THE value of design is often misunderstood, despite its presence in virtually every aspect of everyday life. The far-reaching impacts of design on human relationships, productivity and wellbeing, goes beyond aesthetics as its influence on how people live, work and interact.
“From clothing and furniture to television sets and buildings, design shapes people’s experiences, yet many people fail to recognise its deeper impact on their lives,” the founder of Design House, Osaru Alile-Abraham noted during the unveiling of Design House Open House: a living showcase and documentary, in commemoration of Design Week Lagos 2026.

Alile-Abraham explained that her experience of designing spaces had shown her how the physical environment could influence relationships among members of a family.

She also highlighted the potential of well-designed workplaces to improve employee experience and productivity, saying workers could become more willing to spend time in an office when the environment was properly designed.

“The return on investment that you get on a properly designed office space is incredible. A lot of people that work in the office want to stay there longer. They want to enjoy the space. They work harder just because of how beautifully the space is done,” she said.
She added that the same principle applied to hospitality spaces, noting that hotels and guest houses could encourage people to stay longer when attention was paid to the overall experience, including how the space looks, feels and smells.

It was against this backdrop, she said, that Design House developed the Design House Experience, a mini docuseries designed to educate audiences about the processes and considerations involved in creating functional spaces.
Alile-Abraham described the project as both a documentary and an edutainment series, combining education with entertainment to give audiences insight into the work that takes place behind the creation of a space.

According to her, the design concept was guided by the need to create an environment that felt collaborative, carefully considered and calming.
Alile-Abraham said the philosophy behind the space could be summed up in three words: “create, connect, and rest.” “Design House plans to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s creative economy primarily through education and practical training.
She disclosed that the Design House Creative Intensive, an eight-day programme, was organised for three young product designers who lived at the Design House facility in Lekki, Lagos, during the programme.

The participants were exposed to training in product design, legal practices, marketing, branding and financial management, she said.
Among those who taught the participants was Lani Adeoye, a product designer whom Alile-Abraham described as world-renowned and born and raised in Lagos. She said the participants were also given strategic creative problems to solve during the programme, adding that by the end of the eight days, they had developed solutions to challenges presented by interior designers at the beginning of the programme.

“There’s education and the impact that comes from education is one that may not be measured by numbers. But what I do know for sure is that when they leave here, it changes the trajectory of their careers and, in turn, can allow them to be able to impact other people that will continue to do the same thing,” she said.

Alile-Abraham said the Design House Experience differed from a conventional exhibition because the space would remain available beyond the immediate Design Week activities.

Describing it as a living showcase, she said the space was created in collaboration with brands and partners and would remain in place beyond the five-day Design Week period. “It’s not just going to be here for Design Week for the next five days. It’s going to be here all year round until probably next year. You’ll see it here any time you come,” she said.
She added that the project also exists online through the Design House Experience documentary, which is available on the Design House YouTube channel.

According to her, the documentary gives viewers an opportunity to understand the reasoning behind various design decisions and observe how architects, product designers and interior designers collaborate in developing a space.