How Commercial Interior Design Has Changed in 20 Years
Commercial interior design refers to the design of interiors in commercial establishments like offices and other businesses. With constant changes in business trends, the way commercial establishments are being run has changed over the years. The work of a commercial interior designer has also changed over the years. Over the past 20 years, commercial interior design has evolved and come of age. The way office interior design was done 20 years back and the way it is done now has changed a lot.
How it was?
When we look back twenty years into the past and see how office interior design used to be, we find that while some offices still used the table concept, most others had moved to the cubicle concept. Offices across the world focused on a chair and table concept of office design. There was no design worth mentioning other than in front offices and offices of the key personnel. All other work areas had tables and chairs arranged usually in a line.
Employees worked on their table and some of them had computer systems to work on. Those who worked on customer service would usually sit behind a landline phone answering calls from customers. With the growth of Information Technology and the software industry, the cubicle concept became popular. Less space could now accommodate more people, thanks to the use of cubicle designs.
The cubicles were partitions that would be at shoulder height or even higher. Employees would have a work desk with a chair and a computer to work on. Each cubicle would be tiny spaces where an employee could hardly move around. As an employee rose higher in his career, he would get a cubicle that was slightly larger. The employees’ lives centered around the cubicle. They would spend the entire day working in the cubicle.
Cubicles were usually gray, blue, or white in color. An employee would either see his computer screen for the entire day or would see the dreary and boring partition of the cubicle. While seated, employees could not even see their neighbors/colleagues. They would communicate with each other through office intercom or online chat. The design was definitely not visually appealing and would not inspire employees or motivate them.
How it is now?
Over the past twenty years, there have been many changes in the world. These changes have been reflected in the work environment in organizations. One of the factors that has been helpful in this is the growth of the startup business culture. The traditional forms of business have been replaced by startup ventures. These startup companies are promoted by young people who have a more open work culture.
The 9 to 5 office culture has been replaced by flexibility. Employees are no longer bound to their cubicles. In fact, most organizations (especially the newer ones) have done away with cubicles and shifted to an open office design. A commercial interior designer who does interior design now designs open offices for companies. An open office has no cubicles. The office has lot of free space and employees are not necessarily bound to a desk/workspace. The work areas are well-designed, colorful, ambient, and pleasing. Companies are concerned about the well-being of employee and want to motivate them by providing a great work environment.
Some of the features of an open office design nowadays include:
- Glass buildings that allow employees inside to get a view of the outside world.
- Spacious workspace that does not have cubicles or tables. Employees have freedom to work at any of the places in the office and are not restricted to one place.
- Flexibility ensures many employees work from home. The focus is on internet and IT infrastructure. The design needs to consider this aspect and accommodate server rooms, proper cabling, and other such requirements. There is a lot of focus on safety because of the use of cables and hardware. Safety is an integral part of office interior design nowadays.
- Apart from workspaces, there are cafeterias where employees can spend time having food and interacting with others. Employees can even carry their laptops and work in the cafeteria while having food. Office design accommodates all this.
- Some companies have amenities for employees like a gym and an area to sleep (for those who prefer to work overnight). Spas, areas for their kids to play and even an arcade in the office are provided by some startups.
- Greenery is another element of interior design nowadays. Plants and green spaces are preferred as they provide a relaxing environment.
- Lighting and color play an important role in office design as well as in other commercial establishments. Use of soft lighting and an aesthetically pleasing blend of colors can create an ambient work environment to promote work productivity.
- In many offices, top executives also sit in an open office with employees and may not have separate cabins.
Modern commercial design
In modern commercial establishments, the focus is on aesthetically pleasing design that attracts customers and makes them want to stay for more time. Whether it is in a shopping mall, a restaurant, a retail store, or a cinema hall, design plays an important role. 20 years ago, design was more focused on functionality. Today, apart from functional aspects, creating an ambient environment is given importance.
Efficiency in design through the use of natural lighting instead of artificial lighting is another common trend. Use of LED lighting to save on power consumption is suggested by most designed. Lighting, color, use of décor elements like artwork are commonly used in most commercial establishments. Use of natural décor elements like bamboo, plants, etc. are popular design elements.
The overall objective of design is not to create a place for people to work but to create a space. The space needs to be comfortable, should welcome customers, and create a pleasant ambience. A friendly design that is modern in outlook and traditional in comfort is in vogue today. Interior design today is more challenging as designers have to create an awesome work environment through their design.