Agnès Guiu, senior aircraft interior designer, shares all about her New York State of Mind aircraft concept, as well as new cabin technologies and materials on her radar.
Can you share a recent design solution?
It’s a full-cabin concept suitable for both Airbus and Boeing types called ‘New York State of Mind’. The idea is to show that space is the ultimate luxury on board. Having a large, almost empty room, does not mean losing space, but gaining freedom.
The main lounge has two large half-moon facing sofas with leather side ottomans. There is a full-height sidewall TV screen on one side and acoustic velvet curtains on the other to give a feeling of intimacy and enhance the cabin height. There are contemporary floor lamps and a cosy corner behind dark smoke grey Plexi/Lexan partition at the back, plus fixed but easily removable plants.
I tried to make the bedroom as big as possible. This is a personal place where I want my client to relax, sleep, enjoy a nice warm shower in the open washroom behind the bed, perhaps do a little exercise or yoga, and work in peace.
Finally the private lounge is not so private, but a social area, a working place or a dining area with a large hi-lo coffee table. Again, extra-large screens on both sides open the cabin to the sky, present a landscape, or are used for conference calls.
What developments interest you?
In terms of technological developments, I would definitely say Rosen Aviation’s extraordinary cabin technologies. With their OLED displays, digital windows, holographic controls, skylight smart projectors, even smart cupholders, Rosen Aviation is opening a new exciting horizon to all aircraft interior designers. TGO also proposes some incredible smart sensors for sensitive control systems.
Concerning materials, I like the natural soft texture of vicuna and alpaca, a subtle glimpse of beautiful art and craft fabrics (Navajo blankets, African raffia fabric or Indonesian batik on pillows), slightly grainy Havana leather, beautiful Brazilian marble, sanded wood… a certain idea of luxury! I decorated a master bedroom on a large private aircraft years ago with walls upholstered with sage green Loro Piana baby cashmere combined with alabaster. It was really unusual, beautiful and warm.
What trends will shape jet interiors in the year ahead?
Smart fabrics, integrated sensors, holograms, li-fi and digital equipment will reshape business jet interiors, making inflight life so much easier.
Do you have design ideas for or inspired by eVTOLs?
My dream is to imagine the interior design of a spaceship to Mars, so drawing an eVTOL is something I’d love to do!
This interview was conducted by Izzy Kington and first published in the March/April 2025 edition of Business Jet Interiors International as part of the Design Forum feature.
