The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2023 “Trends Outlook” report, examining societal shifts and economic trends affecting the design profession and the role of design in addressing issues in our world. In 2023, ASID”™s research finds that health and wellness continue to be top priorities in both residential and commercial design, with an emphasis on design solutions for the changing lifestyles and needs of older Americans. ASID”™s research also explores how design is being influenced by the global mental health crisis, consumers”™ demands for sustainability and a new wave of technology that brings with it the need for artificial intelligence and designing for the metaverse, or virtual world.
The report finds that:
A global reckoning with mental-health needs is driving a new ethos in design focused on environments that reduce stress.
Health and wellness remain top priorities in the build environment, with color, light, lighting, plants, natural materials, spa-like bathrooms and spaces for exercise and meditation all playing roles.
Consumers want to protect the planet and are making sustainable choices.
Older adults are remaking their post-work lives, opting for “rewirement” instead of retirement, with 61% returning to some form of work requiring hybrid, multigenerational workspaces.
Design is reflecting a world of video conferencing, social media content creation and influencer marketing. In other words, it must be ready for its Zoom and Instagram close-ups.
Designing in and for the metaverse is gaining momentum as a design specialty.
Some offices are being converted to residential spaces while others are becoming more adaptable to neurodivergent employees who may have medical challenges and learning disabilities.
“Perhaps at no other time in history has interior design played such a significant role in addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges,” said Khoi Vo, ASID CEO. “Designers are responding to changing needs in their communities by creating new spaces or adapting existing ones to make a positive impact on places where people live, work, play, heal or learn.”
“The Trends Outlook” is the first report in ASID”™s three-part “Outlook” report series. Parts two and three, the “Economic Outlook” and “State of Interior Design,” will be released later this spring. The series is sponsored by Sherwin Williams. The Trends Report is included in ASID membership and is available for download for $150 for nonmembers. For more, visit asid.org.
