Left: Photo courtesy of Adobe / Right: Trend Micro office, Dallas, Texas, by Perkins+Will
BY: JULIÈ GAUTHIER AND SARA BARNES
We usually cringe at the word “trend,” as it suggests a fleeting moment, something passing and temporary. Although workplace design is undoubtedly influenced by macro trends, our projects are ultimately rooted in people. Understanding today’s workforce, and tailoring design strategies to fit the needs of specific companies, plays a much larger role in our design process than simply following the latest fads.
However, Brenda Milis, principal of Creative Services and Visual Trends at Adobe, provides a refreshing perspective on visual trends. In a recent blog post, Milis argues that studying visual trends “can give you confidence and data about where interest is growing and why…a look at where we are as a culture, and as a world.”
Although this post has a consumer focus, with Milis incorporating insights from shows and galleries, brand campaigns, and Adobe’s own stock photo collection, her ideas resonate with us. Workplace interior design doesn’t exist in a bubble, and we have much to connect with and learn from Milis’ insights on art, fashion, and identity.
Here’s our spin on the latest visual trends:
SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
Quiet unnecessary noise to make space for creativity.
It’s no secret that today’s offices are noisy. Ringing phones, beeping microwaves, and not-so-private conversations are just a few common reasons why noise is often ranked as the top disrupter at work.
So how—and where—do we find focus? Just as Milis predicts that more people will seek out imagery that “answer our longing for quiet and contemplation,” we predict that the workplace will continue to carve out space that offers silence and solitude.
In a noisy open office, headphones and visual shielding can only go so far. The real antidote is prioritizing choice. Private, enclosed focus rooms invite employees to take a long conference call behind closed doors. Sound masking systems, which introduce unobtrusive background noise, and sound-absorbing materials are becoming increasingly common as well. When these design strategies work in tandem with office policies, creative thinking and problem solving can flourish, and well-being soars.