The Making Of A Sculpture Poised To Take Flight In The Peninsula London

Restaurants perched high in the sky often boast unrivaled views, which holds true for Brooklands by Claude Bosi, a Michelin-star rooftop restaurant and bar in The Peninsula London. But the stylish locale offers much more than stellar food and city views. For the ultimate wow factor, diners need only look up—not out.

Above the elegant tables, a silhouette of a Concorde jet commands attention, appearing as if in-flight. Expertly designed by Neil Ferrier, founder of the design firm Discommon, and his team, the 48-foot-long sculpture of the Concorde took nearly four years—and countless metal panels—to complete. Opening the third season of Once Upon A Project, a podcast presented by KI and available on the SURROUND Podcast Network, host AJ Paron, EVP and design futurist at Sandow Design Group, considers the sheer scale of the visual.

“Imagine taking on a design challenge so outrageous, so ambitious that it sounds nearly impossible,” Paron says. “Like say, putting a Concorde inside a restaurant.” Rather than create the jet out of a more forgiving material such as foam, which would have created far fewer logistical challenges, Ferrier opted to stay as true to the real plane model as possible, choosing gleaming panels of metal.

“This is the largest project our firm has done to date,” Ferrier shares. From winning the project bid to creating the lifelike Concorde sculpture that seems to descend from the restaurant’s ceiling, listen to the full episode of Once Upon a Project for must-know design details.

8 Designers Making Waves In The World Of Bath Design

From sleek stone slabs to an amorphous birch mirror, see how these trailblazing designers are shaking up the bath and spa scene.

Creativity Shines In These Bath Designs

Konstantin Grcic for Laufen

Product: Val Luminex.
Standout: Translucent cast Santec, a mineral-based material, forms the German designer’s heat-retaining freestanding tub for Laufen, which offers nine standard settings plus remote-controlled colors and LED light effects.

Antonio Citterio for Duravit

Product: Aurena.
Standout: The designer/architect’s dual vanity for Duravit comprises an aluminum console with integrated towel bars, open storage alongside centered drawers, and ceramic sinks treated with an easy-clean hygienic glaze.

Daniel Arsham for Kohler

Product: Landshapes.
Standout: A comprehensive collection by the artist for Kohler includes droplet-inspired vitreous-china vessel sinks, wall-mount faucets with glass handles, an amorphous birch-framed mirror, draped-glass sconces, and recycled-material tiles.

Fabio Calvi and Paolo Brambilla for QuadroDesign

Product: Super.
Standout: Calvi Brambilia introduces a minimalist tapware collection for QuadroDesign, in brushed stainless steel, that features a showerhead with a distinctive ergonomic “squircle” shape and anti-limescale nozzles.

Vanessa DeLeon for Neolith

Product: The Vanessa DeLeon Edit.
Standout: The interior designer and TV personality curates her favorites from the Neolith brand, including the uber-realistic marble-effect San Simone and Niagara sintered-stone slabs.

Michelle Gerson for Artistic Tile

Product: Slide.
Standout: Honed Azul Cielo, Ming Classico, and Rosa Portogallo marbles plus Vanilla onyx and Lilac stone slip-slide on a Bianco Dolomiti marble ground in the New York designer’s softly colorful waterjet-cut mosaic for Artistic Tile.

Glenn Pushelberg and George Yabu for SV Casa

Product: Ishi.
Standout: Upscale bath accessories by the Yabu Pushelberg cofounders for SV Casa include handy stone catchalls, a tissue box and trash can in PU leather, and a refined bronze-finished stainless-steel soap dish.

Ruan Hoffman for L’Objet

Product: Ruan Hoffmann bowl.
Standout: Crafted in Portugal, the South African artist’s humble earthenware bowl for L’Objet has a swirling, blue-patterned interior that sharply contrasts with its luxe 24-karat gold exterior.

8 Sustainable Products For A Healthier Future

Clean and green products are must-haves across sectors. From a chair crafted with biodegradable resin to hemp-based textiles, explore these items handpicked by Interior Design’s Rising Giants.

