Branch design trends: more color and softer shapes.

• Position: Marketing News - Brief Article

What's new in branch interior design? Two trends are dynamic color schemes and soft-form shapes, according to Kevin Blair, president of NewGround Resources Inc., a design/build and branding firm for financial institutions. The company's main office is in Manchester, Mo.

Both of these trends are derived from other types of retail chains, he notes.

A number of banks today are introducing atrium lobbies that fill the retail floor with sunlight, giving the customer a sense of space and relaxation, Blair says. Institutions are also using lots of floor-to-ceiling glass. Instead of banners, banks are placing plasma screens on the walls. The screens promote the banks' offerings and create a sense of "activity." "Financial institutions have realized they don't have to look like overgrown safe-deposit boxes to impress the customer," Blair notes.

Floors and carpets have bolder patterns than before. Many have introduced "teller pods," which are...