A harmonious environment makes going to work a pleasure. As such, we’re pleased to present this overview of five key aesthetic and material trends for this year, each of which we displayed in our showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week.

Brights

Brights is an explosion of colour: for instance, conceptual artist Yves Klein’s International Klein Blue (IKB), which he developed in collaboration with Parisian paint supplier Edouard Adam and patented in 1960. The Railway Carriages we installed in Headspace's workspace in California were in an array of bright colours that reflected their vibe. Other bright colours we love include papaya orange, mustard yellow, and vibrant, summery green; which brings us neatly onto our next trend …

Natural Forms

This trend celebrates natural materials and finishes, soft, warm, tones and simple organic forms: feminine, curvaceous, nurturing forms like archways and vases. Furthermore, by bringing in biophilia and plant life one can make healthy spaces that not only improve the air quality but also help to reconnect with nature – which is very important for improving mental health and general wellbeing in the office. Palisades Grid zone dividers can introduce biophilia and plant life into spaces with the broad range of planting options available. 

Wabi-Sabi

The Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi is about the perfect imperfect. It’s about growing an appreciation for the passing of time and the value of authenticity, and focusing more on the handcrafted and the sensuous. Above all, it’s about finding beauty in imperfection and moving away from the minimal and towards a new kind of luxury. Which brings us to …

Baroque Luxury

The baroque movement that first appeared in Europe in the early 17th century was characterised by a more maximalist approach, with more drama, intensity and aesthetic sophistication. It took its name from the Portuguese noun “barocco”, which describes a pearl with an irregular shape – itself a rather wabi-sabi concept. So, this new kind of luxury we’re interested in isn’t about ostentation, rather it’s created in the detail, the form and the space. For inspiration, have a look at Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși’s famous studio, an exact reconstruction of which now sits on the piazza opposite the Centre Pompidou in Paris, with its marble surfaces, its jagged stone towers and its reflective, curving bronzes: such new metallics, brasses, marbles and velvets will be this year’s most luxurious materials.

Integrated Tech

Lastly, the integration of tech into materials and furniture is an important trend, and one that fits seamlessly into key themes concerning the rise of the millennial in the workplace and the need to encourage collaboration and flexible working practices. The HotLocker is a great example of furniture integrated with technology, creating a design that is both adaptable and flexible to the millenial mind. The best designers and architects working today are looking for inspiration not only in nature and the past, but also in the bright, high-tech world of tomorrow.