‍Established in 1997 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Frame is a global platform for all professional members of and stakeholders in the spatial design industry. How have you been able to grow this community and audience to what it is now and how does Frame differentiate itself from other design platforms?

Frame’s legacy means that many of our community members have been with us for years. Our history is in print, but we are driving the brand towards a digital- first future, growing our community along with that by opening up to new and different audiences. Our vision is to evolve Frame into a platform that serves the entire scope of stakeholders within the spatial design industry, across all sectors, and empowering them with the inspiration they need for their next project, tools for learning and upskilling, as well as access to each other for connection and collaboration.

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You publish bi-monthly future-facing print publications that comprehensively guide your audience through what is driving the spatial design industry today. What kind of innovations and insights are you looking for from your contributors and how do you decide on who to showcase throughout your platforms?

We look for innovative projects that push the boundaries of spatial design as we know it. Whether it’s in work, hospitality, living, retail, shows or institutional design, we’re on the lookout for the people and projects that drive the industry forward by responding to today’s challenges, while keeping their eyes on the future. It could be an innovative pop- up store utilising sustainable materials and design practices, or a thought-leading studio hypothesising the future of housing. It’s in Frame’s DNA to always be exploring the next space, and our platform exists to amplify the thinkers and makers behind these creations.

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Frame believes that “spatial excellence results from visionary clients working with talented designers and the best makers”. Therefore, you aim to connect these stakeholders with each other, inspire and educate them. What kind of activities and initiatives are Frame organising for your community and is there anything exciting in the works?

We are always working to bring these three key stakeholders together through our content, events and digital strategy. Our newly redesigned website includes a comprehensive taxonomy of content that is searchable via typology, location, designer, year of build, brand, colour and material. We’ve also introduced a brand-new insights section focusing on the business of design offered through expert intelligence, market data and analysis. Behind the scenes, we are developing a soon-to-be launched membership programme, providing our members with exclusive, professional and high-value editorial content such as masterclasses, workshops, market insights and analysis, as well as opportunities to connect with each other in the digital sphere and in-person at our events.

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Coliving Insights and our partners are all about helping consolidate the coliving sector and showcasing best practices and benchmarks to push the industry towards innovation and impact. That said, we understand the importance of sustainable, future-facing and innovative design to ensure that coliving spaces are impact-driven and support the wellbeing of generations to come. How do you see the role of Frame within the coliving sector and how are you supporting these innovations yourselves?

Coliving is undeniably a burgeoning market segment with opportunities for exponential growth. It clearly addresses many of the current issues faced by younger generations today, meanwhile providing a solution to the urban living crisis, making city living more affordable. Coliving intelligently responds to the loneliness epidemic through hosting a community and network of people, ensuring that residents feel part of a ready-made neighbourhood. For today’s sustainably conscious youth, for whom owning less stuff is more important than the traditional material symbols of success, it’s a great way to share resources and foster more collaborative communities. At Frame, we want to highlight these projects and drivers by participating in the discourse of the future of this sector through our content and events.

“Scaleable, economical, on-demand and site-specific”: this is how the Frame Awards jury described coliving complex Flatmates, by furniture and architectural design studio Cutwork, who walked home with last year’s Innovation Award just before the pandemic hit this part of the world. This project really showcases the impact that sustainable manufacturing techniques can have on the housing economy, especially when it comes to creating key moments of sociability. It’s both affordable and scalable, and a project that Frame is particularly fond of.

Coliving is a subcategory of its own within the spatial design segment for the Frame Awards. Projects can be submitted via our website throughout the entire year with the annual awards ceremony taking place in October, revealing the ultimate winners from each category. We aim to set the standard in the spatial design industry and bring the most innovative projects to the forefront by celebrating these creations and the people behind them.

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Lastly, what do you see as the benefits of partnering with Coliving Insights and what are you looking forward to in the coliving sector? What do you think is needed within the coliving sector to ensure its sustainable growth and consolidation in the next few years / decades?

Coliving Insights is fast becoming the leading voice in the coliving industry, and we are glad to be partnering to bring mutual benefits to both our communities. We invite the stakeholders and audience members of Coliving Insights to visit, read and become part of the broader Frame community, which consists of stakeholders not only within the living sector, but in retail, hospitality, work, shows and institutions too.

We want to encourage co-creation and collaboration within our community and feel there is ample opportunity for interesting meetings, discussions and new ideas to generate from this partnership.

We believe that coliving will certainly evolve, but for me personally, the most exciting part of that lies in the potential within the communities that occupy these spaces.

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