Explore These Green Products Across Sectors

Tekla by Kasthall

Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg’s Tekla hand-tufted wool-linen rug in Ube Ice Cream by Kasthall.

Vireo by Hemp Bio on Marimekko Resonance Bags

Vireo plant-based leather-alternative made from 70 percent hemp treated with partly bio-based polyurethane coating, shown on custom Bunn Studio seating and Marimekko Resonance bags, by Hemp Bio.

Paris Cauldron, Miami Beach, Robins’ Egg and Shadow Gap by Alkemis Paint

Paris Cauldron, Miami Beach, Robins’ Egg, and Shadow Gap, all Cradle to Cradle Certified interior paints with clear quartz base incorporating nontoxic minerals by Alkemis Paint.

Larimar by Model No.

Joshua Smith’s Larimar chaise 3D-printed of biodegradable resin derived from wood pulp and cotton fibers by Model No.

Repurposed Textile by Phlox van Oppen

Textile made from repurposed Dutch Design Week entrance wristbands by Phlox van Oppen.

Pendulum by Louis Filosa + Gantri

Louis Filosa’s Pendulum dimmable LED pendant light 3D-printed of plant polymers (like non-GMO sugarcane) with water-based paint in Canyon by Gantri.

Introvert by FIK Kaarsen

Introvert dimmable table lamp 3D-printed from recycled food packaging by FIK Kaarsen.

Growth by Gensler + The Good Plastic Company

Gensler’s Growth recyclable, Cradle to Cradle Certified panels composed entirely of postconsumer- and postindustrial-recycled plastic waste by The Good Plastic Company.

12 Cutting-Edge Corporate Hubs Redefining The Workplace

From a New York office inspired by barbershops to a Seattle headquarters with cocoon-like nooks, explore these corporate spaces designed by Interior Design‘s 2025 Top 100 and Rising Giants firms.

Be Inspired By These Next-Level Corporate Workspaces

IMC Trading by Perkins&Will

The three-phase expansion of the Dutch-owned multinational trading firm’s North American headquarters added 1 ½ floors, doubling its size to 150,000 square feet. The newly enlarged Chicago office now spans three stories in the city’s tallest building, connected by a series of open stairs that create a dynamic central hub. At the heart of the layout, Perkins&Will inserted a bustling zone with a café, two barista areas, a catering space, and an adjacent gaming room—spaces that foster spontaneous interactions and create a social core for the more than 700 employees to gather, relax, and connect. These amenities are more than just pleasant perks; they offer an ideal venue for staff meetings and philanthropic events, promoting a sense of community within IMC. Company branding is thoughtfully integrated throughout, highlighting its history, core business, and market capabilities while unfolding a cohesive narrative that emphasizes its identity and energized presence. Offering a purpose-driven environment that sets a benchmark in corporate workplace conceptualization, this project was an Interior Design Best of Year Awards honoree. —Peter Webster

Ad-tech Office by Vocon

In the Gilded Age, furriers, milliners, and dressmakers occupied a stretch of Flatiron District blocks known as the Ladies’ Mile, showcasing wares to well-heeled shoppers through ornate window displays in cast-iron storefronts. One such landmarked 1899 building now houses an ad-tech firm’s five-story office. The 147,000-square-foot vertical campus is LEED Gold–certified and, according to Vocon design director Lauren Dennison, “inspired by the rhythm of the city grid and the warmth of New York’s diverse communities.”

A pixel-effect wall of white-oak blocks greets employees and visitors in reception, where flooring is polished concrete inlaid with meandering sections of carpet tile. Nearby is the “pocket park,” a seating nook beneath a garden by John Mini Distinctive Landscapes that cascades from an LED fixture resembling a sunlit oculus. On the top floor, a flex space with plush but streamlined seating is backdropped by a wall of deco-esque patterns created by accenting curved oak panels populated by RBW’s Dimple sconces. Throughout, environmental graphics by Archigrafika celebrate New York ephemera, like the iconic plastic deli bag, nodding to the site’s retail past. —Lisa Di Venuta

