Are there creative designs anymore?
What is creative design anyway?
I have found that through the years of searching through Dwell or Architectural Digests, inevitably, history repeats itself. And to that point, design is as fashion is today - cyclical in incredible speed and repetition. We see brass, wood slats, and colorful wallcovering dominate the retail industry one second and then exit out quickly to make way for stainless steel, black painted walls, and sealed concrete floors again. To be considered ‘timeless’ seems to be an antiquated terminology that describes a desire more than an outcome.
How do we progress with this mentality? How do we provide something different? The internet, for better or worse, has flooded our feed with look-a-like design spaces. People have greater access to products nowadays, it’s easy to Pinterest search and Google purchase.
Well to this designer, the key to being valuable in our industry is understanding client intent and coordinating for successful execution. The design is all in the details. The results should speak for themselves. The reality of design is that it is not all about picking finishes, that should be an important component to inform the design and drive the project in the right direction. Ask any contractor and they will say the key is in the guts - the mechanical systems, the plumbing lines, the structural components - that is where your costs lie, that is where your headaches come from. However, despite all that, the design should remain key. The designs should hold the systems to a certain finished floor height, the designs should put importance to the key elements that need to be lit properly or where the user experiences will enhance the space.
Designers, don’t forget how important your materials and layouts are. Your creativity is building an environment that ties together all the components and - key point - the goal is for the users not have any idea about the complexities behind the walls or ceilings.
From what I’ve seen in successful creative designs, highlight a zone or a few specific products/materials. Let those shine and be the thesis of your space, the stars of the show. Not every nook and cranny needs to be filled with … stuff. Sometimes the negative space is key to keeping the space airy and suddenly BOOM, the textured feature wall with the waterfall light fixture glowing above a beautiful terrazzo textured cafe table with the softest boucle lounge seat created the perfect Instagram shot.