Q: Who are you as a designer? Tell us more.

As I grow as a designer I lean towards classic design that won’t look trendy in years to come. I like playing with materiality, texture, neutral colors and lighting to make spaces memorable.  Mentoring young designers is very important to me, they bring fresh ideas and a different perspective. I encourage everyone to bring their design ideas to the table, even odd ball ideas might lead you to the final design solution. See a few of our latest and greatest projects below (some complete and some coming soon)!

Q: 6 words that describe what it’s like to be a designer in NYC. Go!

Fast.
Fun.
Creative.
Energizing.
and Exhausting,
BUT AMAZING!

Q: What are some architecture and interior design trends in NYC you’re seeing at the moment?

Clients are embracing the blending of hospitality and retail into corporate interiors which allows us so many great opportunities for creative spaces. More workplace clients are understanding the importance of integrating outdoor spaces to work/dine in. Many Global Solution clients are turning away from one size fits all design and instead focusing on local design concepts to help make the spaces unique to help attract and retain talent and help define the brand. This can be anything from local artwork, locally sourced materials/furniture, to custom Environmental Graphics Branding that showcases the area or even brining in local restaurants to cater in their cafeterias or pop up cafes/food truck days.

Q: How has the design landscape in NYC changed over time?

I came to New York in the early 2000s after spending time in San Francisco during the dot com boom. I felt that New York was not nearly as forward-thinking as San Francisco was then. So much of New York still had the “I need the corner office” mentality. I feel that NYC is pushing boundaries and creating positive change in workplace design. It helps that many tech companies have offices in NY to help push the needle

Q: What are your favorite types of projects to work on?

I enjoy working on large scale corporate projects with multiple amenity spaces. I love to develop the overall concept for a space with many functions. Activating all portions of the building is an exciting challenge and allows for special moments to focus in on. We recently completed a corporate campus in Raleigh/Durham and it had: a full-service cafeteria, tech help desk, barista bar, fitness center, multiple micro-markets, a training center, Executive Briefing Center, outdoor walking paths and numerous: wellness rooms, pantries, coffee bars & outdoor terraces/patios throughout the project.

Q: What’s it like to work at NELSON NYC?

Working at NELSON is fun! Every day is a new day for me. As Design Director I’m fortunate to oversee many different clients and each one has its own unique design stamp. The success of the projects really comes from everyone involved on our team. From juniors all the way up to senior staff, we work hard to exceed our client’s expectations, and everyone is encouraged to bring their ideas and challenge themselves. I also feel fortunate to be part of a larger organization where my counterparts in other offices are reliable sounding boards and friends. I’ve had the opportunity to work with designers from around the country exposing me to endless creative ideas and fresh approaches.

Our desire to connect is a survival instinct

Even before COVID-19, loneliness was considered a public health problem by cognitive and social scientists. While many employees have thrived in the new reality of working from home, many have also struggled with a sense of isolation and loss of connectedness with their co-workers.

Humans are primates, and in the competition for survival, the practice of living in societies where resources, information, and protection are shared has provided humanity a distinct advantage. The modern workplace is also an intimate social group where cooperation and interaction with other group members play a crucial role in our business survival. Our yearning for the camaraderie of the workplace is part of our survival instinct. 

Humanity is currently engaged in a purposeful evaluation of what we’ll allow back into our lives post-pandemic. That evaluation will impact our expectations of businesses and brands. We can expect to see the previous standards, expectations, and behavioral patterns of workers to evolve rapidly. The shutdown accelerated an already massive shift toward mobility and remote working. Workplaces will need to support smaller onsite and remote team interactions.

Decompressed density means that some of us will be working remotely, and some will work in shifts.

We believe that employer brands will move beyond a focus on recruitment and retention strategies toward a more integrated and holistic influence on the fulfillment of overall brand objectives.