BMO Centre by Populous and Stantec

With an occupancy of 33,000 visitors, this three-level convention center in Stampede Park is now the largest in Western Canada. The massive expansion project was a collaboration between Populous, Stantec, and design consultant S2 Architecture. Built in 1982, the Calgary, Canada, complex previously underwent enlargements in 2009 and 2020; this latest increase of 565,000 square feet brings the total to more than 1 million. The update included additional exhibition space, 38 more meeting rooms, two divisible ballrooms, a grand stair, and a skylit common area—called the Exchange—warmed by a triple-height faceted-metal fireplace (the largest in the country). The design teams effortlessly referenced the rugged surrounding foothills as well as the local culture. A curved, copper-colored composite-metal canopy embedded with thousands of programmable LEDs soars over the public plaza to draw visitors inside, where the handmade timber ceiling was inspired by patterned Indigenous blankets and gridded glazing creates the effect of sunlight streaming through the boards of a barn. —Stephen Treffinger

Julius Baer by HLW

The Zurich-based wealth-management group’s 30,000-square-foot London outpost occupies all seven stories of an updated 1960’s office building on a historic cobbled courtyard. Complementing the architectural envelope’s industrial materials—concrete, cinder block, brick, clay tile—the interior build-out by HLW is luxurious yet precise and efficient, reflecting the company’s Swiss identity. There’s an emphasis on hospitality, with a client-facing suite of spaces spanning the first two levels, connected by a custom steel-and-wood spiral stair. The flexible layout supports seamless transitions between formal meetings and hosted events, with integrated AV systems for presentations, while a Baer-branded electric racing car serves as a striking installation. The floors above provide a mix of indi­vidual and collaborative working areas with social spaces at their core. The timber-paneled top level takes advantage of the high ceiling and natural light, incorporating a mezzanine with a staff café above and an adaptable games room and terrace below. —Peter Webster

Whoop by Studios Architecture

The wearable fit-tech company’s Boston HQ champions its hometown and athleticism in equal measure. To start, the 120,000-square-foot office occupies 4 ½ floors of a new building boasting panoramic views of Fenway Park—playground of the Boston Red Sox. The Studios Architecture team was tasked with creating a high-performance scheme that accommodates numerous functions: In addition to producing its signature wrist device, which monitors activities ranging from heart-pumping cardio to sleep and meditation, Whoop also manufactures compatible apparel and runs a sizeable R&D department.

Formulated to encourage casual interactions, an interconnecting stair with treads of ash, a wood often used for baseball bats, and a mesh guardrail inspired by batting cages is a centerpiece of the office proper, where workstations hug window walls and coworking booths are upholstered in leather mimicking the texture of baseball gloves. More enigmatic is the dark, tunnel-like flight of black-steel stairs that lead from floor six, housing reception, down to the top-secret hardware lab on five, where prototyping occurs. Another hardworking space is the technology testing lab on floor two (which doubles as a staff gym after hours), where recessed ceiling lights that spell out “always on”—a brand tagline—are visible from the plaza below. Throughout, buzzy black-and-white graphics by branding studio Aruliden add another layer: high contrast, high energy. —Edie Cohen

The Mill by CannonDesign

This rejuvenated historic complex forges a new workplace paradigm by combining legacy elements with high-impact contemporary design. The site, along the Atlanta Beltline trail, was originally two separate but contiguous buildings: the DuPre Excelsior Mill, constructed in 1890, and a warehouse. The pair was converted into an entertainment venue in the 1970’s and later combined into one interconnected structure, the original dividing line still visible in the rustic stone walls. Today, The Mill serves as an office for a tech company, its industrial architecture an artful foil for modern details masterminded by CannonDesign in partnership with Magdalena Keck Interiors.

