In the quirky setting of The Zetter Clerkenwell, Hotel Designs gathered leading designers for an intimate roundtable discussion, in association with award-winning lighting experts at Franklite Ltd, to explore the future of hospitality design.

Read the full feature here.

“A Speakeasy Reimagined: Hush, Designed by Black Ivy Design, Brings Art Deco Glamour to Warwickshire” [Design Insider]

Nestled in a basement by the River Avon, the new bar exudes the glamour and intrigue of a bygone era. With interiors crafted by Black Ivy Design, the venue merges the decadence of the Roaring Twenties with the understated sophistication of modern luxury.

Read the full feature on Design Insider.

“Dining with Cultural Inspirations: Leanne Armstrong, Founder, Black Ivy Design” [Design Insider]

“Planning your own dinner party is something of a novelty; a rare indulgence for those of us who dedicate our craft to orchestrating memorable experiences for others. With this gathering, I sought elegance in simplicity, distilling the essence of thoughtful design to cultivate an atmosphere that was warm, inviting and effortlessly refined – trimming the fat, if you like. This pursuit mirrors the ethos we uphold in our hospitality projects at Black Ivy Design: an unwavering commitment to spaces that feel both curated and deeply lived in.”

Read the full feature on Design Insider.

“Designing a warm environment in a dental practice with a hint of luxury” [The Probe]

“Missed appointments cost dental practices thousands of pounds per year. To address this problem, House of Dental, a mixed practice in Hinkley, Birmingham, set Black Ivy Design a brief to improve attendance by transforming the practice into a striking, comfortable and welcoming environment that referenced the feel of a hospitality or hotel setting – all while ensuring the space was relevant for private and NHS services.”

Read the full feature on The Probe

“Shaking up F&B spaces with narrative-driven design” [Hotel Designs]

“In an industry where design works as hard as the mouth-watering menus, designing a restaurant or a bar is more than mere aesthetics. From concept to completion, the design of any F&B area intended to evoke an experience becomes a powerful narrative, weaving together ambiance and identity, making each space not just stand out, but truly resonate with a unique and unforgettable character.”

Read the full feature on Hotel Designs.

“Hush – a speakeasy reimagined” [Hotel Designs]

“With interiors crafted by Black Ivy Design, Hush is a new private members’ club developed by Leam Properties – the venue merges the decadence of the Roaring Twenties with the understated sophistication of modern luxury…”

Read the full feature on Hotel Designs.

“Coombe Abbey Hotel unveils Black Ivy redesign” [Hospitality Interiors]

“Coombe Abbey Hotel has completed an extensive redesign of eight of its historic rooms – reimagining the interiors of its most in-demand spaces for weddings, meetings and private events.

The transformation, led by Coventry-based interior design studio Black Ivy Design, draws heavily on the building’s rich architectural and cultural heritage.

Operators No Ordinary Hospitality hope the redesign will support continued growth across its events business, which has experienced a significant upward trend in both conferences and weddings over the past year.”

Read the full feature on Hospitality Interiors.

COVER FEATURE: Hospitality Interiors, Issue 117

Read the magazine online.

The post Press Highlights: Praise for Hush, House Of Dental and Coombe Abbey Hotel appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

The original McDonalds dining concept featured functional booths in bright shades of red and yellow. Red was chosen to help stimulate appetite, while yellow is a bright beacon that calls out to younger diners. The utilitarian concept reminds you that it was clean when you arrived, so why not clear your table on the way out? 

Contrast this with an establishment like Sketch in Mayfair. Plush seating in mellow yellow shades encourage diners to sink down and get comfortable. The longer they stay, the better, as they’ll be running up a larger and larger tab.

Image Source: Sketch, Mayfair

You’d be forgiven for thinking that restaurant design choices are purely aesthetic. While visual harmony and interest is clearly a priority, there is more going on behind the scenes. And this all depends on whether the restaurant wants you to eat and drink more, or clear your table quickly and make room for the next guests.

Here are just some of the ways that psychology influences dining design to help encourage positive behaviour. 

