Whether the right word to describe it is lame, cringe-worthy or just plain embarrassing, the fact remains that most prognosticators who imagine what life will be like 100 years from now get things very, very wrong.
For example (and if your doctor has advised you to avoid lame, cringe-worthy and just plan embarrassing things you should probably stop reading!), here are some bold predictions from the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris:
- Firefighters would fly around putting out fires. Not in hot air balloons. They would be wearing wings, like Bat Man.
- Whales — yes whales — would be domesticated and used as underwater transportation.
- Flying cars will be everywhere (we’ll give them a break on this, because even the folks who made The Jetson’s figured we’d be whisking back and forth in flying cars).
- Bathrooms would be fully automated in every way (we’ll leave this one up to your imagination…).
We could go on — but we won’t, because the point is abundantly clear: predictions about the distant future are fun and creative, but they rarely pan out. In fact, most of them don’t even come close (which is good news for whales!).
So, what does this have to do with office interior design? It’s this: just like every other field, there are various pundits in the office interior design space who enjoy gazing ahead and wondering what things will look like in the 22nd century. Naturally, things will be very different; just as they are now compared to 100 years ago.
However, regardless of what profound shifts, twists and turns are in store, we know — and without any doubt — that some things won’t change. That’s because they are fundamentals and pillars that enable professional office interior design; always have been, and always will be. These include:
- Office interior design planning will always be the most essential piece of the puzzle.
- Employees and others who are part of the office environment need to be part of the development process (to a greater or lesser extent).
- Space optimization must remain a core, guiding principle — because what looks good on paper or a screen (or visor or whatever is in use 100 years from now) may not translate into the real world, or even the VR world if that’s where we’re headed.
- Value engineering — by this or any other name — will drive cost-effective and successful projects.
- Office interior design is a specialization that takes experience and knowledge, because every decision has an impact on space utilization and cost.
The Bottom Line
At Key Interiors, we embrace change and innovation — especially since our clients depend on us to tell them what’s trending, and how can they can get ahead of the curve to support their workforce, impress their customers, and elevate their brand. However, while we think ahead, we never lose sight of the core fundamentals and pillars that make office interior design smart, effective and successful.
To learn more, contact our team today for your free consultation. For more information on signs that your office needs a renovation now instead of later, download our FREE eBook:
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