The duck, the data, and the design that makes them work: A conversation with Aflac and Meta

In this episode, Wesley talks with Aflac’s Office Design & Planning Supervisor, Lelitha Williams and Meta Workplace Designer, Emily Burchill about what it really means to create employee-centric spaces. Together they unpack how empathy, flexibility, and a little bit of hospitality thinking can turn workplaces into environments where people actually feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best work. These two women are doing amazing work for big companies and you won't want to miss their insights in this jam-packed episode.
 

Key Insights

• Employee-centric workplace design prioritizes productivity, well-being, and sustainability by creating spaces that support employees' everyday needs.
• Understanding employee experiences through conversations, daily activity mapping, and hands-on testing helps designers develop more intentional and effective workplace solutions.
• Flexible workplace environments can transform existing spaces into collaborative, adaptable settings that strengthen company culture without requiring complete renovations.
• Agile workplace design balances company-wide standards with the unique needs, workstyles, and cultures of individual teams.
• Data-driven space planning uses occupancy trends, employee behavior, and utilization research to create flexible environments that offer greater choice and efficiency.
• Hospitality-inspired workplace design brings personality, comfort, and meaningful experiences into offices while encouraging creativity and connection.

Learn more about Lelitha Williams
Lelitha Williams is the Supervisor of Office Design & Planning at Aflac, where she leads workplace design strategies focused on sustainability, employee well-being, and operational excellence. With a background in interior design and an MBA, she combines creativity with strategic thinking to develop flexible, people-centered environments that support collaboration and company culture. A passionate advocate for thoughtful design, Lelitha has also served as a Best of NeoCon juror, helping recognize innovative solutions shaping the future of commercial interiors. Connect with Lelitha on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Emily Burchill
Emily Burchill, NCIDQ, IIDA, is an experienced interior designer and workplace design professional with more than 12 years of experience creating innovative, people-centered environments. With a background in commercial interiors and global workplace strategy, she has contributed to projects for leading companies, including Meta and Google. Emily brings a thoughtful, data-driven approach to design, emphasizing flexibility, employee experience, and the importance of creating spaces that support different ways of working. She was also recognized as a Rising Star honoree at the 2017 Interior Design HiP Awards. Connect with Emily on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Wesley Edmonds
Wesley Edmonds is the Director of Workplace at OFS, where she combines her background in interior design with a passion for relationship-building, workplace strategy, and the future of work. After beginning her career as a commercial interior designer, Wesley transitioned into the furniture industry, bringing together design expertise and business development to help create more thoughtful, human-centered environments. As a contributor to Imagine a Place and host of In the ROOM, she is dedicated to fostering meaningful conversations that inspire designers, challenge industry thinking, and explore how the spaces we create shape the way people live and work. Connect with Wesley on LinkedIn.

Read More about Wesley in the Imagine a Place Journal

Learn more about In The ROOM. 
In the ROOM is a podcast series from Imagine a Place that brings listeners into candid, on-site conversations with the designers, strategists, and creative leaders shaping the future of work, culture, and human-centered spaces. Hosted by Wesley Edmonds, Director of Workplace at OFS, the series is recorded live inside ROOM’s modular, soundproof environments at leading industry events, offering a front-row seat to bold ideas, emerging trends, and the people redefining how spaces help us feel, connect, collaborate, and live. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.