Narrative

Every restaurant should have a narrative that runs through the design and the menu. When the decor is at odds with the F&B offering, diners are left feeling off-kilter. Thematically, there needs to be something that binds the decor with the menu.

Take Bacchanalia in London. Diners are surrounded by OTT frescos, marble statues float overhead and images of cherubs adorn the menu. This opulent setting sets the scene for the Mediterranean-inspired menu. It’s not about matching gastronomy to gimmicks, but rather about creating a narrative that makes diners feel like they are part of a story.

Image source: Bacchanalia

Texture

Texture plays a huge role in dining psychology. Rustic dining pairs well with soft, washed linen, while luxury dining calls for sumptuous fabrics. In Japanese restaurants, we have an expectation of clean lines and dark wood. 

Ave Mario in Covent Garden achieves the balance of texture beautifully with their riotous blend of red, white and gold. Their plushy red velvet booths invite you to get close to your fellow diners for an intimate dining experience. 

Image source: Ave Mario

Another great example of this would be The Green Dragon. In this space, we paired rich velvet fabrics in playful tones to create contrast with the exposed beams and original 15th Century architecture.

Comfort

It goes without saying that diners should be able to get comfortable if you want them to stick around for a while. We wrote about how interior design can help to increase dwell time in last month’s blog. 

In fast-dining establishments, the aim is to make it possible for diners to perch or park only for as long as they need to enjoy their food before they vacate their table – making space for the next eager diners. In Dhillon’s Lounge, we created a wide range of seating options, including rustic benches, high bar stools and Chesterfield sofas.

If you want to increase dwell time, it’s common to create cosy spaces and nooks where diners can feel comfortable and at ease. Take The Wilderness in Birmingham as an example. The moody interior promotes a sense of cosiness, like the diner is cloaked in a cloud of secrecy.

Lighting

Many interior designers will start with the lighting. How we light a space influences how we see colour, texture and contrast. Above all else, diners want to feel confident in the way they look while they are enjoying their dining experience. Flattering lighting should be a priority as this will encourage diners to stick around for longer.

In fast-dining establishments, lighting might be used in a more playful way. It could even become a marketing ploy. Take iconic burger brand Archies and their playful pink branding. In their latest Manchester venture, they installed an on-brand pink train carriage which quickly became a hit on social media. Pink lighting is neither flattering nor appetising, but this doesn’t seem to deter the hoards of diners who flock through the doors to get their hands on the latest Archies creations – and then share the experience on Instagram.

Image source: Archies

Functionality

One final consideration for creating the perfect dining space is functionality. The most beautiful space in the world won’t encourage diners to stay a while if the wait staff are always colliding or asking to squeeze past their table.

While aesthetics are important, functionality also matters to the diner, even if they aren’t aware of how this impacts them. When designing the layout of a restaurant, it’s important to make sure every table feels like the best table in the house. If diners are left feeling like they have drawn the short straw in their allocation of seats, this can colour their entire dining experience. 

Final thoughts

If you’re planning a new restaurant and need guidance, Black Ivy Design is here to help. We create iconic dining spaces that are visually stunning and commercially successful. Get in touch today to learn more about our restaurant interior design service. We can help you to apply the psychological tricks outlined above to help create a functional and profitable restaurant that gets people talking.

The post The Psychology of Restaurant Interiors: How Design Influences Dining appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

They invented a new form of coffee shop usage, now known as “coffee camping”. Customers wanted a place to be able to sit, relax, catch up with friends, read a book or even work. It’s a location between work and home we refer to as the “third space”.

By offering a comfortable space, they could justify a heavy markup on their coffee prices. This was no longer a place to buy a humble cup of coffee; it was a whole experience with distinct decor and a soundtrack to match. The concept was so successful that there are now over 38,000 Starbucks locations in 80 countries around the world. Starbucks is one example of successful sensory marketing in action.

It’s odd to think about Starbucks creating something that is now so recognisable and commonplace in our culture. But it’s an important aspect of interior design that is often overlooked.

You can create a place that people want to visit, but how do you make them want to sit and stay a while? When customers feel comfortable enough to dwell in a venue, you’ll find that their average spend increases. 

