Trends are a near-unstoppable driving force in just about every creative industry. We’re constantly bombarded with videos and articles detailing all the aesthetics, colours, brands and items currently dominating the cultural zeitgeist, particularly in fields like interior design.
While these kinds of trends often come and go, some have a lot more staying power. Fundamental shifts in design ethos and the way designers approach their work can make serious changes in the industry over time – creating a brighter and more innovative future for the designers of today and tomorrow.
As Collarts Interior Design Program Coordinator Reena Iyer puts it,
“While material trends and aesthetics may shift over time, I believe broader philosophies like sustainability and inclusivity will remain central to the future of the industry.”
With Reena's help, we run through the five biggest and most exciting industry trends that designers should keep an eye on.
As with many industries – particularly creatively driven ones – interior design is experiencing a major push towards greater sustainability. From the materials we use to the way we plan and create spaces, designers are focusing more and more on minimising their environmental impact.
We’re already seeing exciting innovation within the design industry, like discarded plastics being repurposed into boards and bricks or waste textiles being used for acoustic design treatments.
Design for Environments is a core unit in Collarts' Interior Design course that’s centred on these ideas of sustainability, encouraging students to think critically about environmental impact, cultural sensitivity, and long-term responsible design.
“Rather than treating sustainability as an add-on, we focus on embedding it as a core design philosophy,” Reena says. “These aren’t fleeting trends, but foundational pillars that will continue to shape practice.”
It may seem like an oxymoron to call individuality a trend, but it is making a big comeback in the world of design. Designers and clients alike are focusing less on trending aesthetics, must-have pieces and regimented design philosophies, and more on creating spaces that speak authentically to the people using them.
People crave spaces that suit them and reflect their unique personalities. So designers are tasked more often with finding layouts, colour palettes, furniture and decor pieces that clients can personally connect with.
We help our design students build these skills by presenting diverse design opportunities as part of our curriculum. By speaking with real-life clients and working to a wide range of briefs, our designers learn to identify opportunities for authenticity and find creative, innovative solutions clients will love.
One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen in wider design mindsets comes with acknowledging that interiors can impact us physically, mentally and emotionally. But the way it impacts each of us can depend on so many different things, including personal and systematic factors like disability and neurodiversity.
“Designing for neurodiversity is still often overlooked,” Reena says. “Yet it is becoming increasingly important as designers consider sensory needs, adaptive environments, and flexibility within spaces.”
Neurodiversity can affect the way people find either comfort or discomfort in spaces, which can provide both challenges and opportunities for designers who prioritise a client’s unique needs.
At Collarts, this push for greater inclusivity in design is woven into our curriculum. One particular unit, Design for Humanities, offers students the chance to design for a social cause. In the process, they’re challenged to design spaces that support diverse human needs and experiences, which we see as a vital skill for successful designers.
There are amazing designers and artists all over the world producing dreamy interior pieces, but many interior designers are choosing to stick a little closer to home. There’s been an industry-wide move towards working with local designers and artisans, which in turn works to strengthen the local industry.
As this trend continues to grow, it will open fantastic opportunities for creative collaboration within Australia. Interior designers can benefit enormously from building connections with local artisans, graphic designers, furniture makers and artists of all kinds — the perfect piece for a project often comes from someone nearby.
Collarts places strong emphasis on connection, collaboration and professional networking. Students regularly meet and work with industry experts throughout their studies, allowing them to start building a meaningful creative network from day one.
Peer networks are just as valuable. After all, the person sitting next to you in class might end up working for an amazing design studio, starting their own furniture design business, or becoming an acclaimed artist after they graduate.
We live in a busy world, where people need spaces that not only suit their lifestyles but adapt along with them. This has only increased with the rise of hybrid working and at-home businesses.
The need for interiors that accommodate living and working presents opportunities for designers to really test their skills. To keep up, they’ll need to perfect the balance between functionality and aesthetics, finding new and creative ways to make the most of the spaces they design.
This is another area where the diversity of our curriculum really benefits our students. Through our units, assessments and industry placement opportunities, Collarts students are presented with all kinds of design challenges that emphasise these evolving functionality needs.
Ready to play your part in the future of design?