INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN INTERIOR DESIGN
Innovative Technology in Interior Design
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to identify the application, products, and materials which have become available for use within the last five years but may not yet be used in an interior design context. To establish the milestones that the interior design industry has achieved in terms of technological development, a literature review is analyzed that establishes past research work and technological development in this field. Appropriate and suitable products have been identified which fit the research problem of this paper. The identified technological applications, products, and materials identified include; Tunable lighting, converging algae into bioplastic for 3D printing, moss tiles, and William Paint Shield. The research was conducted using online sources and a deep analysis of the literature review was conducted to establish preview research work published in line with the research question. The research paper identifies that the identified applications, materials and products have in a great deal achieved their expected functionality. The paper identified that interior designers collaborate with manufacturers and experts in other fields in a bid to identify innovative products that can better improve the user experience and come up with a better way to manage living space. Interior designers add value to the technology available the use of their expertise to make spaces more appealing and functional.
Introduction
Innovative technology has often been triggered by the need to improve the living conditions of people. Technology has been at the forefront in bettering the lives of people in diverse fields; the interior design is one of them. As building technology advanced, the need to have aesthetically pleasing and efficient use of space has seen technology become a vital component of interior design. Designers have to consider the space that they are looking to improve their outlook. Interior designers focus on various aspects which include lighting, texture, pattern, space, light, line, and form. Artistic coordination of these elements brings out an aesthetic outlook that meets the customer demand in today’s interior design market. A while ago, interior design décor was preserved as a reserve for the affluent in the society. However, with the surge in growth of population, the need to optimise the use of space has grown in a bid to both accommodate various appliances that would typically fit in a large space and improve the condition of living of the occupants of these living spaces. Several factors highlight the essence of interior design, such as functionality. With proper interior design, living space can fully achieve its intended purpose. Poorly designed space may see a large room that does not provide the occupants with the needed space while a small living space may be transformed into a home with adequate space for practically all the functions intended by the occupants. Another factor is fitting the space owner’s lifestyle. Space occupants’ preferences and budget inspire interior designers; hence they work together to ensure that all the required enhancements are put in place during the construction time. Lastly, is high aesthetic quality. The input of an expert interior designer will see every space get an aesthetic appeal that will match the purpose and function of each space. The influence of technology is life in the interior design industry. For the past few years, interior design has witnessed an increased use of innovative technology such as smart-homes, virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D printing. This paper’s research paper’s main objective is to identify the application, products, and materials which have become available within the last five years but may not yet be used in an interior design context.
Literature Review
The innovative design field has seen various innovative technologies, some already in use while others are yet to be implemented and are expected to improve on the innovations already in use in interior design or add entirely new functionality. Kaleja and Kozlovska (2017 p. 113) examine how technology has developed over the years in interior design. Kaleja and Kozlovska (2013 p. 114) state that both market demand and the zeal to acquire and apply new developing technology as the greatest motivation to the immense development in interior design technology. Rashdan (2016 p. 625) adds that the need to develop sustainable interior design products has facilitated the development of technological advancement that we are now experiencing. Apart from sustainability, interior design focus on economically viable projects that will not only satisfy the need of the customer but will be economically viable both to the customer, the manufacturer and the country at large (Hasti and Kusnia, 2019). According to Hasti and Kusnia, in-depth research in this field has led to life-changing innovations such as the use of bioplastic materials to manufacture interior design products which are both cheap and environmentally friendly. Borrowing from different cultural diversity has been the cornerstone of innovation in the interior design industry. According to Liao, (2019), designers borrow from design practices practised in different locations across the world and combine this knowledge with the modern technology to come up with the sophisticated interior design technology such as the tunable lighting technology that can mimic the outside light and replicate it in indoor space. Abd Hamid et al., (2017) points out that despite the immense technological advancement seen in interior design, there are challenges that hinder innovation such as inadequate research in this field. Abd Hamid et al. insists that interior design sector holds a huge economic potential but lacks investors because of the assumption that the interior design industry’s foundation in cottage industry affected its ability to motivate huge investment that can make its impact be felt in the mainstream. However, as pointed out by Lee, (2012), the benefits that are accrued to technological development in interior design have impacted human lives including improving their lives Healthwise. A research study conducted to investigate the phycological benefits of indoor plants indicated that plants help improve fresh air circulation and improve patient’s mood which contributes greatly to their healing process (Bringslimark et al., 2009). Bringslimark et al., findings reinstate Marcus and Barnes, (1995) research paper that pointed out that plants in a hospital improved the overall wellbeing of the sick.
