Each year, the industry relies on the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for its three research reports: Trends, Economic Outlook and State of Interior Design. This week, following a survey of contemporary lifestyles, new technologies and other societal changes influencing design practice, the ASID 2023 Trends Outlook report was released.
While as robust and comprehensive as ever, the report’s executive summary explains how “concern for environmental health and safety has shifted to broader concern for well-being and well-being” while that we collectively put the most immediate concerns of the pandemic behind us. . This common thread is woven into many of the report’s findings, but it’s far from the only insight interior designers can extract. Here are six high-level takeaways summarizing what designers need to know about who is looking for interior design services today, where they live, and what they are looking for.
Designing for mental health and well-being is becoming mission critical.
Gallup poll data cited in the ASID 2023 Trends Outlook suggests global happiness is at an all-time high and working people around the world are “feeling even more stressed than they were in 2020”. Not to mention the US Surgeon General declaring a “youth mental health crisis” exacerbated by the pandemic.
Although aesthetic choices remain important, it is more necessary than ever to consider the impact of an environment on the people who use a space. In 2023, this will translate into increased value for spaces designed to alleviate stress and promote an overall sense of well-being. This is especially true in the workplace, as employers still have to sell their employees on the value of physically showing up at the office. Simultaneously, homeowners are increasingly interested in interiors that use natural colors, lighting and materials that can soothe the spirit. Biophilic design, a focus on air quality and the introduction of dedicated spaces for wellness activities like yoga or meditation will take on even more value.
A more inclusive mindset is more important than ever.
The report cites a statistic that indicates diversity is on the rise: 2020 marked the first year that a majority (two-thirds) of white Americans lived in mixed neighborhoods in urban and suburban areas. Take this as yet another sign that the design profession needs greater mastery of a wide range of cultural traditions, lifestyles and aesthetic preferences.
A more inclusive mindset is also at the forefront of workplace design, with companies looking for ways to make their offices more supportive of neurodivergent employees. With simple touches like dimmers for creating quiet rooms and repurposed layouts, modifying workspaces can help neurodivergent individuals feel included in the team while benefiting from amenities that help them give the best of themselves at work.
Millennials are moving in.
Despite past concerns about their expensive avocado toast habits, 2021 data shows Millennials now make up 43% of all homebuyers, making them the largest generational cohort. In fact, older millennials now also make up 26% of all home sellers. The millennial pink obsession may be a thing of the past (we’re looking at brighter, bolder colors this year anyway), but it will certainly pay off to follow Instagram’s first-generation design desires.
Buyers go south, west and into the desert.