuitive and high-performance environment that could meet the needs of a wide variety of people: clients, staff, partners, and visitors. From neurodiverse individuals to high-performing teams, the design needed to support wellbeing, enable collaboration, and reinforce PwC’s brand.

We responded with a suite of interventions that bring inclusion to life through design:

  • Organic forms that guide movement naturally and reduce physical and cognitive strain

  • Biophilic elements that reconnect people with nature, reduce stress and support focus

  • Soft, neutral palettes that soothe and reduce sensory overload

  • Clear, intuitive navigation to lower anxiety and support independence

  • Multiple interaction modes blending digital and in-person communication for flexibility

These aren’t simply nice-to-haves. They’re design strategies that elevate the experience for everyone—supporting diverse needs without singling anyone out. In other words: design that’s better for all.

Embedding Inclusion = Enabling Transformation

PwC’s inclusive environment delivered far more than just an impressive fitout. It became a catalyst for cultural and commercial transformation.

Some of the outcomes speak for themselves:

  • A 76% increase in client visits, demonstrating the magnetic power of a great workplace

  • Ranked #1 on LinkedIn’s 2017 Top Companies Australians Want to Work For

  • Crowned #1 on the AFR Top 100 Graduate Employers in 2018, outpacing the Big Four

  • Brand strength rose, with PwC becoming the 6th strongest brand globally in Brand Finance’s Global 500 report

  • Internally, 90% of staff reported feeling more effective in the new workplace

  • The workplace became a revenue enabler, supporting new products and services

  • Operational efficiencies followed: more events hosted in-house reduced external spend

Inclusion isn’t an overlay—it’s embedded in the architecture of this space, and by extension, the architecture of PwC’s success.

The Takeaway?

Inclusive design isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business decision. It creates resilient, adaptable environments that reflect an organisation’s values, meet evolving user needs, and drive measurable returns.

At Futurespace, we design for people. All people. Because when you create spaces where everyone can thrive, your organisation will too.

Angela Ferguson