Extraordinary times, require extraordinary resolve

As organizations face uncertainty, the need to reinforce the business’s core drivers becomes even more critical. Inspiring loyalty and driving performance are easier when employees care about what you do, understand your values, and are genuinely inspired by your vision and purpose.

The boundaries between being physically in the office and out of the office are collapsing. We envision a “redefined essentialism” in the design of future workplaces, dispensing with practices and tools that no longer serve the future. Reinventing these spaces to become epicenters for organizational priorities, building social networks, and organizational development. Developing fit-for-purpose workplaces will make them the driving force behind collaboration and collective intelligence.

The Trust Ecosystem

When the world seems precarious and uncertain, a resilient organization becomes even more important. Organizations who operate with a shared sense of purpose and trust are more capable of swiftly adapting to change. A Watson Wyatt study shows that high-trust organizations outperform low-trust organizations by 286% in total return to shareholders.

 “Trust is not merely a soft, social virtue; rather, trust is a pragmatic, hard edged, economic, and actionable asset that you can create.” Stephen M.R. Covey

Deloitte Insights describes the four dimensions of trust as physical, emotional, financial, and digital. Post–COVID-19, business leaders can future proof their business by creating strategies that take the needs of all stakeholders into consideration, across these four dimensions.

Here are the ways the four facets of trust can inspire the future role of winning employer brands and workplaces in the pre-Vaccine COVID-19 era.

Physical Trust

The workplace has a unique opportunity and responsibility to become a safe haven. Provide visible solutions for sanitation and germ mitigation, reassuring guests and employees they are safe. Leverage tactics inspired by WELL Building Standards, the office can become the trusted environment employees need.

Emotional Trust

Increase cooperation between marketing and HR brand stakeholders to create holistic solutions that build upon each other. Create symbols of trust to nurture a shared sense of connection and solidarity. Provide reliable alternatives to connecting face-to-face and enhance remote work capabilities. Amplify opportunities for collective initiatives that uplift everyone and reinforce a shared vision for success.

Financial Trust

Reassure employees with transparent communications around business health, company plans, and intentions. Help them understand that as the economy and business recover, so, too, will employee pay. Extend trust and empower autonomy to demonstrate your loyalty and confidence.

Digital Trust

With more remote work, employees will be concerned that their work-related and personal data are secure and private. Invest in behind-the-scenes solutions, systems, and network infrastructures to create a flexible workplace that adapts to the new reality.

As we seek to normalize operations, employers will be held accountable for operating with integrity and empathy, standing for something, and taking responsibility. The connection between brand purpose, culture, trust, and values is more evident than ever before. Prioritizing connection, culture and reputation enables organizations to prosper in uncertain times.

COVID-19 is not only changing the way we live, it’s changing the way we work. With much of the country, and world, facing uncertainty, remote working can feel like an added burden on top of an already stressful situation.

Deep. Breaths.

We are in this together and NELSON designers from across the country are sharing their favorite workplace tips, tricks, and recommendations to create an at-home office environment that feels comfortable, functional, and uniquely you.

It might not be ideal, but it’s the new normal, so let’s make the best of it!

Create a dedicated space that’s functional

Whether you have access to a private room or you’re working within 500 square feet, make sure to carve out a dedicated space to work (that’s not your bed), so you are able differentiate your work hours with your personal time.

