What Will the Interior Design Business Be Like in 2025?

You might be wearing VR glasses, so here's a hint: You can step into your future home without moving an inch!

Interior design in 2025 is a far cry from its past. No longer confined to flat 2D drawings on paper, it has evolved into a 360-degree virtual experience. With the aid of VR glasses, individuals can step into their dream homes, altering wall colors with a glance, moving furniture with a gesture, and truly 'living' in the space before it's built. Welcome to the new era of interior design, characterized by visual, immersive, and interactive elements.

How Interior Design Has Changed Over Time: From Floorplans to Feelings

Space, light, texture, and balance have always been essential in interior design, but the way designers communicate their ideas has undergone significant changes.

• In the past, blueprints and mood boards were drawn by hand.

• The 2010s: 3D models and digital renderings.

• Today: AR overlays, virtual tours, and tools for customising things in real time.

Not only did technology change how designers work, but it also changed what clients want. In a world full of pictures and videos, such as TikTok, clients want to see designs that match their lifestyle and taste immediately, with numerous options. So, how are brands making this change happen?

• IKEA's Place App (AR): IKEA was one of the first companies to use augmented reality (AR) in a big way. With just a smartphone, customers could see how furniture would look in their own homes. It changed how people shop by allowing them to "place" sofas, tables, and lamps in their homes before making a purchase.

• Space Designer 3D and Foyr Neo: These online platforms let designers (and even clients) design whole spaces, change styles, and export walkthroughs. It facilitates faster feedback cycles and empowers people to collaborate more effectively on design.

• Gensler and Virtual Reality in Architecture: The global design firm Gensler has used VR to show off its commercial interiors. They didn't show blueprints; instead, they let corporate clients "walk" through future office spaces to get a feel for the lighting, atmosphere, and flow, which got them to agree to the project before it even started.

• Real Estate and VR Design Collaborations: Many high-end real estate developers now offer fully immersive interior experiences during sales pitches. With just one click, clients can switch between different interior styles, from simple Japanese to fancy French, making their ideas come to life in seconds.

SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

From 2025 onwards, the interior design industry will be shaped by a range of technological advancements. VR and AR will become standard in pitches and presentations, while cloud-based design tools will enable global collaboration in real time.

• Immersive Technologies: VR and AR will be used in all pitches and presentations.

• Client Empowerment: Customisation will be quicker, more visual, and more personal.

• Working together around the world: Cloud-based design tools will let clients, designers, and suppliers from all over the world work together to create spaces in real time.

• AI-Driven Prototyping: Algorithms will guess what people want, make layouts automatically, and make sure everything works as well as possible.

• Sustainability by Simulation: Before putting things into action, we will test materials, lighting, and layouts virtually to see how they affect the environment.

How Raffles Jakarta Helps Students Get Ahead

At Raffles Jakarta, great design is a fusion of art, technology, and people. Our Interior Design program is designed to equip students with the creative theory and cutting-edge technology they need to thrive in this rapidly evolving field. Students don't just learn how to draw; they also use the tools that are changing the field:

• 3D rendering software that global design companies use

• VR apps that make spaces come to life

• Platforms for clients to present in real time with others

• Learning about innovative and sustainable materials

• Doing projects that are like real life and working with clients

Our students graduate ready not only to design for the future but also to lead it, thanks to our international network and expert faculty.

Design the World You Want to Live In. The future is visual, interactive, and centered on the client's needs. Whether you want to design homes, hotels, or immersive commercial spaces, the future is bright. Join the Interior Design program at Raffles Jakarta and start shaping your future today.

Find out more about our Interior Design program here.

Arman POUREISA

Marketing Manager

Business Management Lecturer

Raffles Jakarta