Various features throughout the 30,000-square-foot project draw inspiration from plantings and murals seen along the Beltline. Spaces such as the Playground solarium (a sort of hangout meets sculpture garden) and a chic flex lounge provide opportunities for gathering and collaboration. The open office, meanwhile, features clean lines and a communal library table anchoring a double-height volume—actually a cutaway providing an overlook from the floor above, a multifunctional zone flaunting the mill’s original 19th-century pulley system. —Stephen Treffinger

Fulwell Entertainment by Spectorgroup

Pro baller LeBron James is known as one of the most influential athletes of his time. He’s also cofounder of The SpringHill Company, a media and production outfit that recently merged with the U.K.’s Fulwell 73 Productions to become Fulwell Entertainment. Inspired by the company’s many creative streams—spanning film, TV, and brand strategy—the design of its New York office by Spectorgroup captures the essence of switching TV channels. The 20,000-square-foot workplace unfolds as a story across different rooms, with each area embodying a different brand. On one side of the elevator lobby, with its glossy black ceiling, lies the Shop, a room that nods to the NBA superstar’s talk show, which pays tribute to community-centered barbershop culture. Its whitewashed-brick walls, fluted glass doors, and authentic barber chairs offer a place for employees to host calls (or fit-check in one of the mirrors). The New York office proper, meanwhile, traces the building perimeter, enjoying a continuous curtain wall overlooking the Hudson River that provides daylight and views to all. At the heart of the project is the Apollo, which serves as both a screening room and a town hall–style gathering spot. This space cleverly pairs rich wood finishes with rubber flooring: an homage to both Old Hollywood glamour and sports culture. —Georgina McWhirter

Financial office by Blitz

The SoCal building a venture-capital firm selected for adaptive reuse as its new headquarters offered some obvious perks—and some clear challenges. But in the hands of Blitz, hired to oversee the 30,000-square-foot redesign, those obstacles became advantages, too. Completed in 1912, the now-landmarked structure in Santa Monica, California, had cachet; it also had narrow U-shape floor plates and low ceilings. Blitz opened things up, instating a vertical volume at the entrance, shaped to riff on the client’s logo. Original beams and brick walls were left partially exposed for character and to create a space-expanding sense of visual depth. The designers also relocated core utilities and carved out open “wings,” with views of historic balconies, that host work and collaboration spaces, a podcast studio, pitch room, and kitchen. Topping it all off was a roof deck boasting Pacific Ocean views and a protected but unusable greenhouse; it’s now the office’s penthouse bar. If you must play by the rules, you might as well play a little, too. —Jesse Dorris

Fenwick by Huntsman Architectural Group

Having already created three offices for the global law firm, Huntsman Architectural Group was tapped to envision a fourth, a 32,000-square-foot Pacific Northwest headquarters occupying a floor in Rainier Tower. Coffee bars allude to Seattle’s beverage of choice. Cocoonlike nooks beckon for quiet work. Conference rooms are tech-heavy to abet physical and virtual participation. Wellness rooms dedicated to nursing mothers or therapy sessions support inclusion. Work itself, for a staff of nearly 100, relies upon hybrid scheduling: Lawyers frequenting the office have dedicated spaces, while remote staff and visitors get unassigned workstations or offices.

Reflecting the Emerald City’s Puget Sound location is a water/wave theme, evident in the palette, linear rope LEDs, and the elevator lobby’s shapely ceiling baffles that extend into reception to form a wall accented by greenery. Art also ties to the locale and forges a strong sense of place. The monumental focal bronze, for example, is by Gerard Tsutakawa, raised in the Pacific Northwest, where his work graces a multitude of public and private venues. Similarly, David Franklin, creator of the steel piece in the elevator lobby, is an area denizen. As for that recurrent cobalt blue? Not necessarily an antidote to typically gray skies, but definitely Fenwick’s brand color. —Edie Cohen

BRP by Ædifica

In 1937, in the rural Québec town of Valcourt, Joseph-Armand Bombardier was granted a novel patent: the first vehicle capable of traveling on snow. He soon parlayed that invention into a business, L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée, today named BRP, a Canadian manufacturer of snowmobiles, ATVs, and the like. It was the company founder’s outdoorsy spirit—and the same active, adventure-seeking lifestyle enjoyed by its current-day staffers—that sparked Montreal firm Ædifica’s 33,000-square-foot office for the brand, located in a building sited between two of its factories. The angular plan centers around a circular breakout zone the designers term the agora, a gathering point surrounded by greenery. Here, plants trail from ceiling-hung shelves and over the backs of banquette seating-in-the-round, mimicking wild undergrowth, and contrast with the surrounding architectural canvas of black and white, concrete and timber. Glass-enclosed rooms skim the periphery of circulation areas, a buffer between collaborative zones at the core and individual workstations near the windows. Nearby, deep green–painted booths are backdropped by a mural wallcovering depicting a misty, mountainous forest—the same sort of terrain BRP’s snowmobiles traverse daily. —Georgina McWhirter