• Try to create a space away from other activity (you don’t want this to be a multi-functional space, if possible).
• Make your space comfortable and ergonomic. Some furniture companies have even been loaning out ergonomic desk chairs to help the transition.
• Consider your table/desk and chair height. Your legs and arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle to prevent back aches and carpal tunnel.
• Use a stool under your feet (or box, yoga block, or whatever you have handy) if your chair is too high, to bring your legs to the right position.
• Your computer screen should be an arm’s length away from you and should be placed even farther if you have a larger-than-normal screen size.
• Your eyesight should be straight forward at the screen (your eyes should be at center or 1/3 from the top of the screen), not looking down to prevent headaches. Prop up your screen with books if it isn’t high enough.
• Consider your background for video calls. Try to avoid messy or busy-looking backdrops, instead look for bookcases, organized shelving, or solid colored walls. It’s also good to have a consistent light source, either a window or lamp to the side of you, but not behind you which will make you hard to see on camera.
• Try and keep your work surface clean and organized.
• Have a notepad handy to capture meeting minutes, reminders, and ideas as they come to you throughout the day, so you don’t have to get up.
• Choose a well-lit area and think about adding a task light for additional exposure.
• If possible, face a window so you have access to natural light and a stimulating view.
• Surround yourself with plants or flowers. If you don’t have indoor plants, pick greenery from your yard, purchase a bouquet at the grocery, or even utilize fake plants to replicate the feeling of the outdoors.
• It is also important to remember all our WELL initiatives when working from home… to learn more check out our latest post on how to stay WELL while remote!

Stick to a routine

Creating a routine and sticking to it can add normalcy during this time of uncertainty. Consider these tips to help you form a routine while working from home:

• Develop a new routine as soon as possible and stick to it! Developing new habits will help you adapt to and normalize your new work environment (this can also help other family members better adjust to the change).
• Make sure you wake-up and go to bed at your normal hours.
• It is easy to lose track of time, so think about setting an alarm for breaks, meetings, or quitting time.
• It helps to get ready for the day as if you were going into the office (get out of those pajamas).
• Set a hard schedule for a lunch break and make sure to get up, walk around, and disconnect from work.
• Just like a normal day at the office, make sure to stay connected – embrace video conferencing and webcams so you can see your teammates, clients, and partners.
• It is OK to schedule online social time to have conversations with no agenda (or better yet a virtual happy hour at 5:00) … everyone needs a break throughout the day.
• Finally, make sure to give yourself something to look forward to at the end of your workday – whether that’s a glass of wine, video game time, or walking your dog in silence, let that be a daily celebration.

Take advantage of the perks

While it might be hard to look on the bright side during this time, remote working allows us the added benefit of freedom. We have the ability to customize our work experience – whether that’s with music, scent, or location. Make sure you take advantage of it.

• Don’t underestimate the power of scent. Light a candle, get an oil diffuser, or use incense. Finding a calming scent can help you reduce stress, to create your own Zen moment in your day.
• Play music that inspires you, calms you, or energizes you.
• Walk around while on a conference call, go outside to write an email, or sit on a comfy couch while reviewing a document – we have the ability to customize our work environment.
• Exercise at lunchtime or take your kids out to play. Remember a healthy body equals a healthy mind, so don’t forget to get some fresh air.
• Write, draw, or express creatively about the experience. Someday, this will be the story you and your kids will tell their kids or grandchildren.

Stay inspired

Just because we’re trapped inside, doesn’t mean we should stop learning. Check out some of the great resources below to stay motivated, curious, and creatively inspired!

• Take up to 12 virtual tours of some of the world’s most famous museums.
• Check out MailChimp’s #SupportTheShorts, a project that includes free online streaming of short films that were due to screen at SXSW, but never had a chance due to coronavirus.
• Listen to a new creative podcast like Clever, Design Matters, or 99% Invisible.
• Thanks to Creative Boom, you can download and print a fresh, new coloring book from some of the biggest names in the creative community, to give your mind a break (adult-approved).
• Want more tips on how to successfully work from home? Check out LinkedIn’s new Remote Working Series with curated content to set yourself and your teams up for success.
• Check out our Creative Fuel posts for on-going creative inspiration from the entire NELSON Worldwide team!

This post is a collaborative effort from NELSON teammates: Amy Leigh Hufford, Jenniffer Torres, Roslyn zumBrunnen, Holly Williamson, Hector Fernandez, Danijel Pocanic, Alan Dandron, and Nicole Keeler.