Findings
The research delves into identifying the application, products, and materials which have become available for use within the last five year but not used in an interior design context. In this regard, four technological products have been identified that further fit the context of this research. These products include tunable lighting technology which enables the control of a light source’s colour temperature output. Tunable lighting is made possible by the manufacture of lightbulbs with different colour temperature LEDs. With the remote control, the user can adjust the desired colour among the available range as indicated by the manufacturer. Another innovative technology is the conversation of algae into bioplastic for 3D printing. This technology entails growing of algae, processing it and manufacturing 3D products that are commonly manufactured using synthetic plastic materials. Apart from being economical, classy and unique, algae manufactured 3D printing is environmentally friendly. Naava green wall is an innovative technology that uses live plants in indoor spaces to help improve the air quality by reducing chemical substances in the air. Lastly, is the William Paint Shield which is an advanced coating manufactured using ingredients that help improve the air quality of indoor space by the virtue of neutralizing unpleasant odour that is emitted by various sources such as fabrics and insulation materials.
Discussion
Tunable Lighting
Tunable lighting is among the most acclaimed innovative technologies in the interior design industry that has seen control of colour temperature in solid-state lighting come to reality. Tunable lighting technology has been in use for close to 5 decades. Records have it that an artist named Paul Outerbridge is the man credited as the pioneering researcher who performed numerous experiments with colour photography and appreciated the role of light in colour perception. The researcher identified that no object of itself alone has colour by the fact that even the most brightly coloured objects lose their colour when taken to a dark room. It is only through the presence of light that the object’s colour can be seen which brought the conclusion that colour is a property of light. Using this fundamental relationship, researchers have been able to control the colour temperature in solid-state lighting. An innovative company called Ketra has moved the tunable lighting technology by introducing a concept known as natural lighting which basically mimics the natural light that is experienced outside. Ketra lights work by adjusting colour temperature all day long hence providing the ideal light at all times. For instance, Ketra light provides a cool light which triggers wakefulness, the light keeps adjusting throughout the day. As the evening approaches, the light grows warmer, same as the sky does during the evening. This phenomenon triggers our bodies to start producing a natural hormone called melatonin which instructs our bodies to sleep (The future of light, 2018).
When this lighting concept is applied in an office setting, it helps improve productivity as employees who do not get to experience more natural lighting report feeling better, energetic and can get more work accomplished. In addition to this, Ketra tunable lighting is fully RGB controllable lighting which enables the user to adjust to the colour of their preference depending on their mood and the prevailing event.
3D printing using Algae made Bioplastic
Increased emission of greenhouse gases has over the years raised concerns because of the destruction that results from these gases. Various initiatives have been proposed on ways to reduce the emission of these gases into the air. However, the development of bioplastic technology seems to be the long-waited solution that will help evade greenhouse gas emissions. Generally, bioplastics are substances manufactured from biomass sources away from the plastics that are manufactured using petroleum. Interior designers have been looking into ways that they can leverage on the bioplastic technology to replace materials and products used in interior design that is otherwise manufactured plastics. In 2017, a group of Dutch designers led by Eric Klarenbeek have moved the technology a notch higher by developing bioplastic made from algae. The researchers grow the algae, which is an aquatic plant, dry it and process it into a material that interior designers can use to produce 3D print objects. According to the designers, this revolutionary technology will replace synthetically made plastics which apart from aiding reduce the greenhouse gases emission, it’s a great way that interior designers have found to improve the air condition of the living space. Some of the products that designers have already manufactured from the algae materials include fabric dyes, water bottles, shampoo bottles, lamp holders, building facades and chairs (Morris, 2017).
The use of algae as an alternative in producing materials that will be used in 3D printing by interior designers is motivated by several factors. For instance, growing algae does not require arable land that is suitable for cash crop and food crops. Algae requires does not require clean water to grow and can survive in damp environments. In terms of cost, algae require very minimal inputs to grow it which reduces the cost of production. During processing, the raw materials can be dried using sunlight and moulded into the various 3D products which do not require heavy machinery compared to plastics. According to the researchers, the production of algae will be decentralized which will allow people to grow them in the local areas and therefore be able to produce their 3D objects according to their preferences.