Optiver by Gary Lee Partners

Occupying 110,000 square feet of One Prudential Plaza, a 41-story tower built in 1955, the global market–making firm’s U.S. headquarters operates 24/7, supporting constant real-time collaboration with offices and teams worldwide. Retrofitting the Chicago high-rise with dedicated backup generators and implementing rigorous, yet seemingly transparent, security protocols were critical to creating the “always open” facility, which accommodates nearly 600 employees. Round-the-clock work schedules mean lighting programs based on circadian rhythm–friendly sequences are crucial in promoting staff health and well-being. Quality of life is further enhanced by bright, open spaces featuring comfortable café and lounge amenities just steps from the trading floor, reflecting Optiver’s hardworking yet casual culture. A grand atrium—a bleacherlike central stair at one end, a double-height media wall at the other—not only connects the two floors but also serves as a community space for interoffice town hall events. It’s no surprise that the project by Gary Lee Partners was an Interior Design Best of Year honoree. —Peter Webster

Benchling by Revel Architecture & Design

This scheme for the San Francisco biotech company’s 105,000-square-foot headquarters speaks volumes without saying a word. “Revel didn’t rely on oversize graphics or catchphrases to convey our brand,” marvels Benchling’s head of workplace and real estate, TJ Cornell. Instead, the design team established a strong sense of identify through subtler means. Take the abstracted riffs on the company mascot, Jeffrey the Jellyfish: the break room’s tentacle-esque rope lighting and reception’s seascape installation by local artist Claudia Bueno, its molded-mesh forms appearing to contract and expand in the glow of ocean-blue light.

Such details—impactful but nonstructural—helped accommodate the tight project timeframe and circumvent the need to go through permitting. So did Revel’s efforts to reuse as much of the existing infrastructure as possible, including converting private offices into huddle rooms, now outfitted with midcentury modern furnishings. Primary interventions entailed new finishes and instating a series of welcoming arched elements throughout, from doorways and niches to mirrors. Pulsing with energy, the redesign fosters connection among nearly 500 hybrid workers, who, according to Cornell, “have embraced the space with pride.” —Lisa Di Venuta

Pratt President Emeritus Thomas F. Schutte Dies At 89

Thomas F. Schutte, known for his longstanding role as the 11th president of Pratt Institute, recently passed away on March 26, 2025, in New York, at the age of 89. During his 24-year tenure as president, after which he was named president emeritus, Schutte overhauled the Institute, eliminating its deficit, revitalizing the campus, and doubling enrollment. Bolstering the Institute’s reputation as a leading school of art, design, and architecture, Schutte insisted on a holistic approach to learning. Many programs were inspired by Schutte’s lead, continuing on even after his retirement, like students working with Walzworkinc founder Kevin Walz to reinvent shipping containers as social minded residential communities.

“Tom transformed the Institute into a world leader among art and design colleges,” says Pratt president Frances Bronet in a statement. “We mourn the loss of an enthusiastic leader and community giant who was Pratt’s strongest champion for a significant period of the Institute’s prestigious history.”

The Academic Life Of Thomas F. Schutte

Born on December 19, 1935, in Rochester, New York, Schutte earned his BA degree from Valparaiso University, an MBA from Indiana University, and a PhD in management from the University of Colorado. Fully devoting his career to academia, Schutte had a long 42-year run leading prominent art schools, serving as the assistant dean at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and president at the Philadelphia College of Art and RISD before joining Pratt in 1993, where he remained until his retirement in 2017.

