Anyone who knows Mark Hirons will agree that there is no individual more deserving of the title “Workplace Designer of the Year.” In addition to being a talented designer and amazing mentor, he is one of the most humble, genuine guys you will ever meet. Inspired by this recent accolade, I sat down with him to get his thoughts and perspectives on the ever-evolving world of contract interiors:
AS: What are the biggest changes influencing workplace design in 2017?
MH: Today’s workplace needs to be nimbler. It needs to find creative new ways to offer choice, flexibility and personal control to an ever-growing spectrum of workers. Ultimately, the strongest workplaces are those that find ways to be both experiential in order to attract and retain top talent and transparent to authentically translate company cultures.
AS: What’s exciting and what’s terrifying?
Everything about the evolution of the workplace is exciting. Seeing more organizations recognize design as having a major impact on individuals’ experience, enjoyment and engagement is invigorating and empowering. It nurtures more opportunities to creatively tell organizations’ unique stories and explore design possibilities that will enrich the lives of their end users… which always is rewarding.
What’s both exciting and terrifying at the same time is the incredible rate of change occurring in today’s workplaces and the responsibility that change places on designers. Our work doesn’t just evolve space, it can be a catalyst for advancing company culture. We have a responsibility to ensure design solutions are aligned with these organizations’ cultures, which in reality heightens the value for design to support business success.