We see this in hotels, where there is a lot of additional revenue to be made in the hotel bar and restaurant. But only if you can convince visitors that this is more desirable than being in their room. 

It can mean the difference between the guest enjoying a three-course meal with wine in the hotel restaurant versus a single bottle of wine ordered to their hotel room. During the day, guests have a choice between enjoying a coffee and pastry in the hotel lobby or heading to a nearby competitor.

What is dwell time?

Dwell time or dwell rate is a term used in interior design to describe the time customers spend in designed spaces. Hotels and hospitality venues are particularly concerned with the dwell rate. 

It’s vital to strike a balance between creating a space where people feel welcome to sit, relax and enjoy their time, while also recognising that it is a commercial space and they are expected to spend money while they are there.

Many coffee shops struggle despite seemingly being very crowded during the day. This is because they create an atmosphere where workers feel welcome to purchase a single drink and then occupy a table all day long. Design should be comforting and welcoming, but it should also be clearly a commercial space.

How does dwell rate impact revenue?

A hotel I recently stayed in would be the perfect example of a missed opportunity in design. The hotel was built in the 1800s and had a stunning exterior, but a recent interior refurbishment created a disjunction between the original features and the new design.

Despite being a high-end hotel, nothing about the interior invited me to stick around longer than I needed to. Clashing wallpaper was paired with piercing and stark lighting that cheapened the interior. The seating also looked cheap and was incredibly uncomfortable. As I looked around the lobby, I couldn’t find a reason to stick around and instead sought refuge in my hotel room.

So, what did the hotel get wrong?

There are a few design elements that will have a huge impact on the dwell time of your hospitality venue. These are:

Furniture

It’s really as simple as this: if there is nowhere comfortable to sit, don’t be surprised if people don’t stick around. Offering a variety of options is a highly successful design choice that allows people to find something that works for them. Some people feel more comfortable lounging, others prefer a supportive chair and others like to perch on a bar stool.

One example that springs to mind of venues getting this right is The Other House in Kensington, London. This venue combines apartment-style living with all the services you would expect from a luxury hotel. This location offers plush, dramatic interiors that invite you to sit and lounge around all day.

Decor

Decor should be sympathetic to the original features and provide cohesion between the exterior and the interior. It should also meet the visitor’s expectations in terms of quality. Put simply, high-end venues need high-end and on-trend decor. Try including elements of the local culture to create an immersive experience.

A great example of this would be our recent work with Dhillon’s Lounge. The focal point of the decor is a large mural showcasing the heritage of the town. It helps to bring together the distinct sections of the very large venue and provides a sense of cohesion.

Studies have found the use of colour in luxury interiors is very important to customer perception. Specifically, each dimension of colour (hue, saturation and value) will play a role in the customers’ aesthetic perceptions, emotional states, and behavioural responses. 

Lighting

Stark, harsh lighting will always be a deterrent to individuals wanting to stick around. And this includes harsh sunlight. Large windows can be welcoming, but if the sunlight is blazing in and visitors feel like there is nowhere to hide from it, they’ll go looking for another place to spend their time (and money). Think about window treatments for light control alongside multiple lighting sources that can be adapted to the time of day.

Scent

Yes, you need to employ all of the senses when it comes to increasing dwell time. Overpowering smells will not create a welcoming environment. Multiple studies have found that pleasant ambient smells will increase dwell time in leisure and retail environments.

Work with us

If you are a luxury brand in need of a refresh, we’ve got you. Get in touch with our team today to learn how we can breathe new life into your hotel, bar, restaurant or other venue and transform it into a must-visit destination. 

The post Enhancing Dwell Time and Spending Through Effective Commercial Interior Design appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

From your logo to the colours you opt for, your website, social media presence, and even the type of chairs and lighting you use in your physical environment, everything, and we mean everything, builds your brand vision and value, shows who you are, and just what you have to offer.

This makes branding an extremely powerful tool.

It helps to build communities of like-minded people. People who value your business. Who choose you over your competitors, and who want to be and feel part of something bigger.

These communities, once built, can prove invaluable.