Despite his busy career, Schutte always found time for other pursuits. A champion of civic engagement, he founded the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and established initiatives like the Center for Equity and Inclusion and the Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation. He also had a playful side with his love of dogs, being appointed to the American Kennel Club’s Museum of the Dog Board of Directors, and even serving as the emcee with Food Network’s Chopped host Ted Allen to kick off the LEGENDS gala honoring David Easton.

Bronet concludes, “His incredible passion for education, dedication to innovation, and care for and commitment to the Pratt community, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and New York City are a tremendous legacy that will continue to resonate for years to come, inspiring all of us at Pratt as we work together to forge the future of the Institute he loved so much.”

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Tess Lansing Schutte; sons Douglas and David; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Caroline Chandler.

Honoring The Legacy Of Thomas F. Schutte 

Explore Kitchen Products Serving A Dose Of Retro Charm

Sleek lines meet pink and black tones. From bubblegum-pink terrazzo tiles to a sleek black stainless-steel fridge-freezer, these kitchen accessories deliver nostalgia with a modern twist.

Bold Kitchen Furnishings With Vintage Flair

Daybreak by Livden

Daybreak in pink dusk/polar ice and Wishbone in bubble gum/ivory porcelain, both terrazzo tiles incorporating 65 to 100 percent recycled content by Livden.

Ultimate Midnight Range by Verona Appliances

Ultima Midnight 36-inch dual-fuel range in matte black–finish stainless steel by Verona Appliances.

Ecotone New Era slab by Quartzforms

Ecotone New Era slab in Mahal, made from recycled content and resin derived from bio-compounds, by Quartzforms.

Kintsu by Brizo Kitchen & Bath Company

Kintsu wall-mount pot filler with knob handle in matte black–finish brass by Brizo Kitchen & Bath Company.

Avalene by Cambria

Avalene quartz countertop by Cambria.

Beer/Beverage Dispenser by True Residential

Beer/beverage dispenser in Champagne automotive-grade paint by True Residential.

Stainless-Steel Dishwasher by Asko

60+ stainless-steel dishwasher optimizing water, energy, and detergent consumption by Asko.

New Generation Cooling Fridge by Gaggenau

New Generation Cooling refrigerator/freezer in darkbrushed stainless-steel with aluminum-framed drawers and
warm-white glare-free lighting by Gaggenau.

8 Tiles & Panels That Elevate Any Project

3D panels and tiles add literal and figurative dimension to any project. From an acoustic divider in wool felt to handmade abaca-paper tiles, discover the design pieces that Interior Design‘s Giants firms are eyeing.

Textured Wall Coverings On The Rise

Querini Tile By Elisa Ossino & Cimento

Elisa Ossino’s Querini tile made from mineral aggregates in a cementitious binder by Cimento.

Twist by Anna Spakowska & Flexxica

Anna Spakowska’s Twist suspended acoustic divider in wool felt by Flexxica.

Sabica by Weitzner

Sabika handmade 16-inch-square abaca-paper tiles, molded on hand-carved blocks then dried and die-cut to size, by Weitzner.

ECOstrong and ECOrange W by Slalom

ECOstrong in recycled PET (on left wall) and ECOrange W in regenerated wool (on right), both acoustic panels by Slalom.

Perula by Arte

Perula hand-inlaid wet-formed capiz shell wall tiles in Lagune by Arte.

Enigma by Elena Salmistraro & Bosa

Elena Salmistraro’s Enigma ceramic tiles by Bosa.

Poncho Grenade by Pierre Frey

Poncho Grenade embroidered acrylic-cotton blend textile with wool fringe by Pierre Frey.

Physis by Fransje Gimbrere

Physis 3D-woven artworks in orange-copper linen by Fransje Gimbrere.

Introducing Interior Design’s 2025 Rising Giants

It’s been a strong year for the Rising Giants, with overall positive momentum despite a few mild dips in the numbers. And where there are slight declines, they can often be attributed to the natural volatility that comes with smaller firms—one company’s big swing can skew the larger picture and create outsized statistical impacts.

