Four Trends in Architectural Design

Pays to know what people are currently after. There are a lot of new trends taking place and you can encompass them within your own designs. Finding an architect that is familiar with these trends and that have embraced them in their own designs can help you dramatically to ensure you are satisfied with the ultimate design created for you.

 
Large Open Spaces

When you are looking at a new design, you want to take into consideration the amount of space that you have in a room or lobby. Large open spaces are highly desirable because it allows people to sit back and relax. Whether you are designing a home and you wish for a large living room or you are designing a business with a large lobby, consider the space that you can create both vertically and horizontally. Vaulted ceilings and rooms with a higher square footage can be achieved through your architectural designs.

Easy Access

The days of putting 42 inch upper cabinets in the kitchen are over. People want to obtain easier access to the things that are in their home and in their business. This is a trend that has become very popular and is seen around the globe. While some European companies have focused on easy access for years, many Americans are just realizing the importance of such designs - and they are being seen in more design magazines than ever before.

Convertible Space

It is impossible to know what you will need down the road. When you create an architectural design for yourself, think about how you can convert the space into another room down the line. For example, you may be able to create a unique design that allows you to split the space in half, creating two rooms if you need to do so at some point in the future.

Many hotels are using convertible space within their hotel rooms. This allows people in business to convert the hotel into more of a bedroom/office space when they are going to be spending more than a few days in town. Regardless of what your design is going to be used for, you can talk to an architect about having some kind of convertible space in place.

Eco-Friendly Materials

One architectural design trend that has been in place for several years now is the use of Eco-friendly materials. This is a trend that is not likely to go anywhere because people are becoming more aware of the environment and how they can make an impact. Sustainable and biodegradable materials can be used within your design, reducing the number of natural resources used.

Steel can be incorporated within the design, allowing you to use one of the most recycled products on the planet. You can also use a variety of other products that will last for decades, ensuring that you do not have to replace them frequently.

When you know the trends in architectural design, you can be sure your building is stunning and highly desirable by consumers and those who are looking to buy it in the future.

At Duane Bradshaw Architects, Houston every architectural design project begins with an idea, a concept. Whether we're designing a church, a home addition, a new parking garage or data center.

T.G.I. Friday's Marketing & Economic Trends

T.G.I. Friday's faces challenges every day. Certain factors from their general and specific environment pose threats to the company. There are many ethical issues surrounding the business that contribute to social responsibility. However, T.G.I. Friday's does not let these factors stop them from continuing to grow and thrive in an ever-changing economy.

Just like any other business, T.G.I. Friday's is affected by its general and specific environment. The general environment of a business is the economic, technological, sociocultural, and political trends that indirectly affect all organizations. T.G.I. Friday's economic trends are extreme. Their business runs in seasons, as seen in any other restaurant. The business struggles and income is low during the fall months, as trends are seen that customers eat at restaurants less frequently during these months. Technology is an extremely important factor in how T.G.I. Friday's runs. From the smallest use of technology when rewards customers sign up online, to the greater use of technology when servers use computers to ring in orders, to the most important use of technology when the accountant uses computers to do the business's accounting, technology absolutely runs the organization. When it comes to the sociocultural component, T.G.I. Friday's does not target one demographic. There is a wide variety of customers, employees, and managers which can be found within the organization's walls. The political trends that affect T.G.I. Friday's are ever-changing. Many different laws regulate the way the business is run, such as advertising laws, serve safe alcohol awareness laws, food safety regulations, and even employee policies.

The specific environment of a business is composed of factors such as customers, competitors, suppliers, industry regulations, and advocacy groups. Some would say that the customers run the business. Fact is, without customers a business would not survive because it would not make money. Competitors threaten T.G.I. Friday's every day when they develop new menu items that are similar to their menu items, and sometimes even at a cheaper price. Suppliers can also run a business, because if a company has no supplies, they cannot open for business. There is industry regulation that is in place to ensure that every T.G.I. Friday's is the same atmosphere and the customer gets the same experience no matter which location they go to. Advocacy groups threaten the business because they are constantly trying to influence the way the business is run as well as change their practices. These are just a few of the threats T.G.I. Friday's faces daily, however it is not uncommon for any business to face these threats and many more.
 T.G.I. Friday's has a social responsibility to increase its profits in an ethical way. However, behind closed doors there lie

certain unethical practices that could hinder the business from flourishing. As seen in the movie Waiting, many restaurant employees cut corners to make their jobs easier. One might call these types of employees "half-cheeked" workers. Nevertheless, T.G.I. Friday's has a social responsibility of making sure their customers receive the most superior experience every time they enter the restaurant. Not only is it morally corrupt to allow these shortcuts to take place, it is also illegal and disgusting. T.G.I. Friday's strives for a sanitary, healthy environment for every customer, every time.

T.G.I. Friday's is a staple not only in the American diet, but also in international diets. Although their main focus is to prevail in the United States of America, global forces affect how the company is managed, and where new restaurants are developed. Sixteen countries include a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant, and the business continues to grow. Needless to say, T.G.I. Friday's manages extremely well in the ever-increasing globalization of the economy.

T.G.I. Friday's brand has become bigger than the founders ever imagined in 1965 when the first restaurant opened. The business has blown the competition away, not letting factors like the general and specific environment, ethical issues, or globalization become a downfall to the company. Through a combination of franchise and corporate locations, T.G.I. Friday's has become one of the largest chain restaurants in the world. Not only is their food served within the restaurants, but recently their food has been produced and packaged to be sold in grocery store freezers. All Customers and employees, alike, agree that T.G.I. Friday's is an atmosphere that is fun and inviting and attraction.