Why none of Shopify’s top executives get corner offices

One of the leading lights of Canada’s tech sector, e-commerce platform Shopify makes design a core company value, and its Ottawa headquarters reflects that. Each floor is organized around a theme, like “1920s Prohibition” or “retreat,” and there are a variety of workspaces, from open-concept group pods to private nooks—and even a few secret rooms hidden around the office, knowledge of which is strictly need-to-know. “If you put a lot of smart and able people in the same space, give them what they need and remove barriers, magic happens,” says Daniel Weinand, Shopify co-founder, and chief design and culture officer.