September 28, 2022, Lake Bled, Slovenia

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People
Place
Performance

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Crystal Palace, Ljubljana, Slovenia

2nd Annual Conference & Exhibition

People
Place
Performance

Workplace Design Conference

WDC19 was a great success with over 100 attendees, 10 sponsors & exhibitors and a new media partner The Slovenia Times. See photos from the event.

WDC20 will be even bigger and better so stay in touch.

Alenka Kragelj Eržen

FOUNDER & CEO
KRAGELJ ARCHITECTS, SLOVENIA

Workplace Design Conference is an experience-based, results-focused event bringing together professionals and business leaders who strive to create more efficient workspaces for their organizations.

Join us for a day full of questions and answers, challenges and solutions and best practice case studies from the local and international workplace strategy projects.

You could tell that people were eager to learn

“ Simply put, this was a GREAT conference! You could easily tell that people were eager to learn; a few hands were always up, taking photos of slides. Myself included. 🙂 There is nothing sweeter than “stealing” a little piece of inspiration. As far as I know, this was one of the first regional Workplace Design conferences, which is surprising when you think of the amount of time we spend in offices. Keep up the great work, and see you next year! “
Luka Milković
Business Manager Hungary & AdriaticsSteelcase

Our Attendees

Workplace Design Conference is designed for Business Leaders, Workplace Strategists, HR Professionals, Facility Managers, Real Estate Professionals, Interior Architects, Designers and other key people who want to improve performance, collaboration and talent retention in their organizations by matching design and technology with strategic vision and sound management.

Workplace Design Conference Speakers

Dr. Nigel Oseland

WP Strategist & Change Manager
Workplace Unlimited, UK

Nigel Oseland is a workplace strategist, environmental psychologist and change manager who understands the human experience, specifically what sort of behaviors can lead to greater engagement in the workplace, more ideas and higher productivity.
Nigel Oseland is a sought-after international speaker, and author of several papers and books, including “Improving Office Productivity – A Practical Guide for Business and Facilities Managers”. Back in 2003 he set up the Workplace Trends series of conferences which grew into a must-attend event for workplace design and management professionals. In 2018 Workplace Trends expaded to Copenhagen and New York.

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During his consulting career Nigel has worked with the world’s leading finance, retail and technology companies including BP, Shell, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, GSK, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Visa International. He runs his workplace consultancy Workplace Unlimited, based in London, UK, and collaborates with Kragelj on workplace strategy projects in continental Europe.

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Read our interview with Nigel.

Michal Matloň

User Experience Specialist
HB Reavis, Slovakia

Michal specializes in user experience and psychology of architecture. He studied applied psychology and is exploring how built environment affects our thinking, feeling and behavior. He contributes to creation of spaces enabling people to be more productive, healthy and satisfied.
Michal uses his passion for public speaking and writing to spread awareness of these topics. In the past, he also worked in the fields of technology, journalism, photography and marketing, creating a pool of multidisciplinary knowledge he uses today.

Michael S. Tomasik

Expert Strategist & Project Leader
Axioma Plus, USA/Slovenia

For complex and challenging projects, the internationally renowned consultant and coach Michael Tomasik often joins the Kragelj team. Michael is a business strategist, architect, and project leader with over thirty-five years of experience. During his career, Michael has worked for architecture, planning, engineering, and workplace consulting giants such as Jacobs, Leo A. Daly, Hillier, Rossetti Architects, and Smith Group.  He now runs his own consulting firm Axioma Plus, which is based in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

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At the Workplace Design Conference 2019 Michael will present his executive-level experience leading large, complex workplace and architecture design projects. He has successfully managed projects in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Central America for companies such as IBM, Ford Motor, Liberty, National Bank & Trust, and others. Michael has an American and British citizenship and lives in Ljubljana with his wife Vesna.

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Alenka Kragelj Eržen

Founder & Principal Architect
Kragelj Architects, Slovenia

Alenka Kragelj Erzen is an architect, workplace strategist, designer and project leader with 15 years of experience on projects for corporate clients. She is also a coach, change manager and workshop facilitator helping organizations and their people transition to new, more efficient ways of working. Alenka successfully managed extensive research, workplace design and office relocation projects for clients such as A1 and VIP Mobil (members of Telekom Austria Group), Outfit7, Grey Worldwide, Krka, Prva Group, Triglav Insurance Group, Medis, DARS, Unicredit, Sberbank and others.

