2023 will be the year of holistic wellbeing in commercial interiors. Three trends to watch: function-first design, connection with nature, and tweakable workspaces.
Function, biophilia, and tweakable spaces — three commercial design trends rooted in holistic wellbeing.
As we wrap up 2022, it is time to look ahead at what commercial interior trends will rule 2023. If this year's trajectory is any indicator, 2023 will be the year of holistic wellbeing.
Holistic wellbeing is a multidimensional approach to design. By balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and social elements of a space, we can craft interiors that leave employees feeling full, even after a long day. Three trends carry that idea forward:
The 2010s shrank the office footprint. The 2020s reversed it. With the rise of hybrid work, employees evaluate offices through a new lens: how productive will this place make me?
Practical spaces protect employees from frustration. Loud spaces are hard to focus in. A lack of outlets can render a space unusable. No collaborative writable surfaces stifles creativity. Designing for functionality boosts morale exponentially.
Designers are getting granular: collaboration areas, focus areas, even research-and-risk-taking areas. Expect an increased focus on office acoustics and tech that makes the office work for the work.
Biophilic design is not going away. From products that play between indoor and outdoor work to natural materials and living walls, biophilic design will be a focus of office design for the foreseeable future. Studies show it promotes employee wellbeing and mental acuity. The biggest obstacle: affordability.
Nature rejuvenates. Juxtaposed against the fast-paced business world of today, nature is slow and life-giving. Sprinkling bits of nature into the office fights employee burnout and creates spaces for clear, focused thinking.
Gone are the days of fixed workspaces. Desks became height-adjustable. Cubicles became mobile partitions. Desktops became docking stations. Workspaces designed with dynamic products empower teams to tune their environment as their needs change.
By giving teams tweakable tools, we give them agency to make micro-changes to be more comfortable and ultimately more productive throughout their day. Expect more adjustable products, mobile partitions, versatile writable surfaces, and architectural solutions that replace drywall.
And it can feel really overwhelming. We love talking about these changes, so if you want to talk through what is next, we would love to chat.
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