View Related Content

In recent years, physical amenities have become an imperative perk to differentiate your property’s experience, but the rise of COVID-19 has shifted consumer behavior and the role of the workplace (check out our post on Top 10 COVID-Safe Amenities). Soon, pressure for employees to return to the office full time will ease and it will be up to landlords to create a differentiated foundation for programming, engagement, and collaboration that tenants not only want to return to but cannot be replicated at home. The traditional definition of amenities will expand to support lifestyles – both in and outside the property – and successful future perks will be a blend of digital offerings and experiential environments, as our teammate Holly Williamson recently shared with the New York Real Estate Journal. 

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Leading Regional Trends: Northeast |  Southeast |  Central |  West

Good Reads | Featured Project

Northeast: Urban Convenience

Even post-pandemic, urban hubs in the Northeast will still value convenience in their workplace offerings. From secure bike rooms to commute-tracking apps, the focus will be on ease of experience, as much as safety. With public transit still a concern, offices should consider adding perks like an Uber allowance or electric scooter rentals for alternative transportation options. Landlords might even consider offering additional square footage in satellite buildings to give tenants and employees more flexibility in where they go to work, providing a dedicated network rather than a dedicated office. Consider conducting tenant surveys to understand your commute breakdown to provide more relevant offerings.

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Southeast: Foodie Focus

The foodie culture of the South will need to be reimagined in the wake of the pandemic. Landlords will need to get creative to offer a differentiated food and beverage experience for their tenants, with safety in mind. Consider win-win partnerships with local restaurants, food trucks, catering apps like Relish, and even cloud kitchens, to offer employees unique, localized food offerings in a more controlled environment. Create dedicated drop-off zones for food delivery with warming drawers, refrigerators, and disposable utensils to reduce touches and streamline the process. 

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Central: All Season Entertainment

Now that tenants have been forced to embrace the working from home experiment, the role of the office is shifting. While heads-down work can easily be accomplished at home, the office will be need to be transformed into a social destination – an experiential hub for brands, dedicated to hosting clients, encouraging employee engagement, and facilitating teammate collaboration – and amenities will need to follow suit.  Consider creating more elevated, year-round spaces that can flex depending on the occasion and get employees excited about an excuse to return to the office. 

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West: Wandering Wellness

A healthy lifestyle is nothing new in this region, but a renewed focus on holistic, outdoor wellness will reign supreme in the coming years. Create differentiated amenities like hiking trails, dedicated meditation areas, or artificial turf for multi-purpose events and activities, to allow your tenants to unwind and recharge in a safe environment. If you’re short on square footage, consider app subscriptions for on-demand content like Headspace, LulaFit, or Peloton.

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Good Reads

• 10 COVID-Safe Building Amenities
• Reimagining amenities for the future of workplace
• LulaFit adjusts to coronavirus crisis by shifting to virtual amenities programs
• The best workplace amenities are the ones your employees don’t even notice
• Food is a big deal at work. Here’s how the pandemic will change lunch and snacks
• A place to meet, a place to relax: what members want from their workspace
• Fitbit rolls out ‘Ready for Work’ COVID-19 symptom tracker
• The amenity evolution
• The future of work is hybrid: Work from home and the workplace
• The amenity effect: making your office building more marketable

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Featured Project: Nomad Tower

We reimagined this 39-story building in New York City’s upcoming neighborhood known as NoMad, located north of Madison Square. Elevated amenity spaces including a private lounge complete with ping pong, pool table, and arcade games. In addition, tenants can take advantage of a conference room, 200-person amphitheater, fitness center, private coffee bar, and New York’s largest bicycle storage and bicycle access to an office building.

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See full project details  View Asset Strategy

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Advancements in technology have been improving workplace productivity for years, allowing us to work virtually from anywhere. Now that a global pandemic is forcing us to work from home, the question being posed seems to be, why return to the office at all? According our “Evolving Workforce Expectations” study, only 7% of employees want to return to work a full five days a week. If employees are a company’s most valuable asset, employers must make the workplace a sought-after destination for everyone, one that people are excited to return to.

