Design at Work New York has named Primo Orpilla, Co-Founder and Principal of Studio O+A, to its Founding Steering Committee, bringing one of workplace design’s most distinctive voices into the group helping shape the event ahead of March 10–11, 2027 at the Javits Center. 

For Orpilla, workplace design begins with storytelling. Across a career that has helped redefine how organizations think about the office, he has championed environments that express culture, encourage discovery, and support the way people come together. 

“I’m excited to join the Founding Steering Committee for Design at Work NYC. I have always believed that a good designer is fundamentally a storyteller, and it’s our job to weave meaningful narratives into the spaces we create. As one of the leaders in the workplace, I’m excited to collaborate with this incredible group. I look forward to helping shape an event that redefines the workplace—not by its physical boundaries, but by its ability to foster culture, inspire discovery, and intuitively support how we work beautifully together.” 

Orpilla co-founded San Francisco-based Studio O+A, whose workplace projects for organizations including Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft, Yelp, Nike, McDonald’s, Slack, Netflix, Hyundai Motor Group, and adidas have explored how the workplace can become a catalyst for creativity and change. 

His work also extends beyond conventional workplace projects. From experimental installations and conceptual furniture to next-generation office prototypes, Orpilla has continually explored new ways of thinking about where and how people work. With Studio O+A Co-Founder Verda Alexander, he also directed the development of A Toolkit for the Times and The Eco Playbook, digital resources created in response to changing hybrid and remote work environments. 

A strong advocate for design education, Orpilla lectures at universities and global design conferences and supports opportunities for emerging talent. His work has received numerous honors, including the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design, the ASID Designer of Distinction Award, and induction into Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame. 

As a member of the Founding Steering Committee, Orpilla will contribute his perspective to the development of Design at Work New York as it builds a focused, curated platform for the workplace design community.