
Spacekit’s signature product is a fully customizable, modular system featuring panels with graphic designs that can be configured in multiple ways to transform plain walls — created by creatives.
When the pandemic arrived, ATOMIC, an event design and production company, saw their business plummet overnight. They went from booking projects for the Who and Nike, to a complete standstill. “We were doing 4,000 shows a year around the globe. When COVID hit, that number literally went to zero,” said Rob Barber, vice president of modular systems and R&D divisions at Spacekit.

Like most designers, they had to pivot quickly in order to survive. They knew that they could rely on their skills to fill a niche even in a time of uncertainty, because they were used to bringing the most fantastic — and often complex — visions to life. “Our clients ask us to come up with elements that have never existed, whether it is a giant giraffe or a massive stage. A lot of these things have never been designed or built before,” noted Barber. “We knew that we could take advantage of the muscle memory that we have from doing live events and create a new product.”
The Spacekit system was developed after endless rounds of prototyping sessions via Zoom, and plenty of cardboard and masking tape. The panels, made from upcycled rice hulls, snap into high-density polyethylene frames. Consumers can then place the pieces anywhere on the wall to fashion their own art installations, with minimal effort.

Barber explained that they were eager to introduce the system, and went the direct-to-consumer route first because of the renewed interest in all things home. “The residential industry was booming. People were buying all sorts of furniture and renovating in the middle of the pandemic. It just made sense for us to sell directly to consumers first, and really meet their needs.”
The target audience readily embraced Spacekit. They were enthusiastic about participating in the creative process and enhancing their spaces. Barber said that ensuring a tool was available to assist people was key to building momentum, and ultimately increasing sales. “We spent a lot of time setting up a configurator on the website, that was a big push for us. It was designed so that our customers can play a bit by moving color or designs around. The hands-on experience is important.”

As the team hit their stride after the initial launch in November 2020, it was only a matter of time before they explored the commercial market, a seamless progression. “We had every expectation that we would transition, so that we could also serve industry professionals. And it feels natural because we are designers working with designers. We share the same language,” Barber added.
When Barber went to NeoCon five years ago, he had a light-bulb moment as he walked the show floor. His initial thought was that it could all be simplified. “The displays and booths involve so much skilled labor, and I realized that modularity truly does have staying power in the commercial and architectural worlds, where we are so used to having something that either requires a lot of steps or professionals to install it.”

The commercial version of the Spacekit system features a keyhole frame and acoustic options. An individual can easily slide a panel in or out of the frame to create new styles, while blending the form and function required in today’s offices. “There are cleaner edges, and it is a little bit more polished for corporate environments, with the added benefit of sound-dampening properties,” Barber said.


Indeed, the A&D community prefers the modern geometric designs and tone-on-tone color combinations, which comes as no surprise to Barber. He correctly intuited that this sector would respond to a different aesthetic. “This is an audience with typically bigger budgets and they are expecting more. They want a buttoned up, professional look. I think that’s certainly where we are heading, and you’ll see this as we release our next products in the commercial lineup.”

Barber said the system is ideal in lobbies and restaurants, where any employee can swap out panels to update the décor each season, without the need for an expensive contractor to complete the job. He also sees it being utilized in typically stark clinics. “Medical facilities are focusing on the total experience. Ten years ago everything was sterile, and now we are seeing a shift. Artwork and color are no longer an afterthought.”
Homeowners and architects alike find that Spacekit makes decorating fun again, and for Barber, that was their vision since the company’s inception. “We designed the system to have the least amount of parts necessary, so that it is intuitive and easy to use.”