Diversity and Inclusion: Redefining the Future of Real Estate, Design, and Professional Teams

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) have gone from being “desirable agendas” to essential factors for competitiveness and sustainability in real estate organizations, design studios, and professional teams worldwide. Those of us leading projects in these sectors experience firsthand how the quality of teams and variety of perspectives directly impact innovation, profitability, and the ability to create value for increasingly complex and heterogeneous communities.

Why Talk About Diversity and Inclusion in Real Estate and Design?

The real estate, architecture, and interior design sectors have both the responsibility —and the opportunity— to respond to the real needs of people representing very different backgrounds, ages, lifestyles, mobility forms, or abilities. Advances in global regulations and pressure from more informed markets have made diversity and inclusivity competitive elements as well, not just ethical ones.

• 71% of people seek to buy or rent in neighborhoods and buildings where they feel represented (according to a study by Empire Learning).
• The profitability of diverse companies is 35% higher according to the World Economic Forum.
• New generations demand housing, workspaces, and products adapted to more diverse intercultural and family realities than ever before.

Inclusion goes far beyond removing physical barriers: it involves understanding, representing, and acting to provide optimal solutions for people of different genders, ages, cultures, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Hence the importance of developing DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) skills and policies at every stage of the real estate and design cycle.

The Impact of Diverse Teams in Real Estate and Design Firms

Numerous studies, such as those by H.J. Russell & Company, show that diverse teams (gender, ethnicity, age, education, professional experience) drive better solutions, anticipate risks, and develop new products and services that are more appealing to a global audience. Diversity is Key to Long-Term Sustainability.

Having professionals from diverse backgrounds enables deeper knowledge of markets and emerging trends: from the buying habits of migrant communities to applying cultural values to interior design and promoting truly inclusive spaces. Moreover, diverse teams make it easier to detect micro-signals of exclusion (such as implicit biases in campaign design, images, or language) and build a solid reputation based on authentic integration.

From Theory to Practice: Real Strategies for an Inclusive Team

True inclusion demands constant review of processes and mindset. Here are some concrete steps adapted from international experiences and the framework proposed by Cocountant:

1. Continuous self-assessment: Reflect on the current state of your team, your internal language, and active listening skills.
2. Redesign hiring policies: Avoid unconscious biases and prioritize hiring criteria based on diverse skills and experiences.
3. Education and conversation: Promote continuous training on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics.
4. Representative leadership: Visible and diverse leadership drives change down through the organization.

This results in more inclusive recruitment processes, the use of neutral language in job offers, internal awareness campaigns, actions to create alliances and Diversity Networks, as well as inclusion committees and anonymous listening spaces. Real change happens through small systematic actions, from how images are selected in marketing to how concerns of collaborators and users are heard.

Diversity in Customer Experience: Inclusive Marketing and Communication

In real estate and design, inclusive marketing is much more than incorporating diverse faces in campaigns. It involves designing strategies, materials, and experiences that connect with all social segments and allow any user to see themselves reflected. According to Real Estate Investing Women, adapting campaigns to local diversity can increase lead generation and qualified inquiries effectiveness by between 15% and 30%.

Some relevant recommendations for truly inclusive real estate or product marketing:

• Promote authentic representations: show real diversity in all visual pieces, virtual tours, renders, and presentations.
• Include inclusive and accessible language in texts, websites, and descriptions.
• Facilitate multiplatform access: ensure content is clear and accessible to all audiences.
• Ensure two-way feedback to learn, adapt, and improve the experience of clients and users from diverse backgrounds.

At Deptho, with our tools like Redesign or Fill Room, real estate or furniture visualizations tailored to a wide range of profiles and expectations can be created, so each client can feel like a real part and protagonist of the process.

Inclusion, Diversity, and Universal Design: Trends and Concrete Cases

True inclusion only happens when all barriers are addressed, not only physical but also sensory, cultural, and social ones. Organizations like The Kelsey have developed concrete inclusive design standards for housing and common use spaces, with guides designed so architects, designers, and developers can create accessible and equitable environments for everyone discover their standards here.

