B Sanborn

B  Sanborn is an independent research strategist and consultant focused on  research quality, strategy, and policy in professional design practice.  They work with designers, manufacturers, and institutional partners to  strengthen how applied research is planned, evaluated, and used to  inform decision-making. Their current focus is on non-extractive  research methods and enabling post-occupancy evaluation in industry.

B  spent a decade in design firms, most recently as a Principal at an  international integrated design firm, where they built and led a  firmwide interdisciplinary research program spanning 30+ offices. In  that role, they co-led an internal R&D Grant program, managed  IRB-compliant human subjects research, and led studies across corporate  workplace, hospitality, K-12, higher education, healthcare, federal  government, and sports projects. Their work has been recognized by Fast  Company, Metropolis Magazine, and the Environmental Design Research  Association.

B holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Psychology from  Cornell University with a minor in Organizational Behavior, and a B.A.  in Anthropology from California State University, Sacramento. They  currently serve as Board Chair of the Environmental Design Research  Association and sit on the EDAC Advisory Council at the Center for  Health Design. They are a member of the APA Climate Change Task Force  and co-authored a 2026 policy brief on extreme heat and school  environments. B has taught research methods at the University of  Minnesota and Cornell University, and speaks regularly at industry and  academic conferences on topics including post-occupancy evaluation,  evidence-based design, and the gap between research claims and research  practice in the design professions.