Our 2024 issues are starting out with a bang. Isn’t our cover to die for?! You should know, you picked it.
We’re going to explore a number of topics in this issue, but at the forefront is this moment of self-service designers are experiencing, both in their own practice and process, as well as in the work they are producing. It’s a time of empowerment, no matter the budget or time constraints. What I hope these features will do is remind you that you are always in the driver’s seat.
Nothing illustrates that notion better than this issue’s cover story on our very first i+s Quick Ship Guide, which kicks off by spotlighting Designtex’ new Digital Studio tool. According to the experts over there, custom work is a highlight of your job and boy can I see why. I got the opportunity to play around with this platform and fell down a rabbit hole! The five designs I developed were featured on our Instagram page where followers voted for their favorite. The winner, a pattern entitled “Fleur de Tachee,” is what you see on the cover, and you can get to know the artist a little bit on page 43. You can also see the others I developed in our Industry section on page 12.
Many of the other products featured in the guide (in a variety of categories from lighting to flooring by the way) are also part of quick ship programs offering more design options than ever before. Seeing as the world doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon and they will only become more and more relevant, we hope to make this an annual thing. So let me know if you find it useful.
As our industry partners will demonstrate, your customers are also looking for more power and ease in their daily living. ASID’s 2024 Trends Outlook is on page 39, and it includes a more customized approach to the workplace as well as additional ways to ingrain sustainable lifestyles. Our materials expert Kenn Busch also outlines for us how manufacturers are prioritizing circularity in their production processes and where the future lies for that movement overall.
Speaking of sustainability, we checked in with ZGF Architects to help us demystify the EC3 calculator. Turn to page 18 where they outline three ways to use it for your decarbonization strategies. And finally, we’ve got two beautiful projects (Step(1) housing and Amada Restaurants) starting on page 30 that show when the client and designer work together, any budget can result in success.
I hope your new year is off to a great start!
Happy reading,
AnnMarie Martin | Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