In practice, this means anticipating wider doors and hallways, sensory signage systems, absence of level changes, non-slip materials, and meeting spaces that consider the interaction of people with different motor, cognitive, or sensory abilities. Inclusion is especially relevant in senior markets, housing for diverse families, and people with temporary or permanent accessibility needs.

Architecture and design projects focused on diversity and inclusion show satisfaction or engagement rates among residents and users 27% higher, according to research in the U.S. and Europe. It is not only an ethical issue but also one of differentiation and loyalty.

Hidden Challenges: Biases, Leadership, and Sustainability of Inclusion

Building inclusive organizational cultures does not happen without tensions. Many teams are still influenced by invisible biases and resistances, both in language and work methodologies. Experts recommend periodically analyzing potential obstacles to diversity, reviewing workplace climate indicators, and promoting inclusive leadership at all levels of the company.

Inclusive leadership involves being aware of one’s own privileges and biases, giving space to different voices —even if they challenge the status quo—, prioritizing continuous training, and above all, establishing real channels for shared decision-making. Internal alliances strengthen the sense of belonging and prevent burnout and disconnection in hybrid or multicultural teams. A Forbes article on managing inclusive teams in hybrid work highlights the importance of team alliances and collaborative routines to build high-performance cultures read it here.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability: A Virtuous Circle

Diversity and inclusion are not only part of organizational culture but also of long-term sustainability strategy. An inclusive team is more resilient to disruptive changes, economic crises, or new client needs, which favors business survival and growth. Implementing sustained DEI policies makes a difference not only in hiring but also in the retention and development of key talent, reputation, and brand appeal.

Current best practices include diversity and belonging metrics in KPIs, direct collaboration with local communities for product development, monitoring the well-being of diverse teams, and proactive review of materials and processes from an equity perspective.

Ten Keys to Advance (or Start) a Real Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in Real Estate and Design

1. Visualize diversity as a strategic value and not just reputational.
2. Include diversity and inclusion KPIs in your planning and monitoring cycle.
3. Build alliances and networks with organizations, providers, and talents from different profiles and geographies.
4. Review and innovate your selection, onboarding, and internal promotion processes.
5. Incorporate digital tools to facilitate inclusion and avoid biases (at Deptho, some of our solutions can help you achieve this).
6. Open spaces for listening and constant feedback with your team and clients.
7. Commit to universal design and flexible adaptation of spaces.
8. Promote continuous and cross-cutting education in DEI.
9. Evaluate successful experiences outside your sector: learn from diversity in technology, retail, or services.
10. Monitor real impact and celebrate progress to build a culture of shared success.

Brief Success Cases: Inspiration to Implement Today

1. A boutique real estate firm in Chicago multiplied its acquisition in senior and migrant segments after incorporating multilingual advisors and adapted its digital branding to local intercultural realities.

2. An architecture firm in Barcelona created a citizen participation system in public space design, validating sketches and visualizations collaboratively with people of different ages and abilities.

3. A marketing agency specialized in real estate increased campaign conversion by 32% after replacing traditional images and copy with inclusive assets, and implementing automatic translation in their virtual tours.

The Future Is Inclusive: Your Competitive Advantage and Your Responsibility

In the transformation of the real estate, interior design, architecture, and furniture sectors, diversity and inclusion are established as key vectors to boost innovation, strengthen ties with clients, and ensure future relevance. Adopting an inclusive perspective is not just a trend: it is a necessity to survive and lead in a rapidly evolving environment.

We encourage all professionals —agents, designers, owners, firm or company leaders— to analyze the state of diversity and inclusion in their own teams and projects. Platforms with AI and digital tools, like Deptho, are allies to accelerate this process from visual representation to multi-profile collaboration. Make the diversity of your community visible, and turn it into your greatest strength.