July 2016 / Rethinking Ways to Design


Located throughout the world, the Trendease Team continues to deliver our subscribers around the globe must-know market information and inspiration straight to their computer screens.

In this issue there are copious examples of material innovation, smart resource management, eco-friendly alternatives, and material mimicry. Biotech and biofacture gain momentum in influencing the design community, while technological advances are undeniable. Fear not technophobes and those who like your feet firmly planted in the past. Crafts and traditional skills are still in need and knowledge management is a necessity in order to not lose the precious know-how of yesteryear. Get inspired with the July edition!

We attend over 100 design events a year on your behalf to bring you trend insights and design movements to help you maintain cutting-edge knowledge of the lifestyle and design markets. Currently we keep readers within 173 countries/territories in the know! Are you reading Trendease.com?

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REPORTING TO INSPIRE,
Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

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Features and Articles

Jennifer's July Jargon

Hägersten — Creativity is infinite; therefore, there is an abundance of potential when it comes to rethinking the way things are designed. And boy are there many creatives out there catalyzing some paradigm shifts! Learn about them here; stay in the know. In this gallery get the gist of the new edition and fall in love with a creative project that is ecologically friendly and has a social enterprise spin to it.

Missoni Does London

London — The influence of 20th century European art on the fashion and textile designs of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni is explored in the on-going exhibit at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London titled MISSONI ART COLOUR. Though September 4th visitors can see over 60 years of fashion combined with paintings by prominent 20th century European artists, and previously unseen textile studies and production. For those who cannot travel to London, experience a virtual visit here.

‘Sunset on Jupiter’ is Metamorphic rock from Goshogawara, Aomori, Japan

Are You Stoned?

Worldwide — Materials, materials, materials! Material knowledge and innovation are of key importance. It feels like material libraries on and offline are multiplying like gremlins. Supply and demand. Demand and supply. It is a bit like the chicken and the egg. In the end it is what is done with these materials that really take the cake. Trendease has recognized a pattern of late, designers creating rather tongue in cheek, yet sophisticated collections based on raw materials.

FOREST WOOL

See The Forest For The Trees

Multiple European Cities — The big picture is resource management. Given the state of the planet we have no choice but to utilize our resources better. The five designers featured here within are considering how to use materials wisely and they have unearthed new processes, materials, and dyes from nature that can be exploited in a feel good manner. The details can be found here, where dandelions dye silk, a sheep wool workshop encourages knowledge transfer, pine needles morph into wool, and pine trees produce soft leather.

Stage 1: Source, a lock of hair from McQueen's shocking apparel label

The Production of Human Leather

Milan — The idea of a leather jacket or upholstered sofa made out of your genetic information sounds pretty much like a bad science fiction plot. But take a look at the research here and you will see that this is not too far off. As we have mentioned in the virtual pages of Trendease before, biotechnology and biofacture in the field of design is growing at a surprising rate—even biodynamic colors and dyes are on the rise. It is strange to see so many Petri dishes on the design scene, really!

Does Fast Fashion Breed Slow Design?

Milan — In recent years with more accessible ‘fast fashion’ production techniques like digital printing and additive manufacturing there has been a movement towards reshoring, which is when domestic manufacturing is reintroduced to an area. The slow food movement was introduced as an alternative to fast food. Therefore there should be an alternative to fast fashion, right? Right. And Trendease found it in Milan. If fast fashion trends aid in reshoring, what will slow design do?

Material Pharmacy by Sarah Da Costa

Design Week Gets Techie

Barcelona — At Barcelona Design Week highlights were the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona and ELISAVA. The museum also hosts Barcelona's Institute of Culture, a laboratory that promotes better understanding and practical uses of design. Here we came across the ‘What’s Next?’ exhibit, which had numerous ideas that caught our attention. At ELISAVA we reviewed ‘Next Design Innovation’. As you will see from the examples shown here, technology plays an enormous roll in the new concepts being generated.

3D Print Gets Interesting

Worldwide — From renewing ancient Chinese designs to innovating car seats and family portraits, 3D printing has come a long way. Gone are the ho-hum days of designing with brittle polymers. Now it is about pushing the boundaries by adding new technologies and combining other materials, such as wood. Factor in that something can be designed in one location and then produced on the other side of the world with a simple file transfer, and you have a recipe for interesting outcomes.

Trame Virtuali

NEWSLETTER #552 - IT for Textiles

Rotterdam — We have reviewed thousands of final graduate projects this end of school year! Of these we have selected 267 to track and then bring the best of the best to you on and offline. In this newsletter we present to you some projects that leverage technology and revamp carpets, bedding, wallcoverings, and curtains. Is technology going to replace items and experiences in our lives? Subscribers can see the projects within and read up on this week’s tech-inspired tidbits.

The Marlon Collection has a dynamic and modern appearance with a hint of mid-century and is hand crafted in Germany.

NEWSLETTER #553 - Berlin Brings Inspiration

Berlin — This week’s newsletter is rooted in inspiration found during a recent trip to Berlin, Germany where we uncovered lighting, furniture, textiles and wallcoverings, accessories, eco-solutions, and traditional flare with a modern twist. Subscribers are welcome to view projects from 15 creative entities inside with nearly 50 supporting images.

Integral Collection

NEWSLETTER #554 - Modernizing Toile du Jouy

Worldwide — Summer is in full swing and it seems only appropriate to share this trend with you: the modernization of the toile de Jouy. No longer is it limited to bucolic scenes, images of the rural countryside, but toile can now appeal to a larger market branching beyond that of tradition to rappers and seamen. Subscribers can see how the French style has evolved to include Brooklyn.