From authenticity-centered design to building healthy, people-centric offices, we shed light on the office design trends you can expect to see in 2017.
Now that we are over half way through the year, we’ve rounded up the three biggest office design trends we anticipate will continue to dominate in 2017. From authenticity-centered design to the next iteration of workplace wellness to design that appeals to the greater good, here’s what the industry can expect to see next.
Authenticity-centered design
First and foremost, we see a surge in demand for authentic design solutions that signal an organisation’s commitment to its core values. As office interior specialists, our job is to create a physical environment that tells the story of an organisation in a way that resonates with not only its leadership and employees but also their clients. So how do we accomplish this? There’s no standard solution, but listening to your client is key and knowledge is definitely the most powerful tool. We must not only gain a clear understanding of the organisation’s history, mission, and objectives but also figure out what’s most important to the client. While this takes time and requires the client to dig deep, it guides us toward authentic solutions that best exemplify the heart of their organisation.
Authenticity-centered design may take root through a design vocabulary, expressive and creative visual branding, or specific materials, to name a few.
Appealing to millennials
As we progress through 2017, millennials will continue to influence the direction of office design. First of all, this generation wants a career that offers a sense of purpose and contributes to the greater good. Given this reality, workplace designers should consider how the workspace can embody these goals and how they can visually be represented in the space. And similarly to the importance of authenticity-centered design, a company’s commitment to their community and their contributions to society can be incorporated into branding.
This generation wants a career that offers a sense of purpose and contributes to the greater good. Given this reality, workplace designers should consider how the workspace can embody these goals and how they can visually be represented in the space.
Wellness of tomorrow
Another significant trend that continues to make waves in the Office Design world: wellness. Certifications like BREEAM are not enough — designers must be deliberate in making astute observations about the space and how to best build a healthy, people-centric office. With studies that prove the psychological and physical benefits of exposure to nature, finding ways to connect to the outdoors is key. While working with a small technology startup, the client told us that their priority was that their employees would be happy in the workplace. We approach projects from a visceral mindset and make sure we get to know the employees of a company to understand their needs and create a stimulating design.
Some of our strategies include specifying products designed with natural materials and designing to allow for ample daylight to penetrate an interior space through the use of Glass Partitions.
As we draw towards the end of 2017, we can expect these trends and much more in the office design industry. They reflect the overall changes we see in our culture, like younger generations entering the workforce and the commitment to the environment and the greater good of society.
Contact us today to see how we can transform your office!
