Aimee Collins, Principal - Design from our Seattle studio shares the workplace trends she's seeing across the US, how she approaches the design process and the moment she knew she wanted to be a designer.
With a grounding in architecture and over 15 years' industry experience, Aimee has worked as an interior designer and planner for corporate, hospitality, residential and retail spaces. In this Unispace Design Profile, Aimee discusses her drive to discover better design solutions for clients and what the workplace of 2025 may look like.
What workplace trends are you seeing across The Americas?
We’re seeing a lot of integrated technology that is intuitive and user friendly. As I had one client put it, "people work in an office and the office should work for them."
What are your client's highest priorities for their new workplace?
Maintaining minimal square feet per person, collaboration, flexibility, acoustics, natural light, vibrant aesthetics and internal branding.
Have these priorities changed from a decade ago?
A decade ago we were seeing a reversing trend of getting away from cubicles and returning to private offices. I think the cost of rent is a large driver but nearly every tenant is requesting space that is more collaborative and less siloed and so we find ourselves returning to more open office. I try to encourage our clients to look at how different employees work instead of providing a “one size fits all” solution.
How will we be working in 2025?
I see a ratio of one workstation to three employees and having unassigned, activity based stations.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a designer:
I was in architecture school originally, thinking that I wanted to design homes. One of my professors pointed out that people spend more of their waking hours at work and it changed my mind; I wanted to be where I could make the biggest impact.
How do you approach the design process?
Design is a delicate balance of logic and chaos. Where programming and space planning rely heavily on science and method, I like to look at an aesthetic approach a little more organically. As health and wellness become bigger factors in the workplace, I think nature will figure largely into design. My approach is to create workspace that feels like a breath of fresh air.
Favourite quote:
"Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before" – Mae West
