id50 2025 – Laila Al-Yousuf

Can you let us know about the latest exciting projects that you are working on?

 We have several exciting projects across the workplace sector, a niche that truly energises us. Having worked with global tech giants like LinkedIn, Apple, and Google, we’ve developed a passion for creating spaces that transform the way people work, allowing businesses to thrive at their fullest potential.

This year, we’re looking forward to unveiling projects with DMCC, Crédit Agricole, and a few others that we can’t wait to share more about soon.

Beyond workplaces, we’re continuing to expand our hospitality portfolio, which is always an inspiring and rewarding space for us to design in. One of our recent projects, Grand Mercure, has been a particularly joyful journey.

Please mention some of your proudest achievements as a firm (Top 3)

It’s such a timely question because we always start the year with a round-up of the past year’s highlights. It’s a moment to celebrate and appreciate our collective achievements, motivating us for the year ahead.

One of our proudest achievements recently was completing Siemens Energy, a project that challenged and inspired us in equal measure. Spanning five buildings, we set new standards for ourselves in complexity, scale, and sustainability. The entire project achieved LEED Gold certification, which speaks volumes to Siemens Energy’s commitment to the future of energy, and we’re proud to have played a part.

I cherish the relationships we build with our clients. When they tell us how our designs have impacted them, even long after our design was completed, these are some of the moments I celebrate most. Whether it’s how our design made them feel, or how our sustainability implementations have inspired them at home. Knowing that our work leaves a lasting impact is a source of immense pride for me and the entire team.

SAY Studio has grown not just in size but in capability, with team members stepping into senior leadership roles and driving the studio forward. Having the best talent and fostering the right culture is everything, and we’re immensely proud of the people who make SAY Studio what it is today. We’ve built a team of exceptional individuals, committed to high-quality design, with a mindset that anything is possible.

Can you talk about a type of project that you would like to take on in 2025 that would interest you and your team to pursue (dream project that you would like to manifest)?

After suffering a late term miscarriage, I was approached to design a high-risk pregnancy clinic. As a company, we decided to take this on as a pro-bono project. This was a very emotional experience for me, but it ended up being one of the most rewarding projects of my career. I would personally love the opportunity to take on similar projects, whether for children’s, women’s, or animal organizations.

This is something out of left field, but I think set design would be really fun! The idea of diving deep into a character’s psyche and imagining a space for them has always really appealed to me.

How would you describe your ‘house style’ and design philosophy?

Our driving force is that design has an impact on people’s lives. We are shaping how individuals feel and behave. In a workplace, this means productivity levels, engagement, collaboration, and consequently, how successful that business is. For hospitality and F&B, it’s about how comfortable someone is, how long they stay in that space, even how much they spend. Design truly lies at the heart of all of this.

Design quality and innovation are at the core of our approach, while we remain fully committed to sustainability. While it has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years, we have been advocating it since the very beginning of SAY Studio. Construction is one of the most wasteful industries, we understand our responsibility in driving meaningful change.

As this is the power issue, what empowers you and your team?

When Matthew Sexton and I co-founded SAY Studio, we envisioned a firm that celebrated collective talents rather than being centered around any one individual or certain people. It’s this ethos that we believe empowers our team, knowing that SAY Studio is a platform where they can explore their passions, grow their expertise, and bring new ideas to life. Whether it’s delivering their first talk or experimenting with AI, we, as a management team, believe in encouraging people to pursue what excites them while growing the business with us.

Giving back to the wider community and using design as a force for good is incredibly inspiring and empowering. Through our work with Surge or other charitable initiatives, making a difference beyond the industry is deeply rewarding.

View the visionaries.

View the complete id50 2025 list.