The Latest Trends in Commercial Interior Design: 2023 IIDA/ HD Expo Winners

There are thousands of pieces of furniture and décor being designed each day. 

Which begs the question…

How do a few styles get enough attention to become the most popular of the year?

It’s all thanks to the IIDA/ HD Product Design Expo.

Each year, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the Hospitality Design magazine (HD) – two organizations paving the way in interior design trends – put on a product expo.

Here, designers and brands debut their newest designs. 

From all of the products submitted to the expo, a panel of judges chooses the winners.

A.K.A. the best of the best product designs of the year.

Inevitably, these winning products become the top trending styles in interior design.

Here’s how that happens…

After the expo, interior designer purchase and create designs around their favorite pieces. Then they decorate luxury spaces – like high end hotels or board rooms and offices of major corporations.

Magazines and on social media show off these new looks.

Quickly you associate these designs = success + power.

And you want you home to look just like the that 5-star hotel or the c-suite.

Soon, direct-to-consumer brands are emulating the IIDA/ HD Expo Product Design Award Winner’s styles and producing variations for you to purchase.

Because if you can look that successful and powerful, maybe you will become that successful and powerful. Look good, feel good, right?

So, are you to be inspired by the products and designs that are going to be all the rage in the upcoming months?

Let’s get into it!

What is IIDA?

IIDA, which stands for International Interior Design Association, is an international commercial interior design association. 

They support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through a network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. 

On a more individual level, local chapters host networking events that allow professions to connect and develop working relationships that encourage trust, collaboration, and innovation. 

What is HD?

HD or Hospitality Design is the leading commercial interior design publication. Published 11 times a year, their magazine covers industry news and hotel and restaurant design projects. 

Their mission is to connect and enrich the commercial design industry through innovative projects, inspiring products, the latest trends, and interesting interviews with the industry’s leading professionals. 

Their content benefits owners, operators, brands, purchasing agents, interior designers and architects involved in the design of hotels, resorts, restaurants, nightlife, spas, and other hospitality-oriented projects. 

What are IIDA/ HD Expo Product Design Awards?

The IIDA/ HD Expo Product Design Awards are an annual competition hosted by IIDA and HD where commercial interior design companies can enter their products or designs into the following categories:

Accessories or Specialties – Artwork, Signage, Accent Pieces, Accessories or Specialties – Hardware, Decorative Metals, Plastics, Accessories or Specialties – Operations Supplies/ Amenities, Applied Finishes and Materials – Wallcoverings, Casegoods and Freestanding Furniture – Individual Furnishing Items, Casegoods and Freestanding Furniture – Series and Collections, Flooring – Carpets and Rugs, Flooring – Hard Surfaces, Flooring – Resilients, Lighting, Seating – Group, Lounge, Seating – Group, Outdoor, Seating – Individual, Dining, Seating – Individual, Lounge, Seating – Individual, Outdoor, Textiles – Upholstery

The entries are judged by a panel of IIDA members. The 2023 judges were:

Patricia Rotondo – Senior Principal at Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Matt Thompson – Experience Manager at OpenSquare

Courtney Wilson – Interior Designer and Principal at Echo Architecture + Interiors

Entries are judged based on innovation, environmental functionality, function, and aesthetic or technical advancements in the hospitality industry.

Mycotopia from Durkan

Category: Flooring – Carpets and Rugs

Award: The Eric Engstrom Best of Competition Winner

Mycotopia is a line of 16 patterns that explore the hidden structure and ecological importance of mushrooms. 

The collection was developed from the work of Connie Avery, an artist who lives with Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher’s Syndrome, which make it progressively difficult for her to hear and see. She is part of the ArtLifting partnership, a platform for artists impacted by disabilities and housing insecurity who had traditionally been underrepresented in the contemporary art market.

Stitch from MAD Design

Category: Accessories or Specialties – Artwork, Signage, Accent Pieces

Award: Category Winner

Stitch is a beautifully sculpted concrete planter with a unique seam stitched along opposite sides of the planter. It provides a chic and functional addition to your outdoor or indoor space. 