In a world of digital, people crave physical and social connections, and this is where interior branding supported by a robust brand strategy comes in.

Effective branding triggers emotional reactions

“78% of millennials choose to spend their money on experiences over products.”

Your brand strategy should define how you want people to perceive you. What do you want your target audience to think, feel, and experience when they see your logo, brand name, or the inside of your restaurant or retail unit?

Every business and brand has a story to tell, and you need to bring your story to life and translate this into a visual language and tangible elements.

Interior branding helps to form a clear and consistent brand image if and only if you treat your physical space as part of your brand. One that must have the same cleverly crafted marketing principles applied, with the feeling of brand consistency from the moment someone walks into your venue and experiences the smells, the décor, and even the lighting, to the moment they sit down and pick up a menu.

By keeping the narrative the same and incorporating the design into even the tiniest of details, people can connect with your brand, triggering those emotional connections and the beginning of a community that others want to be part of.

Benefits of a good brand strategy

Start at the beginning. When we work with a client we want to know the overall goals and aims of the space that we are creating. Is it just one part of the building or will there be further projects that we will need to roll-out. Once we’ve captured that information we can ensure that the objectives of the business are incorporated into any designs. As we begin the design process we go back to those original objectives to ensure that we are solving the problems and goals we identified. The design needs to look and feel great but also deliver on business goals.

Strengthens your company message. How your brand is communicated through the layout of your venue to the finishing materials you use, colours, furniture, and more all combine to inform your target audience of who you are, what you’re going to provide them, and what they should expect. Think of interior branding as the final link. It is your opportunity to create a unique customer experience.

Creates trust. People want to know they can trust brands and often choose brands because of how they make them feel. They base their decision on the experience you have created. In fact, we base 75% of our buying decisions on trust and emotion. The focus is on building long-term, lasting relationships. For example, would you trust a Starbucks that had strobe lighting, removed the comfy furniture, and replaced it with plastic, easy-to-clean stools, removed the wooden counters that show their commitment to the environment, and replaced these with stainless steel metal countertops?

Enforces consistency. Consistent brand messaging matters even before the purchase takes place. Especially as we know, people don’t like uncertainty; it makes us, as consumers, nervous. It is the predictability of your interior branding that creates trust. People will have certain expectations of your brand; does your interior design reflect this?

Creates value. Developing and adapting your brand strategy to meet customer and market demands allows you to build loyalty and drive sales and revenue growth, as the visual language that you use through exceptional interior design creates consistency and a business that sets you apart from your competitors.

Telling your story through design

Define your brand values and mission, i.e., what your company cares about, and how you work to achieve this. From your values, you will then be able to create clear brand messaging that is consistent and relatable. For example, if you provide eco-friendly products, the interior of your store could reflect your brand values by using recycled materials and environmentally friendly lighting.

We like to think of branding as a conversation, i.e., listen to how people respond to what you’re doing because, trust us, the small things add up, with branding experienced at every touchpoint. Ensure to include all physical touchpoints and that these elements support each other. For example, think about the wording and styling of your menus, your cutlery, how dishes are served, and whether the cookware matches the venue’s interior. The narrative must flow seamlessly, and if one area, no matter how small, doesn’t fit or make sense, the connection with the brand can be instantly lost.

Strike a cleverly creative balance between imagery, aesthetics, and functionality. Injecting your personality into the space and make visits memorable. For example, your walls and ceilings allow you to showcase your brand, providing you with space to experiment with materials, textures, and colour.

Incorporate slatted panelling and natural wood to create a chic and stylish feel, giving earthy, authentic vibes. Or maybe look at possible links to local areas. Can you tie in, for example, the area’s background, the history, a story that sits alongside your brand that people can connect with and feel a sense of belonging? Creating a focal point that also offers the “wow” factor? (Make sure to check out our case study on Dhillon’s Brewery, where we achieved just this!)

Take people on a journey. Think about your brand colours and how these can flow from your online presence to your physical presence. How can you improve the functionality of your venue while still retaining core brand values and messaging?

