So let’s imagine that the world is in the middle of a global pandemic and everyone is stuck at home streaming content off the internet. If you own a big streaming service, you would be able to see what content has been engaging people and where their preferences are changing. Right now, the most captivating stories seem to be ones that don’t represent the current times or technology. For example, The Queen’s Gambit is a story about Chess that takes place many decades ago. And while this is a work of fiction, Taylor Swift’s new documentary on Disney Plus about the making of her new album (Folklore) is noticeably devoid of contemporary styling or even modern instruments. All around us we are being forced to interact with technology in new ways and many people are experiencing digital fatigue. So how does this analog revolution project into the world of Design experiences?
- Skills are making a comeback: It’s hard to run into someone who isn’t baking bread or learning how to play an instrument. At a time when people are physically distanced from other humans, learning a skill creates a connection to our own humanity. Can you imagine your hotel offering French lessons or an hour with the house Chef on how to make Crème Brulee?
- Authenticity is still everything: Pastry Chef Dominque Ansel likes to say ‘Time is an Ingredient’. This has never been more apparent in the use of objects made before technology. Whether it’s a guitar from the 1950’s or an antique chess set, people are developing a keen eye for things that cannot be produced in today’s world. Have you ever priced a rare Pyrex bowl on EBAY? Currently, there is a Cloverberry casserole dish selling for over $5,000.00. For a glass bowl (cue eye roll). In design there will be more natural color palettes, more natural materials, and fewer things shiny and glossy which appear slick or ‘tech-y’. While this movement was arguably already underway, it has been accelerated by all the time we have now to notice things that were previously unseen.
- Prepare for intimacy – The pandemic has made many people very cautious about crowded places. In the past people would want to go to the ‘hot spots’ where there were a lot of people however many now opt for exclusivity at places which are more remote. Smaller properties and restaurants with lower overhead can focus on fewer guests at higher rates and still make ends meet where larger properties have a tough time making the numbers work. Look for newer properties to be focused on a more intimate scale than the mega developments of years past.
While we do not currently know how long the world will be grappling with the current pandemic, many of the safety protocols that have come out of this time will be likely be around for the long term. Years from now we’ll be able to understand the psychological impact of what we’ve all been experiencing for the last year. However, I would not be surprised if the number of bakeries and chess clubs that we see opening in the next few years continues to rise. Everything old may well be new again.