CDW talks - Hospitality design to spark imagination
6 Jun 2024
Successful hospitality spaces create memorable experiences. As part of our Clerkenwell Design Week activities for 2024, and the wider Design Meets talks programme, Alessio Nardi of A-nrd Studio and Ed Plumb of Studio Found joined moderator Eva Woode to discuss the importance of immersive and experience-led design when creating hospitality spaces.
Unsurprisingly, one of the main themes was the importance of memory-making for guests, and how this ultimately drives more business. Successful hospitality design is about putting the guest experience first. This experience should feel seamless and all-encompassing from the moment the guest enters the space. As a designer, you want to ensure the spell you’ve cast remains unbroken for the entire visit; for example a washroom might be the last space a guest visits in a restaurant and it needs as much consideration as any other part of the project.
It’s important also not to overlook the other main users of the space: the staff. The design of staff areas, such as kitchens and other back-of-house zones, should allow employees to work efficiently and thrive. This leads to the delivery of exceptional service, which naturally enhances the overall guest experience.
Authenticity matters
The speakers further explored restaurant design that transports the visitor, and how this has developed over the past two decades. Guests seek authenticity, so we are seeing a shift away from themed restaurants (although there’s still a space for that in the right environment – think theme parks and family restaurants). The trend is moving towards bringing visitors on a believable journey that is lasting, considered and authentic.
The importance of material selection and how the tactility of materials helps to create a multi-sensory experience was demonstrated in projects shared by the designers. An interesting idea is that an immersive experience should be designed with enough breathing space for guests to fill the gaps with their own perceptions and emotions.
Thank you to Alessio and Ed for sharing their expertise and passion on such an interesting topic.
A-nrd Studio are an award-winning London based practice specialising in transportive and immersive interior design. Founded by Alessio Nardi in 2015, together with creative partner Lukas Persakovas, the talented duo brings together a breadth of expertise in international interior and furniture design having worked with the likes of Lee Broom and Tord Boontje and on projects for Galleries Lafayette and Bloomingdales. With a passionate hands-on approach and an original, experiential, and considered style, A-nrd Studio have gained a reputation for creating imaginative spaces that feel intimate and familiar.
Ed Plumb, the driving force behind Studio Found, specialises in crafting exceptional hospitality and retail spaces worldwide. With a diverse background spanning designing for startups to major brands, Ed meticulously shapes both grand concepts and finer details in his designs. His approach centres on creating lasting spaces that defy fleeting trends. Expert in harmonising form and function, Ed has seamlessly integrated modern design into historically significant landmarks like the Tower of London and The Royal Exchange.