Building your brand, building your community

Design plays a pivotal role in creating memorable experiences for hospitality guests. Beyond aesthetics, successful design in this realm goes beyond the visual realm and focuses on engaging all the senses, providing emotionally driven experiences that leave a lasting impact.

From the soothing touch of luxurious fabrics to the gentle aroma of carefully curated scents, every element is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of comfort, tranquility, and delight. Captivating soundscapes and ambient lighting further enhance the atmosphere, transporting guests to a world where their emotions are stirred and their senses are enlivened.

By thoughtfully integrating sensory and emotionally driven design, we can create spaces that not only appeal to the eye but also touch the heart, ensuring that every guest’s stay is an immersive and unforgettable journey.

This means you must engage with and experiment with various design elements because interior branding is more than matching furniture with brand colours – it’s about creating spaces that speak for themselves.

Creating engaging and relevant experiences and placing you head and shoulders above the competition.

At Black Ivy Design we believe innovative storytelling comes through intelligent design.

The post The importance of a good brand strategy appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

This matched with the 2020 reports from the Chamber of Commerce that reported that 76% of businesses are facing difficulties filling staff vacancies, and over half of businesses currently reporting that they are operating below full capacity, means looking ahead almost seems too bleak to think about.

However, changing the interior design of a venue can address the challenges many face today.

By creating spaces that meet customer needs and demands and by taking your customer on a journey, providing a unique and memorable experience with your brand, you can ensure they return time and time again—helping you to not only create a sustainable brand but increase your profit margins along the way.

At Black Ivy Design, we’ve used these challenging times to look at more creative ways to combat staff shortages and rising costs, all through intelligent interior design, and we want to share our top tips with you.

Create memorable brand identities 

The focus is changing your space and creating a visual identity that truly sets you apart from your competition. When your customer walks into your venue, they immediately understand your brand’s values and vision; it is what they expected and so much more.

We would advise that you incorporate and design different spaces within your venue (i.e., a different

waiting area, a different feeling when you move to the bar, a different experience when you’re sitting and having a meal etc.) allowing you to create different environments based on your customers’ expectations.

Creating stunning and comfortable experiences so customers will not only keep coming back but also recommend you to others.

For employees changing spaces can also improve productivity, supporting motivation and well-being.

Reconfigure `till you get it right

With the rising costs of running venues and keeping your employees happy, it’s time to get creative and reconfigure layouts to improve the functionality and efficiency of your hospitality space.

Working with a professional interior designer lets you cleverly and creatively examine traffic flow around and through your venue. This can significantly impact wait times and greatly improve the customer experience.

Reconfiguration matched with varying textures, shapes, focal points such as feature walls, and bar spaces that incorporate natural resources such as tiles and even natural clay to give a rustic yet contemporary vibe, all help to improve the flow around the venue and the ambiance, telling a story that captures your customers and entices them to stay longer.

This improvement in wait times, matched with increased operational efficiency, can improve profit margins while reducing energy and maintenance costs.

Set the mood with the right lighting

A great energy-saving tip is to use natural light as much as possible. If you have large expansive windows, don’t hide them away. They can still be used for advertising, and you can keep security levels high with protective film – the aim is to maximise natural light exposure internally.

Look to remove artificial lighting and create an environment that bolsters creativity, speaks to your brand, and incorporates products and sustainable design elements that reduce energy costs, such as energy-efficient lights and sensor lighting.

It’s also appropriate to note that circadian lighting is growing in popularity across many venues as it supports customers’ well-being and feeling of calm.

Oversized lighting, as well as bringing the `wow` factor, can also positively affect the customer experience and, if appropriate, should be highly considered.

Introduce digital-friendly features

As digital continues to move at pace, introducing certain technologies into design can reduce costs and support businesses when faced with staff shortages.

For example, introducing QR codes in restaurants and bars, ordering on the app instead of table service, self-check-in at hotels, charging stations for electronic devices, and more.

However, it’s important that these features also `fit` with the atmosphere you’re trying to create and positively impact your customer’s experience.

By improving the experience, you will see an increase in customer satisfaction which boosts loyalty, attracts new customers, increases footfall, and makes it easier for you to retain staff.

