What are some effective ways to incorporate art into a commercial space?

1 Identify your purpose and vision

Before you start looking for art pieces, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your design. What is the purpose of your space? What message do you want to convey? What emotions do you want to evoke? How do you want people to interact with your space? These questions will help you define your vision and guide your selection of art. For example, if you are designing a cozy cafe, you might want to choose art that creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, such as paintings of landscapes, flowers, or animals. If you are designing a modern office, you might want to choose art that reflects your brand identity, values, and culture, such as abstract sculptures, geometric patterns, or typography.

2 Choose the right type and style of art

Once you have your vision, you need to consider the type and style of art that best suits your space. There are many types of art, such as paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, murals, installations, and digital art. Each type has its own characteristics, advantages, and challenges. For example, paintings and drawings are versatile and easy to hang, but they might fade or get damaged over time. Sculptures and installations are eye-catching and immersive, but they might take up a lot of space and require special maintenance. Digital art is dynamic and interactive, but it might need electricity and technical support. You also need to consider the style of art, such as realistic, abstract, minimalist, or expressive. The style of art should match the style of your space, and create a harmonious and balanced look.

3 Consider the scale and placement of art

Another important factor to consider is the scale and placement of art in your space. You need to make sure that the art pieces are proportional to the size of your space, and that they do not overwhelm or underwhelm the viewers. You also need to make sure that the art pieces are placed in strategic locations, where they can be seen and appreciated by your target audience. For example, if you are designing a lobby, you might want to place a large and impressive art piece in the center or behind the reception desk, to create a focal point and a strong impression. If you are designing a hallway, you might want to place smaller and more subtle art pieces along the walls, to create a sense of movement and continuity.

4 Collaborate with artists and other stakeholders

One of the best ways to incorporate art into a commercial space is to collaborate with artists and other stakeholders, such as clients, customers, employees, or suppliers. By collaborating with artists, you can benefit from their creativity, expertise, and vision, and create art pieces that are original, meaningful, and relevant to your space. You can also involve other stakeholders in the process, by asking for their feedback, preferences, or ideas, and creating art pieces that reflect their needs, values, and interests. For example, if you are designing a restaurant, you might collaborate with a local artist who specializes in food photography, and create art pieces that showcase the dishes, ingredients, and culture of your cuisine. You might also ask your customers to share their favorite photos or stories related to your restaurant, and create art pieces that celebrate your community.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?