November 2017 / Beyond the Anthropocene


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.

The Anthropocene is a term for the current geological age where man has had an impact on the planet. Mankind has acknowledged that we are actively shaping the future of the planet. It is clear to see that this is a growing trend for concern within the creative community; designers and like-minded companies are taking action into their own hands. This edition looks at our changing relationship with fur, plastic, clay, glass, fibers, and food. Textiles, furniture, tabletop, paper, lighting, wallcoverings are all being re-envisioned to take the future of our planet into consideration while still maintaining a design aesthetic. Get inspired with the November edition!

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REPORTING TO INSPIRE,
Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

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Features and Articles

Jennifer's November Notes

Eindhoven — After sifting through all of our recent research, the Trendease Team believes that designing for a circular economy is more than a trend, it is a necessity. Some are quicker to the game than others. Just because it is produced in a novel manner or it is not made from a commonly accepted material does not mean that a product is inferior or cannot have a pleasing design aesthetic. Learn more inside.

The High-end Look of a Plastic Bottle

London — Numerous designers and companies have their hearts in the right place when it comes to wanting to produce products made from waste, but more often than not the end result is aesthetically not equivalent to alternatives on the market. It is sad, but true. Yet there is hope! Can it be?!?! These textiles are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and they look and even feel great. Ethical and luxurious.

Furniture, Tiles, and Mobile Manufacturing

London / Berlin — We’ve said it before and we will say it again, trash can be beautiful. Look at the upholstery, chairs, tables, and glasses here within; could you tell that what you are looking at is an alternative to landfill? At the hands of clever and ambitious people these production methods are scalable and know no borders. Design that feels good and looks good – who could argue with that?

Yesterday's Eggshell becomes Tomorrow's ____

Worldwide — How do you dispose of your orange peels, avocado skin, or eggshells after preparing your meal? If we are super citizens we put the remnants in the compost bin, but some of us city dwellers might not have local governments that support such environmental behavior. Lucky for the planet, there are creatives out there who are contemplating what to do with our food waste. The results are eye-opening.

Material Innovation and Emotional Design

Worldwide — Allow the Trendease Team to share with you why 2017 Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven was extra special in terms of recycling, material innovation, and emotional design. The most recent advances prove that it is possible to turn waste material such as plastic, clay, and even fungus into valuable and creative tabletop items. It is a glorious thing, because not only does it help our planet in tremendous ways, it enhances our material selection for product development.

Plastic as a Raw Material

Worldwide — Naturally when we think about plastic we think un-natural and bad, right? Trendease was fortunate to meet with, and learn about, a variety of designers and companies who have a new and very different approach to our relationship with plastic. This is just the tip of the iceberg for plastic recycling and upcycling, paving the way to a more feasible circular economy.

The Main Ingredient is Milk

Hannover — For 2.5 years Trendease has been talking about milk as a main ingredient to the newest range of sustainable textiles. And it just keeps getting better. The possibilities of processing the milk proteins have been taken even further to develop an entire new assortment of organic plastic and textile blends. From fashion knits to toilet paper to baby teething rings, this is something you must see to believe.

Taking Off from the Launch Pad

Worldwide — The 2017 edition of the Launch Pad featured such high-caliber talent that the seasoned judges had a very difficult time choosing only three finalists for the Blue Drop Award. The group had aptitudes ranging from weaving, material innovation, surface pattern design, dyeing, textile design, furniture design, and even augmented reality layered over wallpaper. Meet all of the participants here.

NEWSLETTER #593 - Material Futures

London — The ‘Future Matters: Exploring Our Sustainable Materiality’ evening at Central Saint Martins kicked off with Kieren Jones highlighting work that has resulted from the program that blends craft, science, and technology in the social, environmental, technological, and political landscapes. Subscribers can see the projects mentioned here and access contact details of all of the researchers.

NEWSLETTER #594 - Holiday House(s)

London — Creatives coming together to make a positive impact; these are stories we love to share. This week’s newsletter is about our visit to the inaugural Holiday House London, the first of its kind after 10 successful years of Holiday House NYC, an annual interior design show house created to raise funds for the prevention and cure of breast cancer.