Awaken the senses

Promoting wellness and introducing natural designs and green spaces can inspire employees and appeal to customers two-fold.

Introducing greenery, and natural elements, mixed with the right lighting and even the right smells, can connect you with your customer in a way that speaks to your brand values. In addition, connecting with your customer on an emotional level plays a significant part in brand loyalty.

Think about colour psychology; what do you want your customers and staff to do, feel, and remember?

Scents can also influence how people feel and behave; they can affect what people think and more.

Of course, music must also be considered as part of your interior design, complementing the look and feel of the venue, inviting customers in, and creating an environment where they want to stay.

The focus is on boosting productivity and motivation, and this emotional connection can also encourage employees to develop their skills with you in-house, where you not only gain the advantage of a highly skilled workforce but also avoid the rising costs of onboarding new employees.

Think sustainability

Your interior design must incorporate everything, and we mean everything. From the reconfiguration of furniture to large art displays and feature walls to the smaller design elements such as menus and even cutlery.

Enhancing your visual brand, including these intricacies of interior design, leads to customer loyalty and increased productivity, all leading to increased revenue.

Moreover, with rising costs across all products, opting for more sustainable materials now will be crucially beneficial in the long run. Opting for items that are eco-friendly and non-toxic, it’s also chic to take on the repair, not replace mantra, with upcycling growing in popularity and adding character and charisma to venues.

Black Ivy Design

Creating memorable brand identities, improving functionality and efficiency, and using clever design to save on operational costs and retain top talent is what good interior design can offer you.

Fostering growth, innovation, and productivity, we work collaboratively with venues throughout the design process to understand your needs, goals, and objectives.

We help venues understand the space’s capabilities, creating environments that support businesses to look forward with determination and drive to support staff shortages and rising costs, all while creating experiences that your customers never forget.

For further help and advice, call us at 02475 227 623 or email leanne@blackivydesign.co.uk.

The post Combating staff shortages and rising costs with interior design – yes, it can be done! appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

Take Emmeline Pankhurst for instance yes, she was no designer, but she broke the mould and through sheer determination she changed the course of history. Bras were burnt, hunger strikes took place and buildings were burnt down and vandalised so that women were finally heard and took notice of. Female designers have had a similar fight and it has taken women with an inner fire just like Pankhurst to become successful in what is deemed to be a man’s world. The landscape of the architectural world especially has a brutal reputation of treating women far less than equal.

Breaking Barriers

A phrase so often heard when a female designer reaches the dizzy heights of success is ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ a phrase coined when minorities such as women can only reach so far in their careers or a hierarchy. A so-called invisible barrier stopping them from achieving what only men could achieve. This extraordinary condescension is a battle, women in design and architecture must face daily. To change this patronising culture a certain level of comprehension must take place. The world today is a very different environment to what it was 100 years ago but the attitude towards women has not moved at the pace Emmeline Pankhurst would have hoped for.

Innovative Designs

Women have brought a fresh perspective to commercial interior design, and their designs have been innovative and unique. Women have brought new ideas and concepts to the field, challenging traditional design norms and creating new trends. Women designers have always had a knack for detail, and they have used this to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Zaha Hadid, was the most influential and ground breaking architect of the 21st century, encountered many struggles in her career, as did other female architects before her. She was straight talking, direct and domineering. In articles her gender was always commented on. Despite the challenges, women like Denise Scott Brown, Amanda Levete, and Farshid Moussavi are paving the way for future generations of female designers and the future is optimistic.

While women in design have faced significant obstacles and discrimination, they have nonetheless made significant contributions to the field. Their innovative designs and fresh perspectives challenge traditional norms and pave the way for future generations of designers. By recognizing the accomplishments of women in design and continuing to fight against inequality, we can create a more inclusive and diverse field of design.

International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to thank and reflect on these inspirational women who have paved the way for an even playing field. We’ll be raising a glass to you today Emmeline Pankhurst!

The post How have women shaped design? appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

For venues looking to succeed and increase footfall and revenue, improving interior design is essential.

And we’re not alone in this thinking.

