Interface Unveils Nature-Inspired Flooring Collections at Chicago Design Week
Interface, Inc., a global leader in commercial flooring solutions and sustainable design innovation, has introduced two new flooring collections, Forest Within™ and Cut & Form™, at Chicago Design Week. The latest product launches reflect the company’s continued commitment to biophilic design principles, transforming commercial interiors into immersive environments that foster stronger connections between people and nature.
The new collections were unveiled as part of a comprehensive redesign of Interface’s Chicago showroom, where visitors are invited to experience firsthand how flooring, color, texture, pattern, and material selection can work together to create dynamic, sensory-rich environments. Alongside these new carpet tile collections, Interface is also showcasing its latest noraplan® and norament® innovations through its norament™ and noravant™ rubber flooring offerings, emphasizing performance, design flexibility, and sustainability in PVC-free flooring solutions.
The showroom experience was carefully developed to demonstrate how thoughtful design can influence the way people interact with spaces. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, Interface has created an environment that encourages visitors to engage with the emotional and sensory dimensions of design. Through strategic use of color, pattern, and texture, the showroom illustrates how commercial interiors can become more inviting, inspiring, and connected to the natural world.
A key feature of the redesigned space is its elevated color palette, which balances warmth and lightness with bold accents and rich textures. Contrasting tones and carefully placed color-blocking elements create visual interest while introducing moments of surprise throughout the showroom. These design choices help guide movement and encourage exploration, reinforcing the immersive nature of the experience.
Pattern and texture also play an important role in shaping the environment. Expressive flooring designs, coordinated materials, and carefully considered forms work together to tell a cohesive story that unfolds as visitors move through the space. The flooring itself serves as a central design element, showcasing Interface’s latest product innovations while demonstrating their practical applications in modern commercial settings.
The showroom highlights the company’s broader sustainability strategy as well. Visitors are introduced to Interface’s approach to circularity, which focuses on reducing waste, using more sustainable materials, and supporting product renewal programs that extend the life cycle of flooring products. These initiatives align with the company’s long-standing environmental goals and its commitment to lowering the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Kelly Simcox, Head of Global Design at Interface, explained that the showroom was designed to create memorable and unexpected experiences that go beyond traditional product displays. According to Simcox, effective design is not only about appearance or performance but also about how products are manufactured and the broader impact they have on people and the environment.
She noted that the new collections demonstrate how materials, color, and pattern can work together to create stronger emotional connections to nature while supporting practical considerations such as performance requirements, budget efficiency, and sustainability objectives.
Among the featured launches, Forest Within stands out as a collection deeply rooted in biophilic design principles. Created by renowned designer David Oakey, the collection draws inspiration from the textures, colors, and patterns found in forest environments, particularly birch trees and seasonal landscapes.
The collection seeks to capture the essence of nature through flooring designs that feel organic, dynamic, and visually engaging. Rather than simply replicating natural imagery, Forest Within translates natural elements into sophisticated design patterns that can be integrated into a wide range of commercial environments.
The collection includes four distinct carpet tile products, each designed to evoke different moods and experiences while maintaining a connection to the natural world.
First Light™ serves as the foundation of the collection. Inspired by fractal patterns commonly found in nature, it features subtle bark-like textures and a calming neutral color palette. The design creates a sense of balance and tranquility, making it suitable for environments where comfort and focus are important.
Shifting Seasons™ introduces a more dynamic visual language by incorporating a combination of neutral and vibrant colors inspired by seasonal transitions. The collection reflects the changing character of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, creating flooring designs that feel energetic and constantly evolving.
Spruce It Up™ brings a playful yet refined character to interior spaces. Featuring rich colors and patterns inspired by the branching structures found in tree canopies, the design balances visual interest with sophistication. It offers designers an opportunity to introduce personality and creativity into commercial environments without sacrificing elegance.
Quiet Grove™ completes the collection with a more structured and sculptural aesthetic. Its bark-inspired patterns feature precise detailing and carefully articulated textures that create a confident and sophisticated appearance. The design is intended to bring the calm strength of forest landscapes into interior environments while supporting a refined architectural vision.
David Oakey, founder of David Oakey Designs and Interface’s exclusive product designer, emphasized the evolving role of biophilic design in contemporary commercial interiors. According to Oakey, the concept has moved beyond simply incorporating natural elements into spaces. Today’s designers are increasingly focused on creating environments that influence how people feel, experience, and interact with their surroundings.
He explained that factors such as shifting light conditions, tactile materials, organic patterns, and immersive sensory experiences have become central to the next generation of biophilic design. Forest Within was developed with these ideas in mind, offering designers a more expressive and design-forward approach to connecting interior environments with nature.
In addition to Forest Within, Interface’s new Cut & Form™ collection expands the company’s portfolio of innovative flooring solutions by offering additional opportunities for customization, visual storytelling, and creative expression. Together, the two collections provide architects and designers with versatile tools for shaping distinctive interior environments.
The introduction of these products at Chicago Design Week highlights Interface’s continued leadership in combining sustainability, performance, and design innovation. By integrating biophilic principles with modern flooring technology, the company is helping designers create spaces that not only perform well but also enhance well-being, foster creativity, and strengthen connections between people and the natural world.
As workplace, hospitality, healthcare, education, and public environments continue to evolve, demand for experiential and nature-inspired design solutions is expected to grow. Through collections such as Forest Within and Cut & Form, Interface is positioning itself at the forefront of this trend, providing innovative flooring solutions that support both human experience and environmental responsibility.
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