I+S Design

07/14/2025

⏰ DEADLINE REMINDER ⏰

Commercial and contract interior product manufacturers – you have 24 hours left to submit your entries for the i+s Product Innovation Awards!

Don't miss this opportunity to gain industry recognition and spotlight your innovative products. The deadline is July 15th.

Showcase your groundbreaking solutions and join the leaders shaping the future of commercial interiors.

Submit now: https://bit.ly/3AF3xiq

07/10/2025

"When we design for the extreme, it benefits the mean." 💭

Designer and fiber artist Sammy Rupp from DLR Group shared this powerful insight about neuroinclusive design, and it's got us thinking...

How often do we consider neurodiverse individuals when designing spaces? Sammy points out that while these spaces benefit everyone, neurodivergent people are often left out of the design equation entirely.

The good news? When we design with them in mind, we create better spaces for all users.
What's your experience with inclusive design? Have you noticed how accessibility features often benefit more people than originally intended?

🎧 Listen to Sammy's full insights on the "I Hear Design" podcast! https://bit.ly/44FAUwy

07/09/2025

🎯 DESIGN SPOTLIGHT: The Phased Approach

Smart developers are taking a long-term view of suburban campus transformation. Instead of massive overhauls, they're implementing phased strategies that:
📈 Meet tenant demands from day one
🔄 Adapt to changing market conditions
💰 Work within realistic budgets
🌱 Focus on sustainability through conversion vs. new construction

It's about being strategic, not just ambitious.

Get more from Gensler's guest column for : https://bit.ly/4krOXvG

Innovative approaches reshape suburban office campuses, creating dynamic, integrated communities that offer diverse amenities.

07/07/2025

Design professionals, take note! 👋

In a recent column from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), HOK's Kay Sargent and Tom Polucci share vital insights on neuroinclusive workplace design. The reality? Nearly 1 in 5 adults are neurodivergent, yet most offices are designed for just one type of brain.

The solution is refreshingly simple: Give people choices. Create quiet zones AND collaboration spaces. Install dimmable lights AND task lighting. Make everything adjustable. When employees can control their sensory environment, everyone wins—not just neurodivergent folks.

As Kay puts it: "We need to get to a place where work works for everyone."

Time to rethink design defaults! 💭✨Get more here: https://bit.ly/40Bgjs8

Explore practical strategies and research-based approaches to create inclusive environments that cater to a diverse range of cognitive variations.

07/03/2025

🏢 Commercial Interior Designers: Turn Economic Uncertainty into Opportunity

While 2025 presents challenges, smart firms are positioning themselves for future success. Here's how:

✅ Embrace the circular economy - Partner with dealers for refurbished furniture with full warranties. Rising material costs? Used and restored pieces offer clients budget-friendly, sustainable solutions.

✅ Diversify your practice - Explore adaptive reuse projects and suburban office conversions. Municipal planners and property developers are actively seeking creative solutions for aging commercial spaces.

✅ Invest in future skills - Use slower periods to enhance your capabilities through IIDA's Certified Design Futurist program or ASID's business and succession planning tools.

The firms that adapt now will emerge stronger when the market rebounds. What strategies are you implementing this year?

Read a detailed perspective from Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows: https://bit.ly/3ZZf31Y

Reflecting on challenges revealed in ASID’s 2025 Economic Outlook report, i+s Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows offers some perspective on how design firms can thrive.

07/02/2025

When architecture serves humanity at its best 🏢❤️ Graham Baba Architects transformed a former brownfield site into the Seattle area's Ballard Food Bank - a 10,628 sq ft "Hub for Hope" that preserves human dignity while efficiently serving neighbors in need.

The design goes beyond food distribution to include counseling, financial services, and medical support all under one welcoming roof. This is what happens when architects truly understand that buildings can heal communities.

Find project details: https://bit.ly/3TjaVGj

An optimized footprint with clearly zoned areas helps a Seattle food bank offer additional services in a respectful environment.

06/30/2025

🎧 Podcast Alert! Listen to a snippet below from "I Hear Design" featuring Ben Glunz, CEO of Anguleris, discussing how Swatchbox is revolutionizing interior design sustainability.

💡 Key Takeaway: Design firms generate dumpster loads of sample waste, but Swatchbox's new Second Life Samples™ program is changing that by using AI to assess and recirculate unused material samples—regardless of where they came from!

This isn't just about recycling; it's about creating a true circular economy in design. The future of sustainable design starts with how we handle the small things—like material samples. 🌱

Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/3ZVmRl8

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4epeSTo

06/26/2025

🏆 Don't Miss Your Chance for Industry Recognition!