Research from The Design Council states that “over a ten-year period, companies that put emphasis on design outperformed the FTSE 100 Index by 200%”.

So no small margin.

And, for all the sentiment is focused on Apple and the tech industry, we feel Steve Jobs summed up interior design in a nutshell when he stated, “design is not just about look and feel, it’s how it works when it’s in use.”

And it’s true. You need to make your interior design work for your business. Improving the space to meet a purpose and creating a first impression that makes an impact.

A first impression that positively affects how your customer feels, behaves, and acts.

But how do you achieve this? How do you create such an ambience that your customers not only return to your venue time and time again, but they stay, they spend, and they enjoy.

Show your personality.

The look and feel of your venue are a direct reflection of you and your business.

Adding value through brand awareness, good interior design can breathe new life into old and tired spaces, putting your brand, vision, and story front and centre.

You want to create spaces that people talk about, creating a customer experience that flows, is considered inspiring, and encourages productivity.

Most importantly, you want to use designs to show your personality and create an emotive link.

How….

Create spaces with purpose.

Make space flow and your employee’s job more convenient by positioning furniture in such a way that it maximises the amount of space you have without it feeling unnatural or packed for profit.

This means making space comfortable, functional, and appropriate.

Influencing the customer experience and, ultimately, their purchasing decisions, think about:

• For calming and minimalistic styles that motivate and offer efficiency, look for comfortable and versatile furniture pieces with round edges that come in soft colour palettes.
• For more collaborative spaces, look for thin, simple tables with flat top surfaces and angled legs, providing you with versatility and elegance.
• If you require different configurations, look for easily assembled furniture. Furniture that is minimalistic, multifunctional, and flexible.
• Consider soft seating to encourage people to stay longer, as comfort becomes key.

Use hierarchy to grab attention.

With the right design hierarchy, you can guide people through your venue.

Influencing what you want your customers to do, the focus is to place your most important pieces of information/content first.

Using larger font sizes and bright colours to attract the eye and grab attention, working down to more neutral tones and colours for smaller bitesize information.

Think about impact and areas that add value to your business.

Evoke emotions through texture.

Add visual weight to your interior design with various textures.

Textures can significantly affect the feel of a space…significantly.

For example, rough textures can create a feeling of intimacy and provide a more rustic and grounded sense. In contrast, venues with smooth (and, dare we say it, often shiny) surfaces appear more modern and sleek, adding a contemporary tone as soon as you walk through the door.

Use colour psychology.

We love the psychology of colour. The idea that you can influence how people think, feel, and behave all through the colours you use.

Having the ability to send powerful messages to your customers, colours can stimulate a better customer experience, especially if you make the right associations at every touch point.

For example, use earthy colours for eco-friendly venues or blend sustainable and renewable elements throughout the workspaces.

Fast food restaurants often use yellows, oranges, and reds in their spaces as these colours are believed to stimulate appetite…

Likewise, venues such as yoga studios or spas will have blues and soft greens to create a sense of calm and stillness.

For an intimate feeling, black and grey tones can create a clean look and project shapes and silhouettes when worked with the right lighting, providing an ambient illumination that is unique, edgy, and dynamic.

This leads us to matching the right colours with the right….

…lighting.

Lighting can make or break the feeling inside a venue.

How often have you struggled to read a menu and make the right choices? Or walked into a venue to feel the bright lights of a supermarket glaring down on you, making you feel uncomfortable and like you need an excuse to leave…and quick!

Lights build an atmosphere and allow you to make a statement while also being highly efficient.

It’s not all about the customer.

Interior design is not all for your customers; your employees are important too!

Working in uninspiring, outdated, and drab spaces makes it extremely difficult to feel motivated, creative, and driven to do and offer more.

An attractive, chilled-out zone, with staff spaces they can call their own, can boost employee productivity two-fold. Increasing efficiency and boosting morale, an attractive staff space is conducive to increasing worker output.

Look at seating (sofas in shared spaces can create a feeling of relaxation, warmth, and calm) and multi and bright colours to add depth, excitement and promote productivity.