Brands will need to reevaluate their office portfolio and determine a plan to ensure their employees can take advantage of new technologies that make communicating, collaborating, and connecting, more seamless than ever before.

But while technology continues to rapidly evolve to better bridge the gap between physical and virtual workers, the most critical element for successful adoption and activation of these tools will be a robust change management strategy. Employers must provide holistic awareness, training, and buy-in to effectively activate these new, digitally focused offerings.

Here are the four ways technology can be used to make the workplace a sought-after destination:

Instant communication

Brands are having to communicate with their employees more than ever before, and because so many things are constantly evolving, the need for immediate communication is imperative.

Integrated workplace management systems like iOffice and their employee experience app Hummingbird, previously considered luxuries, will be necessities. With technology like this, employees can reserve workstations or conference rooms, submit service requests, be alerted to incoming mail, visitors, and more, all from their own mobile devices. Employers can also keep a close eye on who is in and out of their facility each day, constantly monitoring capacity to keep their employees safe.

As wearable technology gains more popularity, many employers are realizing these tools offer a unique opportunity to communicate with employees. With the traditional, in-office nine to five likely becoming extinct, a singular means of communication like email won’t be enough. And with employees working from a variety of environments including coffee shops, home offices, hotel lounges, and even their cars, wearable technology is something they’ll always have access to.

As the mobile workforce and risks of cyber security attacks continue to increase, innovative solutions like Samsung Knox are changing the way companies use wearables, embedding their software within workers’ mobile devices and smartwatches to secure company data, and help mitigate breaches of private company information.

Real-time collaboration

Collaboration tools will only gain more popularity during and after the pandemic. From video conferencing, to file sharing, there are numerous tools that will make the hybrid work day more seamless. It is no longer just about meeting virtually anymore, it is about going a step further to integrate with multiple platforms, support blended teams, provide robust collaboration opportunities, and the ability to accommodate smaller, breakout groups virtually.

Even before the pandemic tech giants like Microsoft were perfecting their cloud-based collaboration tools, but the social distancing, work-from-home mandates are accelerating this trend. These brands have taken a close look at how consumers have had to change their behaviors drastically in a short period of time and made improvements to their tools to make the digital experience as close as possible to the real-time experience.

Today, digital meeting facilitators can set up automated emails connected to their meetings, making it easier to manage attendance. They can also view a dashboard after to get a big picture report of attendee engagement. Video webinars can be recorded and later shared with the group along with a full transcript, file attachments, and any discussions from the chat window of a video or call. From custom backdrops, and screen sharing, to virtual chalkboards and collaborative documents, there isn’t much you can’t do remote anymore, making tools like these imperative when returning to the physical office.

Other tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams reduce the amount of emails needed in a work day, by offering one, cohesive platform for teams to communicate. Mural is another online tool for ideation sessions, providing a more visual-based platform to facilitate blue-sky thinking.

Connection without distraction

Video conferencing technologies like Zoom are here to stay. Especially since many white-collar corporations are extending the work-from-home period until as late as next summer. This means many workers will need a hybrid environment to connect with clients, colleagues, and business partners. Many will still want their own desk space to retreat to for heads down work, but the popular open concept environments aren’t conducive for lengthy zoom meetings or other new-age virtual tasks.

Rethinking conference rooms of all sizes is one way to accommodate these new hybrid environments. Because guests, clients, and other visitors from outside of an organization are less likely to go into an office that isn’t theirs, large conference rooms, both within the tenant space, and the shared building, sit empty and unused.

