{"id":1642034,"date":"2026-04-15T09:52:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T13:52:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/observer.com\/?p=1642034"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:01:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:01:34","slug":"wework-chief-designer-discuss-smart-office-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/observer.com\/2026\/04\/wework-chief-designer-discuss-smart-office-design\/","title":{"rendered":"WeWork\u2019s Chief Designer On Creating the Smart Workspace for Modern Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"WeWork
WeWork Go pods at Semafor World Economy. Sissi Cao for Observer<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the bustling floor of the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington D.C. this week, a row of glass-doored WeWork pods by the window offers a much-needed refuge for the business executives, journalists and other attendees looking for a quiet space to get some work done. WeWork launched these portable workspaces, called WeWork Go, at the event. It\u2019s the company\u2019s latest effort to meet the shifting needs of white-collar workers<\/a> in a post-COVID world<\/a>. The architect behind the project, Ebbie Wisecarver, WeWork\u2019s chief design and product officer, said the pods were inspired by the popularity of phone booths at WeWork\u2019s office locations.<\/p>\n

“Work has changed and expanded. We’ve been exploring this idea of introducing [a product] that’s beyond the walls of our spaces,” Wisecarver told Observer near one of those pods. In the return-to-office era, the designer has observed a sharp decline in companies that still want traditional offices and a growing need for flexibility. “They’re more comfortable with having flexible spaces, more soft seating and less desk-heavy spaces,” she said. “Maybe a room is a conference room, but it can also be someone’s office.”<\/p>\n

The pod at the Semafor event features a pale-oak desk, a restaurant booth-style seat big enough for one person and a large bag (though not wide enough for an adult to lie down\u2014Wisecarver is ambivalent about the rising trend of workplace napping pods<\/a>), a coat hook and a few electrical outlets. The design stays true to WeWork\u2019s familiar aesthetic of soft colors, sleek lines and natural light that evoke a sense of home.<\/p>\n

These pods are designed for airports, convention centers, office lobbies and other high-traffic public venues. They rent for about $15\u2013$20 per half-hour, depending on the location. WeWork Go comes in three models: a single-user pod for independent work, a multi-user version that fits up to four people, and an ADA-compatible model designed for universal accessibility.<\/p>\n

Wisecarver has been with WeWork since 2015, through various tumultuous stages of the company that, at its peak, was valued at $47 billion. Long gone are the days when WeWork was a high-flying Silicon Valley unicorn. After years of founder-driven excess followed by a pandemic collapse, WeWork emerged from bankruptcy in 2024 with a new CEO, real estate veteran John Santora, a more traditional governance structure, and a much more cautious strategy.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re operating in the midst of a structural shift in how companies use real estate. It\u2019s no longer one-size-fits-all. Flexibility now sits alongside traditional leases, and our spaces are designed to support that reality,” Santora told Observer via email. “The design of our spaces\u2014whether it\u2019s a full office or our WeWork Go pods\u2014is a direct reflection of our mission to unlock a smarter way to work.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Wisecarver’s design team is now smaller than a few years ago\u2014about 180 people in total, including 20 designers\u2014with some functions like customer support and project management outsourced. The WeWork Go pods themselves are manufactured by furniture maker Bureau.<\/p>\n

\"Ebbie