The accent piece was designed by Industrial Designer James Lee. His piece combines traditional technique with modern machining. He created a hand mold which was manufactured by modern machining with high-tech finishing. Then a rope was manually threaded through the seams in the pot. The piece is created from green cement and 95% recycled natural materials. The stylish plant pots are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. 

Pure Collection from Forest Drapery Hardware

Category: Accessories or Specialties – Hardware, Decorative Metals, and Plastics

Award: Category Winner

The Pure Collection is a sleek, contemporary rail system for hanging drapery. 

The system is available in both traversing and motorized styles. It allows for one- or two-way draw for a pinch pleat or ripple fold drapery. The decorative metal is available in polished chrome, matte white, satin nickel, or black finishes. 

The drapery hardware was designed by graphic designer Burna Wright. She is a freelancing designer who has a BS in marketing and studio art from the University of Virginia. She specializes in brochures, catalogs, corporate identity, and social media and web development. 

Bryte Balance from Bryte

Category: Accessories or Specialties – Operating Supplies and Amenities

Award: Category Winner

Bryte Balance is a smart mattress with connected technology that optimizes sleep every night. 

The bed features an adaptive core of up to 90 intelligent cushions that can individually change from soft to firm within seconds. The technology actively helps you fall asleep fast and stay asleep longer. 

Their Somniify technology actively puts you to sleep with a multi-sensory experience of soothing physical sensation that is synchronized with sleep-inducing audio. 

Their Rebalancing technology stops you from waking mid-cycle by sensing any pressure imbalances that could disturb your sleep and actively adjusting within seconds, silently. 

The Dual Comfort Tailoring allows you and your partner to personalize support settings based on your unique attributes and sleeping preferences.

Milled Panels from IKONNI

Category: Applied Finishes and Materials – Wall Coverings

Award: Category Winner

Milled Panels are wall embellishments designed for interior wall décor. 

The wood panels are available in a variety of wood finishes such as American Walnut, Oak, Teak, and many more.

They have the option of rigid MDF support and TNT support. IKONNI designs and produces their customized products with unparalleled quality and uncompromising attention to detail

K-BANA from Azenco Outdoor

Category: Casegoods and Freestanding Furniture: Individual

Award: Category Winner

K-BANA is a customizable free-standing outdoor pergola system that allows you to create an outdoor haven, anywhere – no permit required. 

K-BANA’s manual louvers let you customize the light while integrated gutters keep drainage out of sight. The system is available in three standard sizes that can be mixed and customized for any setting. 

Azenco Outdoor aims to make life better outdoors. Their collection extends beyond pergolas to other covers such as carports and pool covers. Their products have a collective 30 patents. Each carries a warranty rooted in engineering excellence and precision manufacturing ranging from 3 years to 15 years depending on the component.

Sisyphus High-Traffic Metal Coffee Table by Sisyphus Industries

Category: Casegoods and Freestanding Furniture – Series and Collections

Award: Category Winner

The Sisyphus High-Traffic Metal Coffee Table is a mesmerizing kinetic art table. 

The center of the table contains a field of sand covered by tempered glass. A steel ball is “magnetically” pulled through the sand to create beautiful, intricate, and endlessly changing patterns. 

The steel ball’s motion is controlled by an app, which connects to the coffee table via Wi-Fi. From the app you can choose from over 1000 kinetic art designs or customize your own pattern

DITRA-HEAT–DUO from Schluter-Systems

Category: Flooring: Hard Surfaces

Award: Category Winner

DITREA-HEAT-DUO is an underfloor warming membrane that provides customized electric floor warming for use beneath tile, stone, or other resilient floor coverings such as luxury vinyl plank. 

The uncoupling membrane is waterproof and integrated with sound control and thermal break to reduce impact sound transmission through floor-ceiling assemblies and reduce heat loss to the substrate for up to 70% faster heat-up times over concrete. 

Schluter-Systems provides innovative solutions for tile installation – from waterproofing to shower and tub kits and more, they are the practical solution for common tile installation challenges.