Green wall
The aesthetic appearance of living plants has always been a huge attraction to human beings. People have always enjoyed having plants around the living areas due to various reasons apart from aesthetic appearance. The most basic one is that plants help freshen the air because they release oxygen and take up the carbon dioxide that has been released by people. borrowing from this symbiotic relationship, interior designers have come up with an innovative way to incorporate plants into the living area with a purpose to purify the air. Moss tiles manufactured by a health tech company known as Naava is revolutionizing the future of interior design more so the office environment (Naava, 2018. The Naava green wall works by absorbing the indoor air through the plants’ roots via the soilless growth medium. The roots have numerous microorganisms that do the purification of the absorbed air and purifies it of any harmful chemicals. Behind the Naava green walls are fans which help to circulate the cleaned air back to the room. The Naava set-up has sensors of the smart green wall which help to measure the variables of the Naava set up and its surroundings. An inbuilt artificial intelligence then analyzes the data received from the sensor and coordinate functions according to the results obtained from the analyzed data. Its viability has been measured and verified by various credible corporate firms which place this technological innovation at the verge of changing how we perceive indoor environments.
Research has conducted on Naava green wall to verify its purification efficiency in comparison with a static potted houseplant indicate that Naava wall is highly efficient. The experiment which utilized a single simulated Naava biofilter which was placed in a room. After 1-hour, chemical concentration was close to zero while a room with a potted plant still had about 80% chemical concentration after 1 hour. Among the factors that make Naava green wall technology such a success in purifying indoor air include its ability to deliver biophilic elements, acoustical benefits, improved air quality and optimized indoor humidity. Given that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, finding ways to reduce the number of chemicals in indoor air is critical to human health. According to World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution is a big threat to human health especially those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and allergies because it only serves to worsen the condition and render medications ineffective. However, with the innovative Naava green wall technology, people can enjoy clean indoor air that thanks to the technology, which the firm expects to open more branches around the world and contribute to achieving universal wellness.
William Paint Shield
Paint has always been used for its aesthetic appeal. However, as technology advances, the use of paint has been extended to improving the overall indoor air quality. The innovatively developed William paint shield is both a paint and a product that helps improve the quality of air in indoor space. Researchers observed that different indoor spaces such as offices, patient wards, kitchens, bathrooms and public places have unpleasant odours that originate from various sources such as insulation materials, carpets and fabrics. These substances emit Volatic organic compounds (VOCs) which reduce the quality of indoor air. Using Willian Paint Shield, the researchers found that the indoor air quality was improving, thanks to the paint which can reduce the concentration of VOCs using its Formaldehyde reducing Technology once the coating dries up (Williams, 2017).
Apart from the ability to neutralize unpleasant odours, the paint can prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the paint film which means bacterial odours are also inhibited. The advanced coating is manufactured in such a way that its chemical properties repel plants such as molds which is a common nuisance which apart from causing odours also causes the paint to wear off quickly which raises the need for a repaint. The paints durability capability is also exceptional. It’s designed to withstand wear and tear in high traffic locations which are as a result of a combination of industrial-strength performance and the traditional paint appearance. According to EPA, a certification body that performs rigorous research experiments to verify the usefulness of paint products agreed that with an advanced coating of William Paint Shield kills more than 99.98 % of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, popularly known as Staph and Enterobacter aerogenes within a short period of two hours of application. Its innovative technology has increased the usefulness of products because it prevents such microbes that cause decay from accessing surfaces. Interior designers in collaboration with the paint manufacturers are working together to come up with a diverse combination of the paint that can be applied in other house appliances which will contribute to improving indoor air quality and also the durability of these appliances since microbes that cause rotting will be inhibited from accessing their surfaces.
Conclusion
Technological advancement has influenced every aspect of our lives and interior design is no exception. Over the last few decades, the interior design industry has experienced tremendous growth and development which started way back in the 1950s when Europe revamped back to economic boom and prosperity spiral after the wreckage caused by world war 2. Much of what was popular before this time became defunct and as new technological designs erupted introducing new aesthetics. As the world embraced globalization, interior design industry leapt hugely as the intercultural exchange from diverse parts of the world brought about new interior design technologies that combined the various cultural aspects to give rise to modern interior design. Today, technology has permeated interior design industry to generate the innovative interior design technologies that we are enjoying today. The research paper has identified 4 application, products, and materials which have become available for use within the last 5 year but not used in an interior design context. The paper has identified how these innovative technological products have transformed the lives of people by improving how they relate and enjoy certain space. The paper has identified that these technologies such as green wall and William Pain Shield can impact the health of users positively. Through the in-depth analysis, the paper has identified how effective that each technology has been in achieving its intended purpose.
References
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