December 2008 / Above & Beyond


Covering over 100 design events a year and currently housing over 30,400 images in 1,130 reports keep 142 countries and 5,002 cities in the know! Are you reading Trendease.com?

In this edition of Trendease we continue to go above and beyond the trends to not only bring our readers insights into the future of design, but to introduce avant-garde products, forward-thinking companies, insightful design events, and innovative new talent. Get inspired with the December edition!

We are proud to announce the launch of our new on-line TV show Trendease DesignVision! This cutting-edge design show will air in less than one week! Show us what you’ve got! For editorial consideration please email editorial@trendease.com with your latest original designs.

Upcoming Trendease Market Edge PowWows:
- Jan. 15, 2009: Heimtextil, Hall 3.1-Frankfurt, Germany
- Jan. 16, 2009: Heimtextil, Forum 0 Theater-Frankfurt, Germany
- Feb. 4+5, 2009: Australian Intl. Furniture Fair-Sydney, AU
- Feb. 9, 2009: Wallcoverings Assoc. Annual Convention-FL, US

REPORTING TO INSPIRE,
Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

Download our informative tri-fold brochure as a PDF file here.

Features and Articles

Jennifer's December Diaries

Paris — This selection of images highlights what the Trendease Team found to be interesting for our readers at the Equip’Hôtel exhibition in Paris. The show focuses on the sectors of tableware, design, kitchen equipment and material, furnishings, lights, bathroom, spa, building layout & fittings, and technologies. Also within this gallery, Jennifer discusses the new edition and the art of trendscendence, where not only is Trendease a trend resource; it is an essential design and business tool to help you stay on top of the world of design!

Textile merchandized as apparel

Fashionable Fabrics

Multiple European Cities — Merchandising is all about getting the client or customer to visualize himself or herself as concretely as possible with the product on sale. Therefore, merchandising textiles has found a way to make the product one step closer to the buyer. In this gallery we show you some beautiful textiles, and even more so, the interesting new way of presenting them.

'Meshmerize' shelving can be expanded and maintains its sturdiness with curved cross joints

Case Studies & Stories

Multiple European Cities — “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. You see?” said Alice when she tumbled through the looking-glass. We took a page out of Lewis Carroll for the inspiration behind this gallery of weird and wonderful case goods, of which we are seeing more and more. Let’s follow these designers through the rabbit hole to a new world of inspiration.

Designs by You Xi from China

Togetherness

Worldwide — In a world where we are increasingly mobile and connected, we have become less “connected” in another sense of the word. Designers are encouraging a more healthy type of social networking, and it happens around their furnishings. Modular, magnetic, and Siamese, are all descriptions of how people are being pulled together with the newest lines of furnishings. The designs featured in this gallery cannot help but promote a little togetherness!

What Is the Hotel of 2020?

Paris — Almost nine years in already, it’s about time someone designed a hotel for this brave new millennium of ours. No, it is not likely that we’ll be rounding the corner at State and Main in some gargantuan hovercar 11 years from now, but rather in a compact that doesn’t damage the ecosystem and is surprisingly roomy. So why wouldn’t our hotels be that way too? Being green is a global interest, is it not?

Growing Rapidly

Worldwide — Technology is the operative word here, since bit by bit, improvements therein will completely revolutionize the way we create, produce, and use furniture. Sooner or later, innovations in materials and the production process could conceivably have us “printing” our own furniture at home, much the way we print documents. Rapid Manufacturing is capturing motion, producing furniture quicker and making it more comfortable.

Mini by Mini-Couture, change the exterior of your mini as often as you like!

The Transportation of Tomorrow

Worldwide — The battle for the future of transport is here, and it is personal. From conventional to conceptual, the Trendease Team has put together a gallery that will make you go ‘vrroooom,’ ‘weeee,’ and certainly ‘wow!’ Cars, bikes, and some other, unusual ways of getting around can be found here. Good design along with technology will ensure that there are as many different ways to move around as there are people.

Sober Energy

The Dawn of a New Decade

Paris — The dawn of a new decade is here. Summer leather trends for 2010 are full of color and texture when looking at the forecasts presented by Le Cuir à Paris. Subscribers are invited to a sneak peak of the four trends and colors to be showcased at the next exhibition to be held in February 2009. Home, apparel, accessory, and automobile professionals take note!

Designer Spotlight: Aaron Foster

Los Angeles — This month’s spotlight shines on a man dear to many American’s hearts. A former host on HGTV, Aaron Foster now inspires the world with his creative license plate art and furnishings. He has brushed shoulders with President Clinton and has sold his work to Luke Wilson, Dennis Quaid and Stephen Colbert, and this December Foster is celebrating the grand opening to his first gallery.

New Talent: Table Toppers

Eindhoven — Dining is very important time of day. Food sustains us, keeps us healthy, and provides an occasion to gather with loved ones. Religious and cultural merriments can be enhanced with new sensitive designs. Shapes and forms encourage interactivity and customization, and decorative elements add the final touch. See some of the new talents the Trendease Team discovered during a visit to the Netherlands.

EcoChic: A New Ally

Worldwide — We take organic design to a whole new level in this issue’s EcoChic column. Bringing on board the army of cellulose and photosynthesis is a sure way to help bring about a sustainable environment. The challenge for designers is not whether, but how to incorporate plants into our everyday life. Here are some ideas to help plant the seed.

Pauline Androlus (look closely! platic forks!)

NEWSLETTER #247

Paris — At a recent event in Paris the Trendease Team experienced the most innovative Christmas trees yet! And we are not talking pine needles, but some amazing materials such as layered textiles, sparkling paper, sensuous sheers, plastic forks (yes!), leather, pierced aluminum, and even more fascinating mediums. Subscribers can read more about the event and see 45 images of these dazzling “trees” within.

NEWSLETTER #248

Multiple European Cities — Today’s photo gallery is filled with inspiration below your feet. Soft floor coverings are bright, bold, and taking on new forms from 3D knit flowers to integrated bedding, seating and cultural meaning. Decorative handicrafts have become trendy. In a global world where some precious skills are fading, this is a brilliant way to keep handicrafts alive. Learn more within…

NEWSLETTER #249

Paris — The Trendease Team continues to keep you on top of the trend happenings at various events around the world! In today’s gallery we share with you the inspirational themes under the umbrella of ‘Antidotes’ that will be showcased to design professionals at the next edition of Maison&Objet. Learn about next season’s tendencies before the doors to the exposition are even open! Also discover the new Design and Governance initiative started by Design Den Haag.