The Interior Design Trendsetters have changed their direction and this affects everyone
Interior design is more than a quick overhaul of desk and chairs, it can be if you really wanted, but it’s more encompassing than that. Interior design is about the layout, the workflow and the internal interactions of the company’s departments. Additionally, the aesthetic of the office can raise employee morale, enhance the client experience and showcase the company’s brand and values.
All aspects of the workspace should come together as a cooperating whole, more efficient than the sum of its individual parts. With each part contributing, the final aesthetic should come across easily and quickly. The tech companies of Silicon Valley became the first trend setter in the 90’s, pioneering this fresh take on the office space with their playground slides for stairs and beanbag rooms for meetings. Making the office space more playful and creative transfers over to the workers, pushing innovation.
These tech companies remain the leaders of interior design in their industry, however they are moving toward a more practical layout, designing spaces that lead to more collaboration and inter-departmental communication.
The three noteworthy companies spearheading these trends are Facebook, eBay and Google. Moving onward from past designs such as skateboard/scooter friendly walkways into more collaborative open spaces, they show a marked interest in group work and keeping communication channels open.
Facebook
The offices have undergone a lot of change over the last couple of decades, their most recent iteration includes a squash coloured meeting room placed in a high ceiling open space area that juts outside the outer wall of the building. This gives a sense of opening the whole building up to its employees as the rooms seem to interweave, and the extra visibility to the outside world grants its occupants a connection to the larger scope of their reach.
eBay
Aiming to stick in the mind and inspire different thinking, eBay has gone for very interesting displays, such as their collection of 121 PEZ dispensers in one of their communal areas. They utilise bold colours frequently, giving each different room a distinct feel and characteristic, so employees can pick and mix their habits frequently and to what suits them.
Google
Moving to a more rustic feel, the Google offices utilise HVAC ducts and rafters on the ceiling to give texture and authenticity. This minimal aesthetic is combined with a large amount of glass between cubicles and offices, showing how the main values of Google have shifted to optimising and being transparent to its employees, customers and everyone in-between.
In an industry with strong competitors and a set formula, having an interior design that nurtures innovation can mean the difference between lagging behind the crowd and securing the industry leader spot. These designs may not be good for all industries (and we don’t think every company has 121 PEZ dispensers spare on any given day) so don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team at Stirling Interiors here.