SurfaceSet® 2020 Gets to Work in Corporate Designs

Formica Group’s international design team spent months conducting extensive style and design research to craft this exciting new line of highly durable products in beautiful colors, patterns and woodgrains.

Achieving Productivity with Thoughtful, Innovative Office Design 

Interior designers and architects focused on office design seek high performance, high style—and high value for their clients. “One of the ultimate goals for designers is to create a space that’s beautiful, functional and reflects the client’s corporate image and values from the moment someone walks in the door,” said Robi Kaseman IIDA, Design Principal with DGA, a planning, architecture and interior design firm with offices in Sacramento, Mountain View, San Francisco and San Diego, Calif.

Before the pen hits the paper, each project begins with a programming phase and space needs assessment to learn about the company, its culture and its employees. “This is an in-depth, left-brained exercise where we talk to a broad cross-section of employees about what they do and how they work together. We are designing for a multigenerational workforce and don’t want to exclude anyone in the finished product. Learning how all these different employees communicate and function as an organization informs the design,” Kaseman said. For example, they may want an open work space with side-bar meeting venues to promote collaboration. Kaseman said it’s increasingly rare to do perimeter offices with interior workstations. An open-plan workspace with natural light, views to the outside, and few or no offices is the trend. “Companies still need small, ‘go-to’ focus rooms for people to have private conversations and small-group meetings or to do “heads down” work. If you take privacy away in one form you need to give it back in another.” 

This ability to understand who the client is from an organizational perspective also informs how an environment can assist a company in engaging and attracting new talent. “Every industry is different in this way,” Kaseman said. “Tech is very different from legal.” However, one commonality is the need for flexibility and efficiency, achieved via a design with a “long life, loose fit” approach. “Companies need to be able to expand and contract, and we have to incorporate flexibility into the environments we create. One example is to use furniture versus built-ins, or use open office meeting space instead of hardwall conference rooms,” she said. “There has to be a cost-effective exit strategy in the design if a company needs to make a change.” 

Another trend is the desire for amenity spaces, such as hospitality bars in common areas. These gathering places can double as meeting areas or even extensions of reception areas with high-end finishes, plenty of access to technology and power, unique lighting, and comfortable seating that welcomes interaction. “ColorCore^®2 laminate is great in these cases because it doesn’t show the edge lines, and using the high-lacquer finish achieves a beautiful look,” Kaseman said. She is also pleased that laminate has become more sophisticated in look and can now be used in higher-end design, and notes it’s a strong option for reception desks to achieve a crisp, clean vibe. She likes using it for high-profile doors as well, especially to create a barn door look that creates a modern/rustic aesthetic.

Overall, Kaseman has observed that working environments are much more relaxed than they used to be, and the use of neutral color palettes, natural light and open floorplans reflect this. “There’s a significant work/life trend that continues to evolve in the modern office, which brings a lot of home elements into the workplace,” she said. “The space needs to feel right for the people it’s designed to serve. When I go to a client’s office three years after their project was completed and they still love it and it still works for them—that’s a great feeling as a designer.”

Balancing Functionality and Beauty with Formica^® Laminates

Office designers seek durable surfaces that have a long lifespan when it comes to style and attractiveness.

Color: Kaseman said she sees a lot of neutrally designed spaces that feature white mixed with woods, metals, concrete and brick. “Clients like accenting simple designs with art, patterned fabrics, plants and other accessories. Maintaining a neutral palette for the bones of the spaces supports the long life loose fit concept, which allows these less costly items to be easily changed out to refresh a look without great expense.”

Cleanability: “Laminates are very easy to clean,” Kaseman said. She likes using them in office kitchen areas for cabinetry. “They can also be applied as a counter backsplash, are easy to maintain, and add beautiful color and patterns to the overall design.”

Durability: Being able to withstand repetitive use while maintaining its appeal is a signature feature of laminate. Because office environments are high-traffic spaces, laminates are ideal for many heavy-use surfaces that have to withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Wood grains: “Dark woods were popular for a long time, and now we are seeing lighter woods return,” Kaseman said. “Walnut is also popular, and we use a lot of raised-grain looks like recut oak.”

Sustainability: “Especially in California, sustainability is a big deal. It’s in our DNA,” Kaseman said. “Laminate woodgrains are so beautiful now, you can’t tell they’re not wood. They’re great for soffit areas since they’re less expensive and greener.”

Supporting Bustling Corporate Environments with a Wide Assortment of Formica^® Brand Laminates

Corporate spaces offer many opportunities for innovative, functional designs that intrigue both employees and visitors. Formica^® Brand products enhance those experiences through a myriad of inspiring applications throughout the space. They are ideal for applications such as countertops, casework, millwork, wall panels, cabinets, furniture, doors, privacy partitions, handrails, and much more. 

Everform™ Solid Surface: Achieve a seamless design with the functionality of a non-porous structure perfect for high-use areas that meet with water or food. These hygienic surfaces are available in a wide and thoughtful color palette.

DecoMetal^® Metal Laminate: Incorporate the drama of metal to add sophistication to feature walls, fixtures and furniture. Metallic surfaces can add visual appeal and enhance the warmth across a variety of corporate spaces.

ColorCore^®2 Laminate: Achieve a clean, sophisticated look where the color goes all the way through the surface—and has no visible seams.

Formica Envision^™ Custom Laminate: Liven up common areas, walls and furniture surfaces by incorporating a 100% customizable work of art. The ability to bring in a company’s logo, photo or unique design enhances their brand and provides an unexpected element of drama.

Formica^® CompactStructural Laminate: Enhance the look of wall panels, restroom partitions, cabinets and furniture with versatile, eye-catching laminate available in a structural, two-sided decorative panel.

Formica^® Markerboard:Provide new ways to capture great ideas and reminders with high-gloss dry-erase surfaces perfect for conference rooms and more.