A Year In Design: Top Reads Of 2024

Acrylic-lined ponds and an LED ceiling that evokes water define the Dreamscape garden.

This year offered endless design gems and we’ve rounded up the stories that garnered the most attention. From the Interior Design‘s Giants to a lush, greenery-filled airport terminal in Singapore and a beautifully restored farmhouse turned boutique hotel in Spain, there is no shortage of design inspiration here. With a focus on spaces that promote well-being, inclusivity, and eco-consciousness, this curated selection shines a spotlight on the visionaries and concepts driving the future of design. Dive in and explore the stories that are shaping the creative landscape of today and tomorrow.

See Interior Design’s Most-Read Stories 

1. Revisit Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants

For the first time ever, the top 100 Giants’s interior design fees surpassed the $5 billion mark—and almost zoomed right past $6B! These are record-breaking tallies for our most profitable firms and a year-over-year boost of almost 19 percent. Looking at sector change over the last five years gives us a more nuanced view of the economic picture. The industry was on a pretty steady upward trajectory until 2020, so we look at 2019 as the marker for recovery. Read the full report.

2. Highlights From Déco Off 2024

Photography courtesy of Kirkby.

Even the rare appearance of snow and slush in Paris couldn’t dampen the high spirit at this year’s Déco Off, which took place January 17-21, 2024. Fabric and wall covering manufacturers opened their showrooms on both sides of the Seine, displaying an optimistic mix of strong colors—blues, rusts, orange, and browns in particular. An emphasis on interesting (and sometimes unexpected) textures and exuberant patterns was evident throughout the presentations. C’est magnifique! See the event highlights.

3. Unwind In The Latest Green Oasis At Singapore Changi Airport

Photography by Fabian Ong.

In surveys, frequent global travelers consistently pick Changi Airport in Singapore as their favorite aviation hub, dubbed the Jewel, where a tiered indoor rainforest surrounds a circular waterfall cascading through the glass ceiling above. Other parts of the airport, however, had some catching up to do with the showstopping Jewel. A competition to renovate and expand Terminal 2, which was built in 1993 and last updated in 2003, sought to bring the aging facility up to par with its iconic neighbor. Paris-based practice Boiffils Architectures won the contest, creating a biophilic haven. Read more about the design.

4. Honoring Jeffrey Beers, Hospitality Pioneer

Jeffrey Beers, an innovative architect who transformed the hospitality industry with his fresh and unexpected designs, passed away earlier this year after battling cancer at the age of 67. Known for living life to the fullest, a glance at his immense accomplishments raises the question: What hasn’t Beers done?

From studying with Oscar Niemeyer as a Fulbright scholar in Brazil to working with I.M. Pei in New York and later founding his own firm, Jeffrey Beers International (JBI), in the mid-1980s, Beers built a career grounded in adventure and a deep love of design. He even counted glassblowing among his skills, which he learned from artist Dale Chihuly while studying architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. These distinct experiences shaped his signature style, which infuses Modernism with emotion, creating experiential spaces that leave a lasting impression. Read more about Jeffrey Beers.

Jeffrey Beers. Photography courtesy of Jeffrey Beers International.

5. Recharge in a Restored Spanish Farmhouse in Menorca

Photography by Greg Cox.

In a few special parts of the world, vernacular architecture remains an influence on the unique atmosphere of a place. In turn, that traditional yet everyday building style is invariably a reflection of the topography of the area, its geology, and the location’s natural and seasonal conditions. Menorca is one of these places. It’s there that a late 1800’s house and barn, recently renovated by Atelier du Pont into the Son Blanc Farmhouse Menorca, a boutique hotel, epitomize the Spanish island’s elemental stone architecture. Read more about this boutique hotel.

6. How Color Psychology Informs BlackRock’s New HQ 

Photography by Connie Zhou.

For BlackRock, this Hudson Yards headquarters by NBBJ brings the asset manager’s 4,000 New York–based employees together for the first time in its 35-year history. Previously dispersed across multiple offices, teams are now united in a wood-paneled, daylight-filled workplace that promotes well-being throughout its 970,000 square feet. Color psychology informs the palette, while crafted, locally inspired touches convey the client’s attention to detail. Read more about this innovative office space.

7. NeoCon 2024 Highlights

Photography by Hightower.

Explore top stories and behind-the-scenes updates from NeoCon 2024. From Interior Design’s 11th annual HiP Awards ceremony, celebrating top products and people in the industry, to scintillating industry roundtables and juicy design talks, glance back at the most exciting moments in and around The Mart in Chicago during NeoCon this year. See event highlights.

9. Future Design Leaders Gather At Inaugural 30/30 Conference

Photography by Jennifer Valdés Echiburú.

More than 50 designers under the age of 30 gathered at The Mart in Chicago October 28-29, 2024, for Interior Design‘s first-ever 30/30 National Conference, celebrating emerging talent across the country. Attendees included alumni from Interior Design‘s prestigious 30/30 cohort as well as new applicants from additional cities and top manufacturers who came together to talk innovation, industry shifts, and strategies shaping the future of design. Adding to the excitement, the 30/30 National Conference also included the NEXT Awards, hosted by Editor in Chief Cindy Allen, which honored 11 designers for their standout work and leadership. Read more about the conference.

8. A Modern Hub for Life Sciences Rises from a 1920’s New York Gem

Photography by Eric Laignel.

The life-sciences industry is a growing part of New York’s economy. It accounts for 1,000 companies and 20,000 jobs, and researchers there received $3 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health last year. The city has invested heavily in the sector and changed zoning rules to unlock millions of square feet of real estate for labs. All this has paved the way to open a multitenant life-sciences facility, called West End Labs, situated inside a 1920’s edifice on the mostly residential Upper West Side that’s been adaptively reused and made state-of-the-art by Perkins&Will. Learn more about the design concept.

10. Interior Design’s Hall of Fame Gala Turns 40

Photography by JT Tinney.

Interior Design’s Hall of Fame ceremony and gala honors the visionary designers, creatives, and makers, whose groundbreaking work has reshaped the architecture and design world with unmatched brilliance and creativity. Commemorating the milestone 40th anniversary, creatives dressed in their best filled the Glasshouse in Manhattan on December 11 for a night of celebration, which included watching the documentary films honoring this year’s inductees, as well as a silent auction with proceeds going towards supporting DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS)’s mission. See event highlights.