These underutilized meeting rooms can be transformed to a few different types of meeting areas:

• Production Pod – For one-on-one video conferencing meetings, a place where employees can go to chat with their colleague who may be working from home, or their client who may not be comfortable coming into the office. Although there isn’t much square footage needed, the room must be sound proof, and equipped with all the AV technology needed to perform a seamless video call, including a large monitor with easy connection to a laptop, a power source, and good lighting for video visibility.
• Collaboration Suite – A little bigger and can accommodate a larger group. This room comes with everything the smaller production pod includes, but with an even bigger monitor with an auto-framing video camera to track and focus on who in the room is speaking and stacked theater seating for visibility. Creating a physical destination that puts blended teams on equal footing.
• Presentation Studio – A production room equipped with podcast equipment, a green screen, advanced sound and recording tools, will be beneficial for employees creating more elevated, digital content that will continue to remain the norm, years after the pandemic.

Essential safety
Revolutionary technologies are improving quality of life for millions of Americans living through this global pandemic. Telehealth services are increasing in popularity due to COVID-19, offering a safe way for patients to stay out of overwhelmed healthcare systems and prevent the risk of exposure. Smartphone and wearable technology tracking has even been used to trace contact of those infected with the virus.
When employees return to work, these types of technologies can make a huge difference. Employers and landlords can start small with zero-touch adjustments like automated doors and motion sensor lighting. Steelcase’s RoomWizard is a completely hands-free solution for meeting room reservations. Employees simply walk into an available room and begin working and the smart technology marks the room in-use.
Larger investments include innovative technologies such as body temperature walk-through kiosks, germicidal UV light, and more. Investing in technologies that make employees feel safe can go a long way and hold significant value.

In the end, the key to success when returning to work will be change management. Think about how quickly we’ve all adjusted to day-to-day routines like working from home, going to the grocery store, and dining out at restaurants. Wearing masks, temperature checks, and social distancing were once foreign behaviors none of us ever had to practice, a few short months later, it seems normal. Managing expectations and offering the tools and environment needed to communicate, connect, collaborate, and stay safe will set employees up for success and get them excited to return to the new workplace destination.

Today, people move fluidly from experience to experience resulting in everchanging environments that are shaped by the lifestyles and needs of people and communities everywhere. From coast to coast, our teammates are at the forefront of transforming environments and are on the pulse of the trends that define them. In our latest Regional Roundup series, we’ll be connecting you with NELSON teammates from across the country, both new faces and long-time leadership, to explore and highlight regional trends and shifting consumer expectations, across the industries we serve.

This week, we’re introducing you to our West region teammates:

• Kathy Craft, Industrial Practice Leader | NELSON Seattle
• Mark Levine, Managing Director | NELSON Los Angeles
• Tom Bowen, Market Leader | NELSON Seattle

Industrial

with Kathy Craft

TRENDS:
Today, e-commerce is more than 30% of all retail shopping and we expect that to continue to drive demand for all types of industrial space.  Specifically, we are seeing an increase in demand for freezer/cooler space, vertical indoor controlled growing environments, and an increased relationship between technology and the built environment.  As large companies publish goals and implement strategies for net-zero carbon we will continue to see more electrification of fleet vehicles, renewable energy implementations, and the use of technology to minimize process and delivery inefficiencies.

CHALLENGES:
As the demand for industrial land, whether for new development or repositioning of existing, continues to increase we see vertical industrial development to make more sense.  We are working with structural engineers and general contractors to come up with a way to reduce construction costs while increasing the efficiency of cube space functionality in a vertical environment.  50% of the cost of e-commerce is transportation.  I think we will see more creative ways to get the product to the consumer in both locations of facilities and delivery methods.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:  
Our latest project within Prologis Georgetown Crossroads—a 3-story industrial development—is 100% leased to two big e-commerce players. Each is providing very different sized products for last-mile delivery to the consumer. The proximity to both major transportation routes, I-5 & Hwy 99, as well as proximity to a high density of customers is key in addition to the flexibility this facility offers.

