Whilst it might not seem obvious at the outset, there is a clear correlation between digital design and interior design, although it is not clear which is having the biggest impact on the other.
Like many aspects of design, very few ideas today are original. Everything around us takes inspiration from something else and this is particularly true in the design world. Whether consciously or subconsciously, designers will constantly draw on their experiences in life when they are designing.
For digital designers, that might be the blend of colours they saw in the cafe when they grabbed their morning coffee or the display in the department store window. Interior designers, like most of us, spend a lot of time online and there are some fairly inspiring designs across a huge range of websites that can not only influence the way they design a room, but also the way they think about the flow of a building and how people move from one room to another, much the same way as people navigate from one page to another on a website.
Design trends
There are some design trends that it is difficult to get away from. Over the past few years, there has been a shift to all-white everything, however, according to a recent article in Vogue magazine, this could be a trend that is on the wane.
Whilst the article focusses on interior design trends, all-white websites have also been extremely popular, with many websites choosing a clean, uncluttered layout with lots of “white space” which is typically used to describe any part of a page with no content, however, in recent times, it has been more accurately used to describe the actual white space on a page.
Another interior design trend that has some crossover with the digital space is the open-plan design. In the sense of digital design, many websites have looked to declutter and create a seamless experience for visitors, helping them to navigate from one piece of content to another without the “fluff” that could simply form a barrier between them and the action you want them to complete.
If we think about some of the most popular websites in Australia and worldwide – sites like Netflix, Stan, Amazon, eBay, Betway Casino and even Facebook – they have all moved to a model of very clean layouts, easy scrolling features on desktop and mobile and muted colours.
People want experiences that are calming. Whether that’s going out for dinner, browsing online or relaxing at home, we don’t need extra stress and clutter in our lives and design can have a significant impact on our mood.
Speaking to Vogue, interior designer Timothy Corrigan says, “There is more and more research that shows the direct influence that our homes have, not only on our moods, but our overall health and well-being.”
Design trends for 2022
Whilst white space and clean lines have dominated recent design trends, there is a sense that things might be shifting in 2022. White space or all-white design might be taking a backseat with many predicting the rise of warm earthy colours. This might be something we first start to see in the interior design space before it slowly filters into the online space as digital designers continue to take inspiration from the world around them.
Warm colours say “come in and make yourself at home” and this is a feeling we want to convey, both in our homes but also online. Websites that feel impersonal and stark are not going to cut the mustard when it comes to user engagement. Likewise, an all-white room can feel sterile and impersonal and whilst it might be on-trend, people are looking for more from their personal spaces, “Who wouldn’t want to design a room that feels like a warm hug?”, says Athena Calderone, founder of Eyeswoon.
Another crossover we can expect to see between digital and interior design in 2022 is the use of nature-inspired and eco colours, patterns and textures. This follows on the lines of creating a calming environment – drawing on peaceful nature scenes in your designs can really help to bring a sense of calm, both to physical and digital spaces.
Nature is also associated with positive emotions like happiness and joy which can also help to create a positive association with your brand and also with the people around you. In digital design, it’s important to choose images, colours and textures that are relevant to your products and services so that they don’t detract from your overall design.
We can also expect technology to play a significant role in driving the direction of design, both in the home and online. In the home, technology is becoming more integral to the way a room will be set up. From smart televisions and surround sound speakers to home assistants, the technology many of us have in our homes is shaping the way they are integrated into the overall design of a room or home.
Online, it goes without saying that technology is playing a significant role in the design and layout of web pages. From the way images are displayed to the use of video content and other interactive content, technology is driving the design of websites and changing the way we interact with content on websites, especially on mobile devices.
Summary
Digital and interior design will always be firmly linked and impact each other. There is no saying which has a bigger influence on the other – it is likely that, like with most design trends, they simply seep into each other over time. Something that appears on a website might influence the way a house is designed and the colours and patterns people see in people’s homes and in shops and cafes undoubtedly influence the colours and patterns we see on websites.
With new trends emerging all the time, it might be time for you to update your home’s decor.