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She passionately advocates for the idea of putting people in the center of workplace design. Alenka speaks at industry events, and has authored numerous articles on architecture, interior design and workplace design strategies.

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Metka Hrovat

Chief Brand & HR Officer
SIP d.d., Slovenia

​Metka Hrovat has 20 years of experience in executive and operational management, strategic marketing, communication and brand management. She has ten years of practical experience as a marketing director in publishing and manufacturing companies and ten years as a management consultant for several Slovenian companies, as well as a member and president of the Management Board. She is a senior consultant for developing brand strategies at the German company Brand Trust, which she joined eight years ago to work with international corporations operating across European markets.

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Metka specializes in business restructuring and has authored numerous articles in business publications on the subject of marketing, branding, the relationship between marketing and sales, and the development of successful business models in an international environment. As a guest speaker, she lectures at the Economic Faculty of Ljubljana, ALUO and at various seminars and conferences. At the Workplace Design Conference 2019, she will speak at the panel discussion on the topics of talent development, creating conditions for innovative and productive work, while also presenting her fresh experiences in managing a workplace transformation project at SIP d.d..

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Conference Agenda

9:30

Welcome and Introduction to Day

Boštjan Eržen

9.35

People, Place, Performance: People-Centred and Evidence-Based Design

Nigel Oseland

10.25

UX Bubbles: A Smart Workplace Will Help Your Business Thrive

Michal Matloň

11.10

Coffee Break

11.30

Best Practice Project Management for Workplace Design Projects

Michael Tomasik

12.15

Lunch

13.00

Open plan offices are the dumbest workplace design trend ever – fact, fiction or fantasy?

Nigel Oseland

13.45

Examples of High-Performing Offices 2019

Alenka Kragelj Eržen

14.15

Break

14.30

Panel Discussion: Agile Workplace and Employee Performance

– Metka Hrovat, M.Sc., Chief Brand & HR Officer, SIP d.d., Slovenia
– Michael S. Tomasik, Expert Strategist & Project Leader, Axioma Plus, USA/Slovenia
– Michal Matloň, User Experience Specialist, HB Reavis, Slovakia
– Alenka Kragelj Eržen, CEO & Principal Architect, Kragelj Arhitekti, Slovenia
Moderated by Dr. Nigel Oseland, WP Strategist & Change Manager, Workplace Unlimited, UK