Kathy Craft’s experience includes 30 years of award-winning architectural work with local, national, and international developers of all sizes. The driving force behind NELSON’s industrial practice, her portfolio includes a pioneering industrial project for Prologis, which was the first multistory warehouse of its kind in the United States at Georgetown Crossroads in Seattle. 

Mixed-Use 

with Mark Levine

TRENDS:
Across every sector, our clients are challenging the traditional vision of development in the way they approach adding value to a property. For mixed-use properties, the expectation of what a town center or mall, or even apartment building offers can be vastly different now. From outdoor spaces to enhanced convenience and connectivity, this brings exciting new possibilities to communities that are starving to be included.

CHALLENGES:
It may be incremental, but I see city jurisdictions working harder to open up opportunities and work with developers who bring an aspirational vision to their projects. The last 18 months have been challenging in a lot of ways for our communities across the region and country. I see a groundswell to the challenge of how we move forward. Not just to be different, but to be better.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:
Our team is in the first stages of developing a mixed-use master plan for a B-level mall property. Currently, the location doesn’t garner that much regional attention, but when we are done I think it will serve as an incredible example of responding in a very personal way to the community’s needs and aspirations. As we continue to garner more of these types of projects, the challenge is to stay at the cutting edge of transforming communities into better, more desirable, and resourceful places for those in and around them. 

Also, we are working with a local Los Angeles developer who owns several small retail buildings in a highly regarded retail district. We are studying conversions to small mixed-use retail/workplace designs that will be more attractive in a post-COVID market.

For 20+ years, Mark Levine has lead design teams through master planning, retail prototype development, domestic and international retail programs, and various retail mixed-use and commercial projects. Mark has completed projects for clients ranging from retailers like Ford Motor Company, JC Penney, and Chase Bank to developers including Forest City, Caruso Affiliated, and General Growth Properties.

Asset Strategy 

with Tom Bowen

TRENDS:
I am seeing a trend of what I like to call “The Big Mash-Up.” Post-COVID, there will no longer be a separation between commercial, workplace, retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, etc. With this idea, buildings are becoming multi-faceted facilities that are used for working, shopping, dining, fitness/wellness, and much more. This has brought a new meaning to amenities and we should be looking at developments as “integrated-use” projects. This means that the design and layout of the building will change over time, so ultimate flexibility is the key.

CHALLENGES:
It is more important than ever that an environment celebrates brand. We are seeing opportunities with landlords, REITs, and developers to approach their office buildings as their own brands, especially when they are repositioned, reconfigured, and re-tenanted. Preparing a brand strategy for a building or asset plays directly into the marketing, leasing, and valuations of the building. It also brings in all of our areas of expertise including Strategy & Insights, Brand Positioning, EGD, Interior Design, Architecture, etc.

WHAT’S NEW FROM NELSON:
For one of our latest west coast projects, our design team was challenged with transforming an office and manufacturing space into a dynamic workplace that transports employees to a vibrant and inspiring destination, always being reminded of the company’s mission. Located in Seattle, this two-story, 71,000-square-foot facility features equal parts office and manufacturing space, complete with a café and social lounge, and a variety of meeting spaces.

With a focus on innovation and customer-centric design, Tom Bowen fuels growth in the technology, life sciences, mixed-use, commercial and retail sectors. With 20 years of experience in the industry, his experience includes working with complex and scalable account management, organizational development, team building, and business unit performance. 

Curious to learn about what’s going on in other regions?
Stay tuned for more Regional Roundups

This November, NELSON Worldwide teammates in Boston participated in IIDA New England’s PORTALS Fashion Show—an annual fashion-filled night that challenges creative minds to create high fashion garments using everyday interior design and building materials. This year’s “fictional portals” themed event benefited YouthBuild Boston, a program that supports young people in gaining credentials needed to successfully enter the building trades.

