Yellow Goat Design is known for lighting, screens, and sculptural designs for a range of markets, from hospitality to retail. As architects look to refresh office interiors, there is a renewed interest in bold pieces that double as art and reflect company culture. “Everything that we offer is handcrafted and bespoke. And although we create collections, I find that they are a source of inspiration for our clients, and they really want a unique piece that represents their brand and their aesthetic,” said Nicola Casale, senior vice president, Yellow Goat Design.
The process of making a custom fixture can be a daunting one for specifiers who do not have experience with lighting, yet the Yellow Goat Design team members boast impressive credentials. Design development associates are certified interior designers who have worked at top engineering, design, and architecture firms, while each product designer has trained on the factory floor for at least six months. It is a highly collaborative process that allows the client to receive personal attention, exchanging ideas with the same staff from prototype phase to installation.
Casale explained that because customers are paired with knowledgeable designers, they are able to make a finished product that is more closely aligned with their vision, utilizing the best materials and techniques available. “A design background is a requirement to work at the company. Our clients are talking to people that have been in their seat and understand how to create these custom pieces in a seamless way,” she noted.
While an interior designer can visualize how a finished interior will look, partnering with Yellow Goat Design provides a fresh perspective that is often needed after an extended time period spent reviewing every detail. Looking at more than furniture or accessories also allows a concept to unfold in an unexpected way that might otherwise have been limited by following one plan. “Our clients like for us to do the heavy design lifting, they are calling on us for our expertise,” Casale said. “They have been working on a project for months and months, creating concept boards. And with us, they can see it all from a different lens, and there’s an opportunity to create something that really drives the story.”
Casale noted that we can expect to see the return of dramatic large-scale fixtures that make an impact in corporate settings, especially as companies develop unique environments that employees want to come back to. “A bigger fixture becomes the ‘wow’ moment, a conversation piece that is key and the rest of the design works around. That’s the beauty of custom, you can make a lot of the other decisions later in the process because it all comes back to the central piece.”
With a roster of notable clients like Google, Uber, and Sephora, Yellow Goat Design has to deliver more than a one-of-a-kind installation, they also have to capture the essence of a company’s ethos, particularly when they are undergoing a brand overhaul and updating everything from signage to logo. Fact-finding includes learning about the organization, not just evaluating their spaces to get a complete picture. “We do a lot of research on their values, and read their mission statement at the beginning of a project,” Casale explained. “We try to weave all of those elements into a piece that is abstract but still creates an emotional charge.”
As workplaces continue to borrow from hospitality design, lighting takes center stage in the office, providing illumination and drawing attention to key areas where people interact throughout a building. “You’ll usually see a large, momentous piece in the lobby. It sets the stage and welcomes employees in,” Casale said. “And we have just finished lighting for clients in Silicon Valley on the larger tech campuses. They have amazing cafés, and they have become important places to congregate. There’s an opportunity to showcase some interesting custom fixtures in those spaces.”
Every piece is fabricated at the company’s Toronto facility, and Casale noted that there has been a shift away from minimalist lighting prevalent during the pandemic to a desire for twisting forms. “In the workplace, we are seeing maximalism and eclectic design. A lot of these offices have clean lines with glass and steel, so incorporating that organic, soft curvature and round shapes plays off of modern architectural elements.
Materials run the gamut from acrylic to reflective metals, and with digital printing technology, watercolor and ombré effects are achieved with a palette of rich hues. Various combinations are paired to bring visual and tactile interest to office interiors—with lighting as a focal point. “A fixture is not just suspended in a space, it is so much more than that. It is artistic but it is also multifunctional. It captures a glow and creates a sensory experience,” Casale added.