Importance of interior design for venues

Interior design goes beyond cosmetics. It focuses on making business processes more efficient and cost-effective, increasing the value of products and services, and cutting production costs.

All through designing spaces that meet a clear purpose.

At Black Ivy Design, we create purposeful spaces that give you a competitive edge, driving results.

Providing efficient and sustainable solutions, we identify opportunities and solve design-related problems, transforming good businesses into successful ones.

With designs that put people first, we have a taste for trends that deliver.

Got a project in mind?

Contact us

The post Why opt for interior design for your venue? appeared first on Black Ivy Design.

Commercial Interior Design Trends: Wellbeing and Sustainability 

All businesses will need to rethink their strategy on how to implement wellbeing into their interior design. We will see this increasingly more in restaurants and hotels where using simple design elements can transform a space and elevate the guest experience. Designers have a responsibility to create spaces that focus on making people feel good and where they can create memorable, positive experiences. 

Sustainability and wellbeing are two of the most influencing trends we face stepping into 2023. We will see the increase of more sustainable materials and more natural textures. Tactility will be huge as people want to have their senses stimulated, boosting the popularity of products like raw natural clay plaster. Clay plaster absorbs excess moisture from the air creating breathable air, free of all toxins and has minimal carbon footprint.

Biophysical design shows no sign of going anywhere, plants are here to stay! We’ll see the rise of real rather than faux plants wherever possible. However, this tends to be dictated by the access to natural light and dependent on vigilant staff! 

We will also see a need for circular design and key topics such as reuse and repurpose. With questions on the longevity of a product with a “repair not replace” mantra. The quality of certain recycled materials is now at an all-time high with products such as Smile Plastics and key furniture items can be constructed purely from recycled materials providing quirky talking points. 

Circadian Lighting

Science has always taught us that the use of natural light and an innovative lighting design can positively affect people’s behaviour. Therefore, Circadian lighting design will become huge this year as designers will use lighting techniques to tap into and have a positive impact on our circadian rhythms. Changing moods and tempos from day to night with some simple techniques can increase moods and productivity.

Operators will have a responsibility to answer calls on sustainability. The Other House in South Kensington offers guests to check how sustainable they are on an app during their stay and have the option whether to have a daily clean as this affects their score. 

Technology 

As the world moves towards a more digital age, brands need to embrace the use of apps and evolve with the times. Investing at this level can counteract the detrimental effect of staff shortages and result in increased revenues and by attracting a new wave of custom, improve profitability. This is becoming more and more evident with the use of QR codes in restaurants and bars and hotels with digital self-check-in systems which guests can do on their phones or at check in points through a computer. Although brands at this point still need to air on the side of caution. Not all consumers are there yet, and the ripple effects of the pandemic see a divide in what people want. There are some who welcome the safe, germ free and quicker option to check in or order a burger through an app but there are those who desire the human interaction and experience so having both options at this point in time are essential for a positive customer experience.

Work from anywhere

Another effect of the pandemic saw an increase in the WFH culture where being able to ‘work from anywhere’ can be a profitable revenue for venues. Many work from bars, hotel lobbies, restaurants. Therefore, venues who offer increased access points, strong WIFI, comfortable seating, ambient low music and engaging staff will encourage those workers to stay all day. Ordering copious amounts of tea while eating lunch and by creating the right atmosphere may encourage workers to stay well into the night. What brands need to do is create collaborative, ambient and relaxing spaces where workers can leverage ideas.

Experience venues 

2023 will see the rise of experience venues. The pandemic saw a shift in the way consumers want to be entertained. We live in a world of instant gratification due to the accessibility of mobile phones and the Instagram effect; consumers want to be wowed and experience something new whilst sharing the experience on their social channels. 

Bold and Dramatic interiors

2022 introduced the wider world to the Metaverse and whilst still in its infancy the trend is gaining more and more traction. With not much known on how this is going to impact our lives in the future. We will be seeing more bold colours influenced by the metaverse and this new direction. Pantone chose the colour Viva Magenta for its colour of the year for 2023. We expect to see more of these bold colours and influence which speaks to the Gen Z’s.

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