How interior designers will work post COVID 19

How interior designers will work post Covid 19

Of the most critical

Thoughts experts in industries might be having now concerning post covid 19 , the future of their industries will be the most pertinent . 

How we do business now is almost irrelevant  as we approach a seemingly bleak future in our fields . 

Health practitioners, engineers , food tech experts and delivery personnels  have become the most relevant of careers at this moment but this will not be forever ; we hope , as we expect the virus to go away or a vaccine or cure comes up real soon . 

As interior designers , our business models and plans have to be rewritten as we may need to figure out how to remain relevant . We all can’t go into food businesses and it’s a bit too late to become doctors ! 😊

Here are the ways interior designers will work in the not too distant post covid 19 future : 

Virtual meetings: 

It’s no question that virtual materials will become the order of the post covid era since the new media has made it clear that we may have more of flu related contagious diseases in the future . Besides , they haven’t found a cure for this one yet . Hence the touch , see and feel presentations with the clients will change . 

With what we have seen so far , companies have quickly adjusted to the tele - meeting model to pass information and discuss processes amongst colleagues . 

Clear , crisp images of samples as well as chemical composition listings of materials to determine ergonomics and allergies will become a norm for virtual mood boarding to clients . 

Videos of 3D model generated presentations and augmented reality will  also be necessary for clients to visualize important spaces in the home and how it makes them feel .

Social distancing rules commercial design

For interior designers who are into commercial design , public area designing will come without question of adequate space planning as this will become a major aspect of the design process . For metropolitan commercial designing, this will be a new factor . Larger than regular  spaces may be considered for businesses that have frequent walk ins . 

Physical distancing measures will be essential in furniture design , furniture selection and fabric selection . This is important because fabrics that may retain residues from sneezing and coughing may not be a smart consideration . Ease of cleaning and disinfecting will also become relevant to the discourse. 

Metaphysical health concerns 

Because of the long periods people have had to stay at home , most will realize the need for

More comfortable , functional

Living spaces that can accommodate most of their lifestyle needs . Most millenials are fast moving with trends and lifestyle changes and may soon be accustomed to the new “work from home” practice . It is expected that their itinerary will largely influence the kind of home they would want .

For instance a home with a Lawn tennis area , a gym , home office or a well

Set grill area . Considerations for tools that might enhance mental health such as acoustics, lighting, audio visual and sound will become high demand interests in home designing . 

Offices in residences 

As mentioned earlier , home staging and actual home designing will

Consider home offices almost as important as a laundry room . As the tide changes , the work place rules may also change . Companies who have recorded the high productivity scores may consider setting work goals or targets rather than hours to enhance / achieve productivity. This would make the home work space a need rather than a want . It may no longer be the “optional “ work area used during spare times on day offs . This may be challenging in smaller spaces but reconsiderations and reprioritizing will likely happen in households . 

Health and safety industry experts collaborations with interior designers  

Disinfecting and thorough cleaning will probably be the most important question a client would ask after budget concerns for their projects . 

The reality of the scourge has made the subject unavoidable because no one would want the possibility of contacting a disease because they asked for a remodel or makeover . As I mentioned before , materials that are easy to clean and disinfect will be the choice without question . The design industry and fabric manufacturers  need to together re -evaluate the new production trends and themes for 2020 to 2025 as a means to promote these factors aforementioned. Cleaning agents for  specific cleaning and disinfecting materials that will do no harm to delicate furniture are now essential as they may need to be cleaned more often than usual . 

Collaboration with health and safety experts may prove more reliable with innovation that can determine a place 99% hazard or virus free by device use with a certified result if possible . Because it will be very difficult to work in protective gears , this has become inevitable and would build confidence in the integrity of the design company vis a vis its relationship with its clients . 

We are looking at a future with space planning considerations to enhance physical distancing , more functional living spaces to promote ergonomics and mental health reliability and non negotiable post project space safety standards . 

Bukky Lepe 2020