Heritage Motivate Performance Vinyl Tile from Ecore International

Category: Flooring – Resilience

Award: Category Winner

Heritage Motivate Performance Vinyl Tile (PVT) is an alternative to luxury vinyl tile (LVT) products that is safer, quieter, and more ergonomic than traditional LV. 

The layered flooring utilizes technology that returns a high percentage of energy to the source, making it extremely beneficial in fitness centers. The surface absorbs shock, prevents falls and is easy to clean, making the gym a safer, more comfortable place. It comes in a variety of colors from chestnut to wheat, sandstone, and more. 

Ecore International is a manufacturer of recycled rubber products including recycled rubber flooring, sport surfacing, playground safety surfacing, and more.

Weslan Lamp from Arteriors

Category: Lighting

Award: Category Winner

The Weslan Lamp is a pharmacy-style lamp with an old-meets-new vibe. The task lamp features a domed, English bronze-finished steel metal lamp shade connected to a white alabaster base via a c-shaped arm.

Arteriors is a curated collection of luxury lighting, furniture, and accessories. Their artisan crafted unique modern furniture redefines the spaces where you live, play, and work.

Matteo from American Leather

Category: Seating – Group Lounge

Award: Category Winner

Matteo is a sofa with groovy rounded corners and a two-tone application that mixes classic Italian design with a touch of 70s retro. 

It’s advanced unidirectional suspension system and premium high-density, high-resiliency foam seat cushions with memory foam toppers make the lounging experience second to none.

American Leather is a made-to-order sustainable furniture brand built on the belief that customized furniture should be “built on the foundation of innovation, style, and speed.” Each piece of furniture is the embodiment of long-lasting comfort and expert craftsmanship.

BLOOM from Sandler Seating

Category: Seating – Group Outdoor

Award: Category Winner

BLOOM is a highly-durable collection of outdoor seating that was created as a versatile offering suited to informal meetings, break out zones, and lounge terraces. All steel parts are galvanized for outdoor use as standard. 

Bloom was designed by Luca Nichetto, a graduate from Universita luav di Venezia with a degree in industrial design. Other products that Nichetto designed for Sandler Seating include Classy and Main.

Sandler Seating is a manufacturer and supplier of the widest range of European designed furniture for the corporate and hospitality markets.

CALA from Sandler Seating

Category: Seating – Individual Dining

Award: Category Winner

The CALA collection includes a wide range of colors and chair leg styles, all united by recurring seat and back style. 

The seat and back are made from a 3D polypropylene mesh that is mounted to a steel frame. Leg options include standard metal legs, cantilever metal legs, wheeled office style legs, or 4 wooden legs. 

CALA was designed by highly acclaimed and awarded designer Martin Ballendat, CEO and Designer at Design Ballendat. Sandler Seating is a manufacturer and supplier of the widest range of European designed furniture for the corporate and hospitality markets.

Gilda from Group M55 Design LLC

Category: Seating – Individual Lounge

Award: Category Winner

Gilda is an artisanal luxury armchair made from certified wood. 

The frame shape is reminiscent of a mid-century modern style Wishbone chair. The seat is offered in either gummed or smooth upholstery. 

Coast Lounge Chair from Walters

Category: Seating – Individual Outdoor

Award: Category Winner

The Coast Lounge Chair is a powder coated aluminum chair wrapped in all-weather woven rope with a plush seat and back cushion. 

It is lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion making it easy to move to suit your needs. The intricate woven rope designs wrap the chair in a manner reminiscent of fishing nets left out to dry. This chair infuses any outdoor space with a sense of seaside leisure. The Coast Lounge Chair was designed by Jeffrey Bernett, an accomplished designer who has won accolades in multiple disciplines including architecture, interior design, furniture design, lighting, and graphics.

Vivant Collection from Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings

Category: Textiles – Upholstery

Award: Category Winner

Vivant is a collection of commercial textiles that include soft chenille’s and luxurious velvets in five patterns in 55 color variations. 

The collection was designed by Kristen Hilt, the Senior Textile Designer at Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings. 

Momentum Textiles & Wallcoverings is the largest supplier of textiles and wallcoverings in commercial interiors. They bring together the industry’s most sought after innovators, designers, and brands to create a lasting impact on the industry for years to come.