The World Changed in 2020. Families and workers around the entire globe have been under varying orders to “stay at home” or “shelter in place.” Even though the orders may be temporary, the cultural changes are here to stay and have already reset “normal” social behavior.
Handshakes, hugs, and friendly pats on the back. Not returning any time soon. And forget about the celebratory “high five.” Really?
Concerts. Theatre. Stadium gatherings, the sheer pleasure of being in a crowded audience. Probably snuffed out or reduced to “clusters” instead of “crowds.” At least for now.
Parades. Public Park entertainment. Mass marathons and walks. Only as “social distancing” allows. And what about conventional classroom and office settings? Church and religious services? How does Society continue to thrive amidst all of these public health concerns?
We crave human contact and participatory activities,
but these have been completely reshaped.
The old “wait for it” adage is passé. Don’t wait for it—it’s here now.
For example, restaurant ratings will no longer be assigned merely for the quality of the cuisine nor for the “threads per inch”of their furnishings and décor. Data has shown that patron safety and health protection metrics are measurably more important to the consumer than are the finest gourmet and the most elegant furnishings.
As Designers, Operators, and Service Providers, it is our collective responsibility to rise to new expectations and to the demands of a public that may not yet fully understand what it even is that they expect…but trust us, and exactly as before, they will most definitely know it when they see it.
Cleanliness, sanitization and health safety must be our stated commitments to our customers, guests, constituents, and other place user groups.
Yet if we rely on scrubbed white tile and toilet rooms that reek of ammonia to underscore our customer promises, we will be designing dystopian destinations—and if we rely on signs that state that “our employees wash their hands every 5 minutes for 20 seconds,” we will be passively relying on signage to communicate what our environmental treatments and operational dispositions must convey.
Change happened. That’s over and done. The future is already now. Are you all ready and here for it?
Even as we are coming through the change together, let’s reshape new together. Let’s talk about what it really looks like—today.
We’re “all ready” here—Don’t wait—call us.