Commercial interior product manufacturers - the deadline is approaching fast! Submit your ground-breaking products to the i+s Product Innovation Awards by July 15, 2025.

Why Enter?
✅ Showcase your products in the November/December issue of i+s magazine
✅ Feature winning products on the i+s website
✅ Receive the exclusive PIA 2025 logo for your marketing materials
✅ Gain valuable industry recognition from our expert judging panel

Eligible Products: Launched between December 1, 2022 and December 1, 2025

From acoustic management to lighting systems, furnishings to surfaces and more - we want to see your solutions designed to help architects and designers create beautiful, meaningful interiors.

Entry Fee: $425 per entry | Additional products: $275 each

Ready to showcase your innovation? Submit now: https://bit.ly/3AF3xiq

06/26/2025

✨ Lauren’s Product Pick of the Week: Cristalo by Cosentino ✨

Designers, allow us to introduce you to a quartzite that's redefining luxury surfaces. Cristalo from Cosentino's Sensa collection is pure poetry in stone.

What Makes It Special:
🤍 Translucent white to light gray palette with delicate silvery veining
🏔️ "Mirage" texture creates a glossy finish that evokes snow-covered landscapes
💪 Resists stains, scratches, and acids with minimal maintenance
📏 Large-format slabs in 20mm or 30mm thickness

This natural stone perfectly balances durability with refined elegance - exactly what luxury projects demand. The translucent quality and silvery veining create such serene, sophisticated spaces.

Perfect for clients seeking that tranquil retreat aesthetic with the practical benefits of advanced surface technology: https://bit.ly/44j02Jl

Discover Cristalo by Cosentino, a stunning quartzite from the Sensa collection. Its translucent white to light gray palette with delicate silvery veining and 'Mirage' texture ...

06/25/2025

🏢 Authenticity Over Stereotypes in Commercial Design

CREOarc's Ann Hampton shares valuable insights on creating authentic commercial spaces that honor local culture without falling into clichés. Her approach? Collaborate with local artisans to tell genuine stories through design.

Key takeaway: "You went to them because they are a local artist. So even though you have a vision as a designer... the artist has an equally important vision."

For commercial interior designers: How are you incorporating authentic local elements into your projects while maintaining timeless appeal?

Read the full interview: https://bit.ly/44jRRgb

San Antonio-based interior designer explains how the mix of local history, cultures, and artistic talent helps shape authentic hospitality and commercial design experiences.

06/24/2025

🏢 Multifamily designers, the amenities race is real—and modularity is your secret weapon!

With rising rents and an ultra-competitive market, developers are turning to flexible communal spaces that can transform throughout the day. From co-working by morning to social spaces by evening, the key is furniture that adapts with residents' evolving needs.

Key insights from industry experts:
✨ Spaces must transition seamlessly from work to social events
✨ Universal design approach benefits everyone—including neurodiverse individuals
✨ Modular solutions like flip-up tables and movable seating activate static spaces

"One space has to do so many things... the focus is on fluid, adaptive solutions" - Shawn Sowers, Hightower

Ready to create amenity spaces that truly compete? The future of multifamily design is flexible, inclusive, and user-powered.

📖 Read the full insights: https://bit.ly/3G4kKVu

Design pros weigh in with tips that make multifunctional environments a more attractive amenity—and a better investment—in multifamily housing complexes.

06/23/2025

🏨 Design Inspiration Alert for Commercial Interior Professionals
When hospitality design gets it right, spaces become destinations themselves. IIDA's latest spotlight showcases five exceptional hotels that masterfully blend aesthetic vision with functionality—perfect case studies for our industry.

Key Design Takeaways:
- The Royal Hotel (Ontario) - Historic preservation meets bold modern intervention with custom details like tartan tile mosaics and mushroom-inspired ceiling medallions
- Riviera Maya Edition (Mexico) - Seamless indoor-outdoor integration with dramatic triple-height lobbies and nature-inspired material palettes
- Karl Lagerfeld Hotel (Macau) - Cross-cultural design narrative combining Eastern motifs with Western luxury aesthetics

These projects demonstrate how thoughtful material selection, cultural storytelling, and innovative space planning can transform guest experiences. Each property offers valuable insights for commercial hospitality projects.

What design elements from these hotels could you adapt for your next hospitality project?
https://bit.ly/3HUNIrl

Five award-winning hotels demonstrate the impact an immersive design can have, bringing guests a full cultural experience.