The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global scene has ultimately uprooted any plans the design world— and the entire world— might have projected for 2020. While eventually the coronavirus will have been a short hiccup in the history of mankind, we cannot be so unimaginative as to believe that things will ‘go back to normal’ after the dust settles.

Between most countries’ nation-wide lockdowns— including economic powerhouse China, to the emergence of a new global phenomenon known as social distancing which has gone hand in hand with a general restriction on public activities, plus limited shipping as well as travel possibilities, the coronavirus has paralyzed the world and already left a gaping mark on the economy as well as society. Although we cannot pretend to know what outcomes will arise from this conundrum, we’ve observed the following 6 possible trends that brands and designers should look out for as the situation begins to fade out.

The Arrival of ‘Not Made in China’

The arrival of trade wars and coronavirus has prompted businesses to seek new ways to diversify their supply chains and reduce their dependence on any single country. As we well know, the outbreak of Corona shut down China’s production capacity due to state-mandated quarantines, causing the entire country to go into a temporary lockdown, together with large parts of the world’s economic growth. Many companies will not be willing to allow that to happen again, and designers should be prepared to look elsewhere, or perhaps even locally, to source their materials and production.

Design studio Graphic Matters has distributed 300 posters with positive public service announcements, created as part of the Stay Sane, Stay Safe project, around the town of Breda in the Netherlands.

2. Local Crafts and Production will Gain Momentum

With international shipping and travel greatly limited, brands around the world will have to look to local producers and manufacturers to restore economic performance. Brands have already started to seriously consider vertically integrating local supply chains, and consumers will have to adapt to a new breed of hyperlocal products.

"Tertulia" by Fango is an example of local Colombian production.

3. We will Buy Less and Make things Last Longer

With people cooped up at home for months, there's likely to be a pent-up demand for consumption, softened by a new appreciation for consuming less and more responsibly, especially as a recession advances on. Plus, consumers are going to think much more about waste— a conversation that was already under way pre-COVID-19— and one that will now have industry leaders and consumers seriously evaluating whether continuing to consume the same way is worth it. Finally, consumers will continue to educate themselves and demand more from brands. Questions like “Are they made of natural materials?” and “Does their production harm the planet?” will soon be the new normal.

Gugidong House House in Seoul, Korea by BCHO Architects features gables made of white perforated metal topped by clear PVC panels so that occupants can enjoy a sheltered outdoor living space. Photo by Sergio Pirrone.

4. We will have a greater sensibility for the well-designed home

With people spending more time indoors, it’s no surprise that we will be demanding more from our homes in order to improve our quality of life. Whereas pre-COVID-19, apartments in densely-populated cities might have been designed for spending limited periods of time indoors, and instead for enjoyment of the city, today, these complexes have exposed the gaping flaws of marketing-fueled housing projects.

More space and fresh air

As we spend more time at home, we need a living space that can both provide social isolation while safely allowing us to get fresh air and exercise. More than an escape from the routine and urban chaos, the home now offers a retreat from viruses and infections.

The prevalence of housing complexes that aim to make the most of limited space in densely populated urban areas has resulted in apartments that lack access to a porch, deck, balcony or patio, an issue that has been highlighted in cities like New York, where nearly 80% of housing complexes don’t have access to these invaluable spaces. In the future, homes will be built with the Coronavirus pandemic in mind, making access to outdoor spaces a major selling point on buyers’ checklists.

The end of the open plan

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the entrance area will be separated so that we can leave our shoes, clothing and belongings on the street, rather than carry dirt into the living quarters.

P-work & home by Perceptual presents options for a comfortable, condensed workspace that adapts to the space available at home.

The new home office

A big part of isolation has been that most have been forced to work from home. Once the quarantine is over, there will of course be those who will immediately race to meet their coworkers and socialize over that office coffee or exchange stories at the water cooler. But there will also be those who will not want to return to the office, and bosses who will no longer be able to argue against the effectiveness of the home office, having been tried and tested during the pandemic.

Therefore, we will pay much more attention to the arrangement of our homes, in particular, the workspace area. The home office will no longer be conceived as an afterthought, but rather, a priority planned from initial layouts— featuring a completely separate room with large windows, blackout curtains and comfortable furniture— and naturally, it will be technically equipped and sound-insulated. Plus, real estate developers may even be pressured to implement community workspaces within future residential projects, complete with enclosed workspaces conceived to protect residents from the spread of germs and future pandemics.

For a quick, home office solution: Danish startup Stykka has developed a simple flat-pack workstation that can be easily assembled out of three pieces of folded cardboard.