Honoring this year’s theme, NELSON created a “Cinderella’s Castle” look and show. Before the design process began, the runway team did research on the old tale and Castle itself. As interior designers, it was easy to be inspired by the castle’s elegant, old era components such as it’s wallpaper and tapestry patterns, mosaic tiles, and juxtaposition of hard versus soft materials. Focusing on taking these elements and giving them a modern twist, the team created two outfits to show off on the runway; one for Cindy (a modern Cinderella), and one for Prince Charming.

After drawing inspiration and sketching the final designs, the team worked with various vendors to gather materials. Architex supplied upholstery and wallcovering, StoneSource supplied tiles and backing, and Scandinavian Spaces through Designed + Delivered supplied moss to give the outfit a more whimsical feel. After pinpointing the right materials, the team started construction and massaged the productions based on how the materials were working during construction.

After countless sewing and fitting sessions, the outfits were complete. As a result, two beautiful looks were created (and each outfit weighing over an impressive 15 pounds!). The Cindy outfit even featured a modern-day version of Cinderella’s slipper—a totally wearable heeled shoe covered in broken glass tiles.

At the event, the runway team had an amazing time showing off their hard work. From research to envisioning, construction and the runway, NELSON is proud of the Boston teammates for taking their creativity outside of the office in support of the community. We look forward to next year’s show!

SPECIAL THANKS GO TO EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THIS SPECIAL NIGHT!
Models:
Yolanda Sheehan
Mike Lynch

Make-up:
Nicole Done-Pimental

Hair:
Katrina Eliadis

Shoes:
Brian Duffley

Sketch:
Yolanda Sheehan

Construction Contributions:
Dan O’Shea
Yolanda Sheehan
Oriana Merlo
Mike Lynch
Christina Gedick
Paul Koch
Lisa Nisbet

What does the future of retail design look like? What does the store of the future look like? At the Shop Fitting and Store Design exhibits at EuroShop 2020 our teammates explored the fair’s oasis of all things design checking out the latest and greatest design solutions of today. Along the way, we were inspired and enlightened by a sea of temporary design and modular concepts brought to the Dusseldorf by talented designers, architects, and creatives from around the world.

Here are a few solutions we saw time after time and that have become trends we’re seeing in stores everywhere:

Flex Systems

Consumers of today are always looking to see something new. With this in place, retailers are looking for design solutions that offer flexibility so that in-store merchandise and services can easily be adapted and fitted to the next big thing consumers are looking for. At EuroShop 2020 we saw lots of easy-to-move seating systems, peg walls that are easily interchangeable, and mobile architecture systems.

Retail Goes Green

As we explored in our most recent sustainability report, the design industry is largely promoting biophilic design. Bringing natural moments to life through green design elements such as living walls and plant-like elements was widely seen at EuroShop 2020. We predict greenery will only continue to show up in retail design as sustainability and the focus on wellness continues to grow.

Personalized Lighting

Light does more than just illuminate space as made clear at this year’s fair. Hundreds of lighting vendors showcased the endless ways that lighting can be personalized to not only optimize a space but speak to brand. From custom modular systems to branded neon signs, retailers are using light in more personalized and unique ways than ever before.

Phygital Galore

In a technology charged society, it has become apparent that digital design elements are here to stay. At EuroShop 2020, digital creators from all over the world shared digital solutions that create bold visual moments or improve store efficiency. Some of the most popular digital elements seen at EuroShop 2020 included digital price and art displays to AI-powered dressing rooms. As mentioned before, digital isn’t going anywhere BUT we do predict a shift in its purpose on the horizon.

Micro-Experiences

As we discussed at NRF 2020 this January, the trend of Micro-Experiences made an appearance at EuroShop 2020 a month later. As we shift to an experience-based economy, consumers are looking for new ways to interact with consumers pushing architects and designers to create in-store experiences that offer new moments of connection offered by brand products and services.

Curious to see what else we explored while at EuroShop 2020? Click here for key takeaways and more coverage!