As the largest design firm in the world, Gensler’s team work alongside our clients and partners to create spaces in cities around the globe that provide the backdrop for incredible experiences. Our teams take great care to design places and spaces that seamlessly coalesce with their local community, that are built on an understanding of the history and context of that city, and that are created for all people. Diversity has always been an important part of Gensler’s culture during our 55-year history. Since Gensler’s inception we have believed in the importance and the value of diversity.

We are committed to creating a just and equitable future. Statements are important, but it’s action that will create lasting change. As part of our commitment, we share our inaugural

Diversity Report: Leading by Example

in February. We believe that the strategies along with all of the other efforts detailed in this report will help us to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community at the firm.

We are committed to championing diversity in all of its aspects, as well as addressing the diversity challenges specific to each country. The DE&I Committee of Gensler Greater China Region localize the firmwide strategies and set up the goal for the Greater China region: By incorporating inclusive design, to create a better experience for disabled and aged people.

Earlier in May, we launched the Greater China DE&I Initiatives with a conference held at Gensler Shanghai office, together with participation with Beijing and Hong Kong. A series of exhibition and activities were organized to raise awareness for designers on inclusive design, for we believe in creating an equitable and people-centric experience in the built environment for disabled and aged people.

At the conference, we were honored to have guests from

Sports for the Disabled Shanghai Center 

joining – Director Xutao Gong, Director Chao Wang, Xufeng Zou, wheelchair fencing world champion, and Lili Zhang, wheelchair javelin athlete. Shared their stories, Xufeng Zou and Lili Zhang recount the positive impact that sports had brought to their life.

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For the exhibition, our Gensler

design

ers designed th

ree sensorial exhibits for people to explore

and better u

nderstand from a disabled person’s perspectives (sight, tactile and h

earing impairments) that space need to have inclusive considerations. 

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At our Beijing office, an

activity called ‘One-day in Wheelchair’ was launched. In the challenge, designers go about their daily office routine in wheelchair. At the post-event sharing session, designers shared their frustration, and see the need for inclusive design tools, and spaces to be better designed for accessibility.

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Our team from Hong Kong office designed similar sensory experiences from the perspective of sight impairment – Blindfold Walk, Blindfold Dine-in, and Blindfold Games. Blindfolded, designers have to complete normal tasks like finding their way to their desks, switching on computers and dining-in, all to experience the daily challenges and dangers facing people with visual impairment.

At Gensler, we are committed to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. We are energized and passionate about this mission because we believe that diversity drives innovation. Our vision is to shape the future of cities to be healthy, safe, and equitable places for every person to thrive, through the power of design.