Fee income saw a modest 5 percent drop year-over-year, with design fees falling from $586 million to $555.5 million. But even with this down-tick, fees remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and when looking at all 200 Giants together, the overall trend is one of growth. More importantly, 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year, with Rising firms forecasting a 14 percent increase in fee income. While confidence in those forecasts is down slightly, it’s still plenty high enough to consider these projections reliable.

When it comes to sector performance, the story for the Rising Giants diverges from that of the top firms. Among the 100 Giants, hospitality is up, while corporate work remains sluggish, but it’s the opposite for this group. Hospitality is down—dropping 18 percent year-over-year and still 4 percent since pre-pandemic levels—whereas corporate work has finally inched back to pre-pandemic numbers, marking a full recovery. This is a significant milestone for Rising Giants, which have always been more corporate-heavy than their larger, more diversified counterparts.

Note: “blank cells” = did not report data

While there’s been a slight decline in furniture, fixtures, and construction dollars, last year’s FF&C numbers were skewed by a single firm. If you remove that anomaly, the decline is less dramatic. Even with that drop, FF&C spending has grown 21 percent since 2021. Similarly, project volume dipped slightly to 21,534, but that’s still an 80 percent increase from prepandemic days. Looking ahead, firms expect to take on even more projects next year—to upwards of 25,000—though the size and scope of those projects remain an open question.

Geographically, overseas work has tapered slightly (from 12 to 8 percent), which aligns with the historically domestic focus of these firms. The bulk of their international projects remain in Canada and Asia, with a small presence in Europe. Domestically, the Southeast and Southwest continue to be the hottest markets, and some 96 percent of Rising Giants predict continued U.S. growth in 2025.

Staffing trends bespeak recovery and expansion. Since the pandemic, there’s been a noticeable increase in principals and partners, with project managers making a particularly strong comeback—up 90 percent [since 2019]. Non-design staff, including roles in HR, accounting, and sales, have also seen a sharp increase—up 60 percent year-over-year and 40 percent since pre-pandemic. Salaries are similarly on the rise. Everyone from principals to designers is making more than they did the previous year, with the biggest increases going to “other” interior design staff. These salary bumps likely reflect cost-of-living adjustments and, perhaps, a bit more workload.

In many ways, these firms are facing the same big-picture challenges as their larger counterparts: finding the right talent, maintaining profitability, and educating clients on the value of their work. But given the strong forecasts, steady hiring, and growing fees, 2025 is shaping up to be another promising year.

Interested in learning more about Interior Design’s 2025 Giants of Design? Check out our report for Top 100 Giants.

Workplace Trends

Reflecting a broader shift toward experience-driven spaces, the hospitality influence is continuing to drive workplace design, with firms incorporating elements like lounges, cafés, and elevated finishes to entice remote workers back. Flexibility remains paramount, manifesting in adaptable furniture and spaces that users can modify, free-address seating, and varied work settings—all of which help justify real estate costs while supporting hybrid work patterns. As budget pressures mount, firms are ramping up their focus on maximizing value. Meanwhile, digital integration is transforming both physical spaces and project execution, with virtual collaboration tools both accelerating design processes and increasing the demand for tech-enabled environments.

Note: “blank cells” = did not report data

Senior Living Fees By Sector

Most Admired Firms

Editor’s Note: Take a look at recent coverage of our Rising Giants most admired firms of 2024 below. Rockwell Group tops the list followed by Gensler, AvroKO, Yabu Pushelberg, and Perkins&Will.

Top Recruiting Tactics

Finding the right talent has been an enduring challenge for firms, and the hiring landscape has only gotten more competitive. Rising Giants rely on a multipronged approach to recruiting, citing relationships with universities—through teaching positions, sponsoring studios, and day shadowing programs—as the most effective way to cultivate employees, followed by word-of-mouth referrals, particularly staff recommendations. (Some have rolled out incentive programs for this purpose.) While third-party recruiters remain a common means to identify promising candidates, many Rising Giants find them less effective in today’s market, or out-of-reach financially. Firms have had more luck building flexible talent pools of interns and freelancers who can be quickly onboarded, and by doubling down on work/life balance to keep hard-won staffers from leaving.

