Is “Human-Centric” Design Enough? The Case for Eudaemonic Design – Ep 78 with Jenna Mikus

In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Jenna Mikus, founder of the Eudae Group, to explore the power of eudaemonic design—a transformative approach that moves beyond human-centric design to create spaces that foster true human flourishing.Jenna shares her unconventional journey from engineering and business strategy to pioneering research in sustainable design and well-being science. She dives into how adaptive comfort theory, smart building strategies, and self-determination theory shape environments that empower occupants, improve mental and physical health, and elevate daily experiences.From designing cancer centers and neurodivergent-friendly schools to advocating for pragmatic futurists in the design process, Jenna offers a fresh perspective on how architecture can truly support our best selves.This episode is a must-listen for architects, designers, and anyone passionate about creating spaces that inspire and uplift. Don’t miss it!More About Jenna MikusDr Jenna Mikus is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Eudae Group, which advises clients on organizational and spatial (both physical and digital) transformational change relating to built environments curated for health and wellbeing. Her clients have included commercial office owners, operators, and tenants as well as military, government, healthcare, higher education, aged care, and more on a global scale, with particular emphasis on the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. As an advocate for bridging industry practice with academic theory/research, Jenna is also a Visiting Fellow with QUT's Centre for Decent Work & Industry, an Honorary Fellow with the Centre for Conscious Design, a former Health Equity and current Research Advisor for the International WELL Building Institute, and a contributor to Harvard University's Human Flourishing Program's Flourishing at Work Interest Group. Jenna leverages her education across engineering, architecture, and design with her depth and breadth of work experience relating to strategy, change management, and design thinking to encourage multidisciplinary cross-pollination in theory and practice and to guide the creation/curation of intelligent, sustainable, and flourishing environments for all.CONTACT:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennamikus/?originalSubdomain=au https://x.com/jennamikus https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/team/jenna-mikus/ Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd