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Once in a while it’s a good idea to take a look around. Sure, you can tilt your head down and keep on working in a comfortable lane — but then you look up again and it turns out the landscape has really changed. Design trends are like that. That’s why they’re trends. Although this particular moment doesn’t strike us as one of those times to expect a seismic shift, there are always some new ideas on the horizon. Let’s tease a few of the things we’re seeing — and expect to see even more of — in office design.

We all spend a lot of our time walking in and out of buildings. And like other things we do all the time, it stands to reason that most of us have probably stopped paying attention. Our goal today is to help relieve the boredom of going in and out of all those buildings and give you something to pay attention to.

Think about the spaces you’ve spent time in today. What were your impressions? Maybe you liked the furniture and the layout of an office you were in this morning because it felt so comfortable. Later you were in a room with three skylights, and they made the space seem expansive. Wood surfaces and plants give your favorite lunch spot a cozy, natural ambiance. But after that you went to see your client with the very cramped lobby — also you always notice how it’s just too bright in there. It’s not your favorite place to visit.

Innovative soft and resilient flooring solutions set new design and functionality expectations in NeoCon showroom 11-1149

When a venue is a source and representation of community pride, only the highest quality of skilled craftsmanship and teamwork should be applied when renovating the space.

This story highlights how world-renowned architecture and design firm, tvsdesign, joined forces with Milliken to renovate the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. Built in 1954, the facility—part of the Iowa Events Center—has been home to the Who’s Who of entertainment and is a landmark within the community.

“We have a responsibility that is proportional to our power. Being sensitive to the human considerations is crucial in making ethical decisions. It’s not what you can do, it’s about what you should do.” - Damon Horowitz

School interiors have the ability to inspire and enable student learning. Studies have proven that the physical environment affects a student’s capacity to learn. Similarly, we know that color alone in an interior setting can influence our mood and even productivity. There is no doubt that colors inspire students’ imaginations and creativity levels, from elementary children to young adults in college.  

“King County Library System is a stark contrast from the often formulaic solutions of the library field. As we work to create inspiring learning environments for our community, we look to partner with like-minded companies to bring our vision to life. The expansiveness of Milliken technology draws us to collaborate and, in turn, push the limits of our learning spaces.” – David Scott-Risner, architecture and interior design coordinator at King County Library System

School facilities play a major role in student learning and achievement, by creating a stimulating and inspiring environment. But some schools go years between facilities redesigns, so the classrooms and communal areas start to look worn-out.

As the appearance of your school facilities deteriorates, so do your students’ feelings of pride about the place they study. So today I’m looking at how a straightforward refresh of your facilities can dramatically improve school pride.