About Ben

Ben Channon is an architect, author, TEDx speaker and mental wellbeing advocate, and is well known in the industry as a thought leader in designing for happiness and wellbeing.

He now works as a Director at wellbeing design consultancy Ekkist, where he helps clients and design teams to create healthier places, and researches how buildings and urban design can impact how we feel. He also offers talks on workplace mental health, productivity and company culture, sharing his philosophy that happier staff are better staff.

Ben developed an interest in design for mental health, wellbeing and happiness after suffering with anxiety problems in his mid-twenties. This led him to research the relationship between buildings and happiness, which formed the basis of his first book: ‘Happy by Design’. Ben’s second book ‘The Happy Design Toolkit’ - which offers more practical advice on how to create buildings for our mental wellbeing - was published in March 2022. Ben now speaks on this subject to businesses and universities around the world.

Ben then went on to qualify as a WELL Accredited Professional, broadening his knowledge to encompass design for physical wellbeing. In January 2020 he was invited to join the WELL Mind Advisory panel, using his expertise to raise the bar for healthy buildings worldwide.

In 2017 Ben co-founded the Architects’ Mental Wellbeing Forum, which is focused on improving mental health within the industry. He is also an accredited mindfulness practitioner with the Mindfulness Association, and is interested in how buildings can help us to be more mindful and present every day. 

Below is a selection of companies Ben has worked with, spoken at or written for:

Ben has also received a number of awards in recognition of his work championing mental health and architecture for wellbeing. These include:

RIBAJ Rising Stars 2018: Winner

RESI Trailblazer 2019: Winner

Construction News Health and Wellbeing Leader 2018: Shortlisted

Young Norwood Property Awards One to Watch 2019: Highly commended

Happy by Design and The Happy Design Toolkit

Ben has now written two published books on designing buildings and places that can enhance their occupants’ mental wellbeing, bringing together his years of research into this subject, alongside nearly two decades of experience in the architectural industry.

Ben’s first book, Happy by Design (2018), explores the concepts behind how buildings, spaces and cities affect our moods. It reveals how architecture and design can make us happy and support mental health, and explains how poor design can have the opposite effect. Concepts are presented through a series of easy-to-understand design tips which are accompanied by diagrams and illustrations by Ben.

This book was followed by The Happy Design Toolkit (2022), which Ben wrote in response to numerous architects, interior designers and developers asking him for practical ways to integrate his philosophy into built projects. This book features over 100 ‘tools’ that can be used in projects to enhance occupant wellbeing, including illustrations of built examples.

Data and evidence are key to Ben’s work, and both of his books are supported by a large number of scientific papers, referenced in the Appendices.

Praise for Happy by Design and The Happy Design Toolkit:

“Anyone building a house should read this first, as should every single developer.” Kevin McCloud

“In this book, Channon attempts to revolutionise the places we live, calling for radical new approaches to lighting, ventilation, noise-proofing and outside space”. David Byers, The Times

“Ben’s book shows us how deeply affected by our environments we are and describes the important steps and considerations needed to design effectively for wellbeing.” Piers Taylor

"Colourful, inventive and forward-looking, Channon takes happiness research into an important new domain with Happy By Design to help us rethink and design environments that help make the choice of happiness an easier and more sustainable one." Shawn Achor, NYTimes bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage

Improving mental health in the industry

Ben is a passionate advocate of improving mental health within architecture, and has worked hard to change the working culture and practices in the industry, both in the UK and abroad.

In 2017, Ben co-founded The Architects’ Mental Wellbeing Forum with John Assael. The Forum was borne out of a belief that we as an industry could all improve our understanding of mental health, and subsequently provide better environments for the mental wellbeing of people working in architecture. It is made up of a number of architectural practices who are renowned for their approach to staff welfare. Ben is currently working with a number of practices in Sydney and Melbourne to set up an Australian Forum.

Ben is an ambassador for the Architects’ Benevolent Society, and works closely with the charity to promote their mental health support services. He also speaks to students and professionals about how to balance architecture with good mental health.

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