Urban farming

Small herb or vegetable gardens have been trending for years now, but post-COVID-19, this trend will be a boom when planning and putting together our homes. As people search for ways to be more sustainable, save money, and improve their mental health, urban farming and herb gardens tick all the boxes. We know that physical interaction with living plants is good for our mental health, and growing what we eat is a pleasant break from daily routines, particularly during self-isolation. Even for those who live in apartment buildings, access to a window makes indoor gardens a possibility that, in addition to providing food and oxygen, is practical and easy.

5. Health is Wealth

As coronavirus craziness calms down and people begin to revert to former, less hygienic habits, their desire to remain safe and well will remain intact as the possibility of future pandemics persists. This will create a huge opportunity for providers of physical spaces to embed health-boosting measures into the very spaces that their customers pass through, making staying healthy an additional component of their brand’s offer.

Design studio Frank Chou designed this sterilizing lamp for ‘Create Cures',’ a public welfare initiative that aims to promote public health through design. It combines an ultraviolet lamp and tray format to disinfect everyday items like mobile phone… — Design studio Frank Chou designed this sterilizing lamp for ‘Create Cures',’ a public welfare initiative that aims to promote public health through design. It combines an ultraviolet lamp and tray format to disinfect everyday items like mobile phones, keys, wallets and the like.

But the coronavirus is hardly the only thing causing people mental anguish. Even before it triggered a global public health crisis and a raised fears of a deep economic recession, people were facing rampant inequality, always-on social competition, the looming existential threat of the climate crisis and much more. Any brand that can aid in easing people’s mental wellbeing will certainly stand out from the rest.

6. Brands will become experts in digital communicatioN

It is clear that the lockdowns have elevated digital as an urgent priority across the entire value chain but, unless brands take their digital capabilities to the next level during the recovery phase of the crisis, they will probably suffer in the long term.

Brands are going to become more practical and effective in a post-crisis era where every trade fair, event, museum, gallery exhibition, etc. will deliver its message through less costly, less energy-intensive means, making more content available online and in other innovative spaces. Brands will need to quickly move toward online interaction and e-commerce, away from brick and mortar and department stores, and toward direct-to-consumer. Born out of practicality and necessity, recreating the in-person experience online— through webinars, presentations, teleconferences, Instagram Lives and Stories, Twitter chats, and other digital communications channels— will be what pushes brands and businesses onto the internet.

Another example of this digital transformation is the emergence of ‘shopstreaming’ in Asia, which merges livestreaming and shopping. Shopstreaming will signal a fundamental rewrite of the rules of e-commerce, in which online shopping will be interactive, experiential, and in real time. The recent crisis has seen the Chinese livestreaming market grow even bigger, and its mix of entertainment, community and commerce will raise e-commerce expectations around the world.

Consumers will continue to demand more in the digital space and brands must act fast to deliver. Those who manage to create an online shopping environment or digital experience where people come just to hang out and chat will stand out from the rest.

Postponed or Canceled Design Events

Postponed for later this year

Sight Unseen OFFSITE - New York: Postponed indefinitely, with new dates pending.

Design Shanghai - Shanghai: Originally scheduled to take place from 12 to 15 March. It has been postponed until 26-29 November.

China International Furniture Fair - Guangzhou: Originally scheduled to take place from 18 to 21 March, the fair has been postponed until 18-21 July.

Clerkenwell Design Week - London: Originally scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 May, the event has been postponed until 14-16 July.

Architectural Digest Design Show - New York: Originally scheduled to take place from 19 to 22 March, the show has been postponed until 25-28 June.

Mexico Design Fair - Puerto Escondido: Originally scheduled to take place on 1 April, the event has been postponed until Summer 2020.

Design Miami/Basel - Basel: Originally scheduled to take place from 16 to 21 June, the event has been postponed until 15-20 September.

3daysofdesign - Copenhagen: Originally scheduled to take place from 14 to 16 May, the event has been postponed until 3-5 September.

NYCxDesign - New York City: Originally scheduled to take place from 12 to 20 May, the event has been postponed until October. The awards ceremony will be held virtually in May.

EDIT Napoli - Napoli: Originally scheduled to take place from 5 to 7 June, the event has been postponed until 16-18 October.

Venice Architecture Biennale - Venice: Originally scheduled to take place from 23 May to 29 November, the biennale has been postponed. Usually running for a duration of six months, this year the event will take place across a three month period from 29 August to 29 November.

Canceled for 2020

Milan Design Week / Salone del Mobile - Milan: Canceled for 2020, postponed to April 13 to 18, 2021.

ICFF + WantedDesign - New York City: Canceled for 2020, postponed to May 2021, with exact dates pending.

London Design Fair - London: Originally scheduled to take place from 17 to 20 September, 2020, the event has been postponed until 2021, with new dates to be announced.