It took me 10 years to learn this. But I’ll teach it to you in under 60 seconds.
After working with almost 500 designers, I started noticing a pattern.
Good designers focus on how things look. Great designers think about what happens after.
They ask questions like:
What will this material look like after 7 years of wear and tear?
Can it be repaired, reused, or recycled?
Will it still make my client proud long after handover?
Every award-winning space I’ve seen?
It wasn’t built on trends.
It was built on intention.
On details that told a story.
And materials that held up — in real life, not just renders.
Here’s what great designers do differently:
They choose systems, not just surfaces
They balance beauty with maintenance
They think about the full lifecycle of a fit-out — from install to demolition
I started Critical. and made Cleanstone for great designers. Because it's
It’s a 100% recycled, circular panel that’s made to be:
Solid all the way through
Water-resistant
Refinishable
Low-carbon
And fully recyclable at end of life
If you’re working on your next project, here’s a challenge:
Pick materials that make your design look good now - and still make sense in 5 years.
Legacy trumps landfill anyday e te whānau!
I help designers create beautiful space while saving our planet using Cleanstone. If your a designer working on a sustianable fit out, I'dl ove to help. DM me or visit criticaldesign.nz
#architecture #interiordesign #sustainabledesign #circulardesign #fitoutdesign #lowcarbonmaterials #aotearoadesign #retaildesign #hospitalitydesign #materialinnovation #designforimpact #greenbuilding #specifysustainable