Stories
At this year’s NeoCon conference in Chicago, Jenna Szczech delivered a compelling talk titled ”Flying Cars and the Concept of Kinship,” which challenged conventional visions of the “office of the future.” Rather than imagining a cold, tech-saturated workplace dominated by automation and holograms, Szczech urged designers to prioritize human connection, belonging, and emotional wellness. Through the concept of “kinship,” she advocated for spaces that foster genuine interpersonal relationships—highlighting that innovation stems not from gadgets, but from people feeling seen, valued, and supported in their environments.
Szczech illustrated with real-world examples from high-tech clients, including those in the emerging flying car industry, who initially asked for futuristic, cutting-edge offices but ultimately wanted environments that felt “better than home.” She outlined planning strategies such as neighborhood-based layouts, community zones, and cultural storytelling to create spaces where all users—across generations, cultures, and neurodiversities—can thrive. Smart, human-centered technologies like adaptive lighting, seamless AV, and intuitive scheduling apps were positioned as tools to support human wellness and collaboration. Her closing message was clear: design should feel like a place where people can connect, grow, and simply “be human.”