15.15

Closing remarks

Anamarija Rok

15.20

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WDC19 Gallery

The bright and welcoming conference rooms of Crystal Palace in Ljubljana provide the ideal space for hosting WDC2019
Attendees check-in at reception to pick up their welcome packs
Taking a moment to try out the sit/stand desk in the conference exhibition area
Attendees make the most of the exhibition lounge area
These electronically controlled lockers by Metra provide a safe, secure and stylish place for delegates to store some of their personal items during the conference
Bostjan Erzen welcomes attendees to WDC2019
The audience settles down, ready for the first speaker
Dr Nigel Oseland, WP Strategist and Change Manager at Workplace Unlimited UK begins his presentation on ‘People, Place, Performance: People-Centred and Evidence-Based Design’
A captive audience, eager to learn more about workplace design
Proof that conferences can be fun too, as the audience shares a humorous moment
Michal Matlon reveals his knowledge as a User Experience Specialist on how smart workplaces will help your business thrive
Quiz Time with Michal Matlon
A member of the audience takes part in Michal’s quiz via the special app
Quizzes are a great way to encourage audience interaction
Technology plays an important role at WDC2019 as Michal continues his presentation
Logging in for the quiz was easy through Kahoot.it
Whether using a phone or a laptop, everyone could join in with Michal’s quiz
Audience members concentrating hard on the questions and answers
Michal was happy to see that 75 attendees participated in the quiz
The three best quiz contestants are congratulated
Michael Tomasik discusses ‘Best Practice Project Management for Workplace Design Projects’
Michael’s 35+ years of experience makes him an expert in the field of project management for workplace design
Michael discusses how practices have changed over the years
Plenty of healthy options available for attendees at lunch time
Time for some refreshments as presenters and attendees take a break
Breaks provide a great opportunity for attendees to network
Keeping it lighthearted as attendees line up for a bite to eat
Alenka circulates during a break
Attendees make the most of their chances to network with others to share ideas and experiences
Tasty choices for lunch help to fuel presenters and attendees ready for the afternoon session
Dr Nigel Oseland spares some time to answer questions for Delo Newspaper
The terrace is a popular spot to enjoy a break in the fresh air while networking with others
Crystal Palace is a great venue for WDC2019 with its rooftop terrace and views providing a space for attendees to take a break between presentations
MC Anamarija Rok introduces Dr Nigel Oseland and his second presentation of the day, which asks whether ‘Open plan offices are the dumbest workplace design trend ever’
Dr Oseland engages the audience with a graphic that discusses the benefits of smart working
Applause for Dr Nigel Oseland
Alenka Kragelj Erzen shares some examples of high performing offices in 2019
Attendees enjoy Alenka’s presentation
Alenka wraps up her successful presentation on high performing offices
Director of video production, Drazen Stader, captures some shots of the audience
Alenka displays some images of successful office designs
Nigel, Michal, Metka and Alenka host a panel discussion on ‘Agile Workplace and Employee Performance’

Sponspors & Exhibitors

MAIN SPONSOR

SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNER

Venue & Location

Crystal Palace
Ljubljana, Slovenia

Feedback From WDC18

You could tell that people were eager to learn

“ Simply put, this was a GREAT conference! You could easily tell that people were eager to learn; a few hands were always up, taking photos of slides. Myself included. 🙂 There is nothing sweeter than “stealing” a little piece of inspiration. As far as I know, this was one of the first regional Workplace Design conferences, which is surprising when you think of the amount of time we spend in offices. Keep up the great work, and see you next year! “
Luka Milković
Business Manager Hungary & AdriaticsSteelcase

Excellent topics and speakers

“ I was very pleased with the conference topics and how the speakers presented them in a simple and practical way. I was also positively surprised that so many agile, high-performance workplaces have already been designed in Slovenia. Congratulations! Gantner works on similar projects internationally and I learned many new concepts that I will be able to apply in my work. “
Gorazd Golob
Business Development Manager, GANTNER Electronic GmbH

A perfect blend of practice and theory

“ The Workplace Design Conference was a perfect blend of practical examples and theoretical insights into workplace strategies and design. Through presentations, networking, and a lively panel discussion we learned about the importance of creating a work environment that fosters employee engagement and innovation. Which is really essential for any company’s success. “
dr. Katarina Katja Mihelič
Researcher, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics

I got a lot of great ideas

“ The link between psychology and physical spaces as explained to us by dr. Oseland was unknown to me, yet is completely logical. His presentations gave me a number of ideas on how to make our people at A1 feel better and more productive. A simple fact is that satisfaction with the work environment leads to more creativity and innovation. “
Ana Špec Brezovar
HR Expert, A1 Slovenija

We will definitely attend the WDC 2019

“ At the Workplace Design conference, which I attended with my colleagues, we got lots of new ideas on how to improve our workspaces and make them user-friendlier. We are an international organization that conducts educational events in the field of public finance so it’s very important for us to provide a productive work and learning environment for our people and clients. We will definitely attend the conference next year. “
Cvetka Mozoli
Office Manager, Center of Excellence in Finance

Useful, thought-provoking presentations

“ Thank you very much for everything. The presentations were very useful and thought-provoking, and the organization of the conference was excellent. “
Peter Razpotnik
Finance Director, Loterija Slovenije d.d.

Get the Latest Info

Get the agenda as soon as it’s released, plus early bird discount offers and more.

Thursday, September 26, 2019; 9:00 . 15:00
Crystal Palace, Ljubljana, Slovenia

COPYRIGHT 2019 KRAGELJ ARCHITECTS LTD., WORKPLACE DESIGN CONFERENCE 2019