Office design evolving: function remains key

Springfield area interior designers are staying abreast of new trends and innovations in office design.

Designer Arturo Ysmael of James Decor believes office design is becoming more and more similar to residential design. Since work can be intimidating with its many demands, he said, the presence of familiar objects, upholstery and fabric can help reduce stress.

"When something is familiar it reminds people of home and makes them feel more comfortable, more at ease," he said.

Aesthetics, productivity, and comfort go hand-in-hand for Jeanne Waters-Hill, designer for Touch Design Inc.

"Now people are creating an environment instead of just painting the walls. For positive morale, you've got to have a positive environment. ... Since people spend so much time at work, the office also becomes a home away from home."

Waters-Hill believes the workplace can be both calming and productive. "A lot of the clients we work with are interested in making their surroundings as comfortable as possible. Beyond the decor, the office atmosphere should incorporate all the senses, from pleasing smells to appropriate background music."

Functionality is especially important to principal and interior designer Barbara Austin of Austin-Deckard Interiors Inc. "The most important element of good design is function, because if the interiors are fabulous but they don't work well for those using them, then the design isn't truly a good design. It may be beautiful, but it isn't effective."

Austin noted that one element she notices in today's design is flexibility "for example, a workstation for multiple users where they can change some of the features to fit their own needs. The task chair is adjustable seat height can easily be lowered or raised and paper trays can be added to accommodate the workflow."

Austin's partner, Andrea Deckard, concurred. "Ergonomics are a major concern. All designers are taking great care in specifying products tailored to the employee's task ... ensuring safety and comfort."

Kris Evans, principal and interior designer for Interior Planning Consultants Inc., notes that people are using more wood today rather than laminates. "It creates a warmer look," she said, adding that warmth can also be created by using certain colors.

"We're seeing a lot more use of color. People are using primary colors or dark, rich hues such as burgundy or hunter green," Evans said.

Ysmael believes the overall trend is changing to lighter, earthbound environmental colors. "These colors bring nature inside to enhance the feeling of being relaxed."

There are advantages to both warm and cool colors, he said. "Warm colors would enhance productivity, stimulating people to think and work."

On the other hand, he said, cooler colors reduce stress, which can also increase productivity.

Deckard is amazed by the amount of blue designers are using today. "I think that's a new trend. We're going back to blue. I think on the coast there's a lack of color. They're going toward more neutrals, but here in the Midwest we're going to more color. We're seeing a lot of techno colors, like those VW bugs in lime green. Some really vibrant colors."

She noted that color choices depend on what the client wants "very subdued, classic designs or modern, very cutting-edge."

Waters-Hill likes to incorporate natural products, such as stone, wood and live plants into office design. "We try to create a natural environment. We'll use silk plants if necessary, but we try to use as few manmade materials as possible." Although they require a larger investment, natural products such as wool, leather and stone offer longevity, she said. "Stone costs more than linoleum or tile. Natural fabrics are more expensive than (synthetic) fabrics. But natural products are going to last a lot longer."

And, she added, "They won't go out of style."

Lighting also is a critical element for designers. Evans said more companies today are using ambient, or indirect, lighting in which a fixture directs light up toward the ceiling. This kind of lighting, she said, eliminates the problem of glare on computer screens and is "a softer and better quality light, giving a softer, warmer tone to the office."

The best light of all, however, comes from outdoors, she said, and more clients are choosing to leave some windows available to the general office.

Ysmael believes that the amount of natural light available often depends on architecture and whether the company owns the building or is renting. "The ideal would be to have more natural light than artificial light," he said, "but in a warehouse-type office building, there's not much you can do.

Since out-of-date decor and furniture can reflect negatively on a business, it's important to keep styles current, Waters-Hill said. "The office can be well done, but if the decor is 30 years old, it's time for a facelift." A positive change can be encouraging to employees and customers alike, she said. "It doesn't have to be a major overhaul, but I'd recommend a facelift at least every 10 years."

Designers say they face two major obstacles in their work: budgets and building codes. "The biggest constraint is the budget," Waters-Hill said. After the entire exterior of the building is finished, the interior package gets the remaining funds, she said. "It's the first thing to get cut because it's the last thing to be done."

Ysmael added, "The bottom line is cost. It just depends on how much a company is willing to spend." With limited funds, he said, computers and equipment often take precedence over interior design.

Deckard noted that Americans with Disabilities Act building codes impose some limits on designers, but that budget constraints "challenge us to be more creative. Budget limitations are always an issue. It's important for people to know we're comfortable working within budget."