Celebrating 25 years of I2 design
Interface, a global leader in flooring solutions and sustainability, has officially launched two new carpet tile collections: Material Impressions™ and Open Road™. These new releases expand the company’s innovative i2™ portfolio, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and marks the introduction of a design concept that reshaped the flooring industry.
Rooted in nature-inspired thinking, the i2 portfolio includes nearly 50 carpet tile styles that prioritize similarity over uniformity. These styles are designed to blend rather than match exactly, offering flexibility and ease of maintenance. The random design approach eliminates dye lot matching issues, allowing tiles to be replaced at any time without visible differences. This creates a practical, high-performing and visually dynamic solution for commercial spaces including workplaces and education environments.
“Twenty-five years ago we began to use nature as our guide to reimagine carpet tile design, inspired by Janine Benyus and her 1997 book Biomimicry,” says David Oakey, founder of David Oakey Designs and exclusive product designer for Interface. “In nature nothing is exactly the same. As we studied the forest floor, we noticed similarities in color and texture but no identical elements. This observation completely changed the way flooring design was approached at the time which focused on patterns and precision.
“In 2000 we introduced our first i2 product Entropy® designed to be installed randomly,” Oakey continues. “It featured a large pattern repeat and subtle differences in every tile. Since then we have continued to expand the portfolio with new patterns that embrace variation and timeless design. Our customers continue to appreciate the intent and aesthetics behind i2.”
Material Impressions™: Designed for Impact
Material Impressions offers three coordinated styles ranging from strong angular geometry to soft diffused patterns. Influenced by ombre effects and gentle shifts in color across materials this collection balances scale and texture to create a unique floor with every installation. Staying true to the i2 philosophy each tile features subtle variation offering endless options for modular design across today’s commercial environments.
Open Road™: Modular Freedom
Open Road is crafted for adaptability with two distinct design perspectives. One captures the organic movement of granite seams while the other blends texture and contrast through a more geometric lens. As part of Interface’s Open platform this collection supports creative freedom and performance at a smart price point. Its flowing patterns reflect nature’s randomness providing limitless flooring combinations that work in any space.
“Material Impressions and Open Road are our latest interpretations of i2. Both are modular to the core and offer high-performance solutions that align with the design needs of today’s commercial interiors,” says Kelly Simcox Head of Global Design at Interface. “Nature is one of our greatest design inspirations. With i2 we focused on variation through similarity rather than uniformity. This approach continues to push the limits of what modular flooring can achieve offering customers maximum flexibility and long-term adaptability.”
Each collection is now available in New Zealand. To learn more, visit www.interface.com
