# Creative Offices Mean Big Business For Designers
The creative office revolution isn't just changing how we work—it's transforming the commercial design industry. Interior solutions provider Tangram has experienced remarkable growth, with sales jumping from $125 million in 2014 to $188 million in 2016, driven entirely by demand for innovative workplace design.
This 40% increase reflects a broader market shift that savvy design professionals are capitalizing on across the country. With six Southern California offices and 300 employees, Tangram's expansion story offers valuable insights for commercial designers looking to understand and respond to evolving client needs.
## The Creative Office Boom Creates New Opportunities
CEO Joe Lozowski attributes Tangram's success to strategic decisions that align with marketplace trends. **"The desire for more creative and co-designed workplaces, combined with increased technology integration and the trend toward anti-corporate furniture, has opened new doors,"** he explains.
This shift has allowed the company to expand their market penetration significantly. They now work with over 700 manufacturers and have strengthened their position in flooring, custom furniture, and technology integration—earning recognition as a top-5 Steelcase dealership worldwide.
The growth trajectory continues with national expansion of their Studio custom furniture brand, currently installing projects in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, and New York.
## Sector-Specific Design Approaches Matter
While creative office design has gained popularity across industries, successful commercial designers understand that **one size doesn't fit all**. Each professional sector brings unique requirements that directly impact design decisions:
**Healthcare**: HIPAA compliance drives privacy considerations, while fabric choices must prioritize cleanability and sterilization protocols.
**Higher Education**: The focus centers on integrating new classroom technology, supporting active learning methods, and transforming libraries from analog to digital spaces—while maintaining traditional administrative areas.
**Law Firms**: Hierarchy remains important, requiring more private offices and stratified space planning compared to other sectors.
**Creative Industries**: These clients gravitate toward collaborative environments with strategic placement of quiet retreat spaces.
## Three Universal Design Principles
Despite sector differences, Lozowski identifies three core principles that guide successful commercial design projects:
### 1. **Posture** Recognizing various work modes—sitting, standing, lounging—and designing spaces that accommodate different physical needs throughout the workday.
### 2. **Privacy** Understanding that privacy requirements vary based on job functionality, from open collaboration to confidential conversations.
### 3. **Proximity** Ensuring essential spaces are strategically located within easy reach of workstations: - Quiet zones for focused work or quick calls - Collaborative areas with appropriate technology - Social hubs for relationship building - Revitalization spaces for brief mental breaks
## Key Takeaways for Design Professionals
The creative office trend represents more than aesthetic preference—it reflects fundamental changes in how organizations operate. Commercial designers who understand these shifts and adapt their services accordingly are positioning themselves for significant growth.
Success requires balancing universal workplace principles with sector-specific needs, staying current with technology integration trends, and maintaining flexibility as client expectations continue evolving. The firms that master this balance, like Tangram, are discovering that creative office design isn't just good design—it's good business.
