2023 Design Trend: Nature + Nurture

Decor that takes its cue from the great outdoors and the innovative use of natural materials like cornstarch and mushrooms make this design trend perfect for our conservation- and environment- attuned age.

By: Felicia Feaster

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Photo By: RW Guild

Photo By: Hidden Gem

Photo By: Cheyenne Concepcion

Photo By: Zachary A.

Photo By: Thredup

Nature + Nurture: A New Approach to the Natural World

Nature and its power to heal and unite is at the heart of the Nature + Nurture design trend. Universal access to nature has become a growing concern among city planners, architects, activists and design and wellness leaders who recognize that access to quality green spaces is inadequate and unequal for some, especially people of color.

In addition, rather than simply paying lip service to sustainability, consumers are demanding brands be truly thoughtful in conserving and reusing resources. Consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated about greenwashing and sustainability claims. According to design manufacturer Human Scale: “Words like ‘recyclable’ and ‘compostable’ only really stand when you are providing instructions for consumers to carry out these actions successfully.”

Rather than fighting nature, consumers want to work with it. They're increasingly interested in probiotics and prebiotics and other organic and healthy alternatives to the COVID-era obsession with all things antibacterial. They want to embrace landscaping for a changing planet by adapting instead of domineering.

Circular design — meaning products are environmentally responsibly manufactured and can be composted or reused when the object’s life span is over — is a growing concern for designers and manufacturers in this trend.

Imperfection and Patina

Designers and consumers are embracing material irregularities that give a semblance of the human touch and use naturally produced colors often created with plant dyes. New dye types like bacterial dyes and fermentation are being used to combat a dyeing industry that wastes water, pollutes the environment and is harmful to industry workers.

Products with flaws look forged by natural processes of erosion and weather. Sleek, earthy and defined by a '70s sensibility, the trend for patina is exemplified by high-end designers Roman and Williams whose Soho design shop RW Guild highlights this trend.

“There is an understanding that things can get better with age, not just by staying inert. This is true with ceramics, leather, wood. Our finishes deliberately age — we call them 'living finishes,' since they are meant to change with time. There's a desire now for a certain kind of "worn in" feel," says Robin Standefer, designer and co-owner of RW Guild.

Authenticity

Consumers are craving a sense of purpose and a reality check in the design world, says Erin Napier of Home Town. "I think the social media world we've all been living in is a cold, monochrome, idealized place, and we're beginning to see a bristling against it. We want connection and warmth, imperfection and nostalgia. We're seeking something real in an artificial world, and it's manifesting in the way we design our homes."

Craft and Tech in Heritage Design

Acknowledging how European design has guided the aesthetic conversation, designers are calling out colonialism and foregrounding how indigenous craft and traditions can be woven into design, often when combined with high-tech manufacturing methods to bring those traditions into the 21st century. Latin American, African, Native American, Pacific Islander and other cultural forms of weaving, woodworking, caning and dying are radically remaking what we think of as good design.

Highlighting design from around the world is on offer at shops like Hidden Gem from sisters Tanya Willock and Temidra Willock-Morsch. But designers are also embracing the design needs of Asian-Americans, African-Americans and other groups that want to see their heritage reflected in design.

Heritage-Inspired Design

Filipino designer Cheyenne Concepcion has recontextualized the iconic Peacock Chair to reflect upon the chair's origins. Her design work examines “cultural memory” and migration. Rattan and cane have associations with colonialism that designers like Concepcion are commenting upon in their designs.

Radical Reuse and Circular Design

In probably the most important movement in design, new materials sourced from nature or leftovers from manufacturing are being reused in new ways. Mushroom packaging from IKEA, cornstarch, sawdust, mycelium, wood and textile scraps left over in manufacturing processes and naturally fallen trees are radically repurposing materials and creating compostable products as a result. Consumers are increasingly seeing value and even status in such obviously repurposed products and visible signs of mending and reuse. Telegraphing your concern for the environment will become increasingly valued. People are trusting brands more than governments because brands have been the innovators and the ones solving problems. People like brands that give back and are helping to create solutions to solve the climate and social problems.

In an effort to minimize the impact of humankind on the environment, progressive companies will begin to find new ways to tackle issues like waste, pollution and global warming. To that end, London-based design firm Pearson Lloyd and Bene have collaborated on work accessories made from discarded food packaging saved from the trash heap. These design-forward desk products are 3D printed from a cornstarch-derived bioplastic.

Shown here: Chicago-based designer Zachary A.'s cast resin outdoor chairs are meant to resemble crumpled pieces of paper and stand up to even the harshest outdoor weather conditions.

Garden Influencers

Instead of big names and big brands, consumers are increasingly turning to a diverse group of garden influencers for information and inspiration. Look for a new wave of plant fans including Hilton Carter, urban gardener Timothy Hammond (@bigcitygardener), Black Girls With Gardens, and Alexis Nikole (@blackforager), who creates delightful recipes and shares her vast knowledge of the edible plant bounty in both forest and town.

The Secondhand Revival

Secondhand furniture and clothing circumvent supply chain issues and provide the ultimate in reuse, meaning no manufacturing costs and no waste. Circular fashion is big at Gen Z favorites like Depop, and even Target is getting into the reuse swing by collaborating with the online thrift store thredUP to offer thrifted garments on their site. Traditional retail like London’s Selfridges are hosting vintage pop-ups, Levi’s Secondhand is the brand’s marketplace for selling vintage clothing and Gucci Vault is now offering repurposed vintage items for sale on their site.