Making Sense of Surfaces in 2023

Amy Gath serves as the Vice President of Marketing at Formica Corporation

IMAGES COURTESY OF FORMICA

BY AMY GATH

If the past three years have taught us anything, it’s that no one can predict the future. No matter the hard-earned degrees or tough-learned life experiences you have, the world has become increasingly complex, and it feels nearly impossible to predict what’s coming next.

In our corner of the world in surfaces, that still rings true in unique ways. We’re wondering how economic shifts will affect home-building and investment in residential renovations. We try to predict how businesses will shift to keep up with changing consumer and employee behaviors, perhaps requiring investment in renovations or a hard pivot to abandon some physical spaces. There’s a lot we don’t know for sure—but there are some things for which we can plan.

Across both personal and corporate budgets, it’s natural for the first impulse to be to save when the future may hold an economic downturn. In the surface industry, we should be prepared to offer a full range of affordable options to customers while still satisfying evolving aesthetic and performance preferences.

AFFORDABLE LUXURY From our experience at Formica Corporation, we’ve found that during times of economic uncertainty, people may look to save money, but treating yourself is never more valued. We’ve found finishes that are lower-investment—but still feel luxe—come to the forefront of design plans. One example is our DecoMetal line that was recently expanded with seven new designs. These decorative metal laminates have a highend look that can create real statement moments in commercial environments, yet they’re much more affordable than other metal alternatives. Offering a range of products like this during an economic downturn can hit just the right balance for customer needs.

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FORMICA'S DECOMETAL LAMINATES GIVE DESIGNERS PLENTIFUL OPTIONS TO CREATE SOPHISTICATED METAL DESIGNS IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS. FACING PAGE: ZINC PATINA WALL PANEL. TOP: OXIDIZED SILVER PATINA ON THE LOWER PANELS BELOW THE BAR, AND DENIM COUNTERTOPS FROM THE COMMERCIAL LAMINATE LINE. ABOVE: CRAFTSMANSHIP AND NATURE INSPIRE FORMICA’S SURFACESET COLLECTION. A PLAY ON MATERIALITY, BRUSHSTROKE IS AN ABSTRACT WOOD-INSPIRED LOOK THAT USES HAND BRUSH STROKES STYLED IN LIGHT, NATURAL AND WARM TERRACOTTA STAIN COLORS. LEFT: COUNTERTOPS FROM THE LIVING IMPRESSIONS COLLECTION IN SUGAR GLASS, AN ETHEREAL PATTERN DESIGNED TO REFLECT A TRANSLUCENT BLUE-GRAY GLASS FLOATING IN A WHITE SHEET OF OPAQUE GLASS.

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SUSTAINABLE STATE OF MIND During times of economic stress, it can be tempting to cut budgets to the essentials, but more and more, sustainability should be seen as an effort that’s critical to long-term business survival. Of course, these efforts are the right thing to do for our people and our planet, but it’s also an important part of corporate strategy.

Across commercial and residential customers, sustainability is a continual ask that can have a direct impact on demand, and progress lost during a few years of economic slowdown can set businesses back for years to come. For the long-term health of our businesses (and our planet), investment in sustainable products and operations should remain constant in 2023 and the years ahead.

COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTS FOR REAL LIFE When it comes to predicting the future of design, it seems as though aesthetic trends are evolving and changing a mile a minute. However, the essence of how people want to feel in spaces has remained much more constant across both commercial and residential spaces. With such uncertainty, people crave comfort yet they also cherish moments of interest, joy and excitement. As we look ahead to 2023, these grounding emotions can guide our design choices, creating spaces that feel cozy and clean but have moments of visual impact and can withstand the rigors of a real, lived-in environment.

So what can we do to plan for 2023? Ultimately, it’s about flexibility. When the future and its business and design implications remain so uncertain, the best we can do is stay true to our values, know our constants and keep a finger on the pulse of what our customers need. s p

TOP LEFT: ANTIQUE RUBBED COPPER FROM FORMICA'S DECO METALS LINE UTILIZES A DECORATIVE, HAND-RUBBED OIL TECHNIQUE ON REAL COPPER FOILS FOR A CLASSICALLY CRAFTED FINISH. TOP RIGHT: PATINE CONCRETE PAIRS WITH WALNUT BUTCHERBLOCK, BOTH FROM FORMICA'S LIVING IMPRESSIONS COLLECTION. RIGHT: THIS INVITING SPACE FEATURES SURFACESET WALL PANELS IN BIRCHBARK AND FURNITURE UTILIZING FOLKSTONE COLOR CORE AND BRUSHED BLACK ALUMINUM DECOMETAL. “In the surface industry, we should be prepared to offer a full range of affordable options to customers while still satisfying evolving aesthetic and performance preferences.”