Percentage of Rising Giants Reporting These Challenges As The Biggest They Face

Projects By Type

Methodology

The Interior Design Giants annual business survey comprises the largest firms ranked by interior design fees for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2024. The listings are generated from only those surveyed. To be recognized as a top 100, Rising, Healthcare, Hospitality, or Sustainability Giant, you must meet the following criteria: Have at least one office location in North America, and generate at least 25% of your interior design fee income in North America. Firms that do not meet the criteria are ranked on our International Giants list. Interior design fees include those attributed to:

1. All aspects of a firm’s in­terior design practice, from strategic planning and programming to design and project management.

2. Fees paid to a firm for work performed by employees and independent contractors who are “full-time staff equivalent.”

Interior design fees do not include revenues paid to a firm and remitted to subcontractors who are not con­sid­ered full-time staff equivalent. For example, certain firms attract work that is subcontracted to a local firm. The originating firm may collect all the fees and re­tain a management or generation fee, paying the remainder to the performing firm. The amounts paid to the latter are not included in fees of the collecting firm when determining its ranking. Ties are broken by rank from last year. Where applicable, all per­cent­ages are based on responding Giants, not their total number. 

All research conducted by ThinkLab, the research division of SANDOW Design Group.

Submissions Are Open For Interior Design’s 2025 HiP Awards

Hip Hip Hooray! Submissions are officially open for the 12th annual Interior Design HiP Awards! The awards ceremony, which signals the start of NeoCon—the much-anticipated commercial design show held in Chicago June 9-11, 2025—honors the people and products pushing the boundaries of commercial design. Celebrating outstanding talent and product innovation, HiP Awards winners will be recognized during a ceremony hosted at The Mart by Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen on June 8.

Want to know if you’re eligible to submit? Following suit with last year’s HiP Awards, submissions once again extend beyond The Mart to all of Chicagoland, including Fulton Market Design Days. For any contract manufacturers unveiling a new 2025 product or collection at a Chicago Metro showroom between June 9-13, 2025, this is your time to shine. As for the People category, now is the time to nominate yourself or a colleague in the industry who exemplifies exceptional leadership and excellence in creativity.

Ready to step into the spotlight? Nominate exemplary creatives and submit your exceptional product designs before submissions close on May 2, 2025. The early-bird deadline is April 11. Don’t miss out!

8 Stunning Handcrafted Pieces By American Artisans

Artisan pieces made in America are enticing clients. From a one-of-a-kind Amoeba cabinet to a customizable mirror console, these custom design pieces are gaining traction from Interior Design‘s Giants firms.

Discover What Products These Giants Are Specifying

Bobine Glass Lamp by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Bobine glass lamp in apricot, made in Portland, Oregon, by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.

Pebble Table by Oso Creations

Eric Weil’s Pebble hand-sculpted concrete entry table, made in Brooklyn, New York, by his studio Oso Creations.

Orleans Ottoman by West Haddon Hall

Orleans ottoman upholstered in turmeric velvet, made to order in Los Angeles by West Haddon Hall.

Wood Pendant Stacked Light by Blue Green Works

Wood Pendant Stacked light fixture in black walnut and satin brass, made to order in Fremont Center, New York, by Blue Green Works.

Amoeba Cabinet by Chris Schanck through Friedman Benda

Amoeba one-of-a-kind cabinet of steel, polystyrene, polyurea, aluminum foil, suede, and resin, made in Detroit, Michigan, by Chris Schanck through Friedman Benda.

The Bar System by Jordana Maisie Design Workshop

The Bar system with steel spine and tables and polyurethane-upholstered sapele stools, made in Los Angeles by Jordana Maisie Design Workshop.

Nefertem Wallcovering by Yolande Milan Batteau & Callidus Guild

Yolande Milan Batteau’s Nefertem plaster wallcovering with gold glaze and mother-of-pearl inlay, made in Brooklyn, New York, by Callidus Guild.

Eliza Mirror Console by Sasha Bikoff & Abner Henry

Sasha Bikoff’s customizable Eliza mirror console made in Fredericksburg, Ohio, by Abner Henry.