May 2011 / Origins of Design DNA


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 starting point of product creations is varied and vast. This month we trace some of those origins, the DNA of design. From Milan to Istanbul to generations before us. In these reports learn about brand new market directions including motifs, pattern, color (with Pantone references!), shape, and more. Textiles, furniture, lighting, tabletop, decorative accessories and the gamut of home fashion items are found within. Get inspired with the May edition!

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REPORTING TO INSPIRE,
Jennifer Castoldi,
Chief Creative Director

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Features and Articles

Jennifer's May Marvels

Worldwide — In this gallery read about Jennifer’s thoughts on the new issue and see a collection of 50+ product photos from around the world. Stretching across international design events, this selection of images demonstrates hot directions in motifs. Cultural influences are strong with designs made up of suzanis, medallions, and Middle Eastern graphics. Other effects include what can be described as starbursts, pinwheels, snowflakes, or artwork reminiscent of the childhood toy Etch-a-Sketch.

Slow Hand Design: Milan

Holistic Slow Hand Design

Milan/Bangkok — The last 20 years boast a solid track record that has allowed Thailand to establish itself as a producer of high-end items. The Slow Hand Design exhibition has the intent to reveal the value of Thai product exports that still preserve their ancestral DNA inherited through many generations. One of the many points which is impressive of Thai design is that it considers the economy and ecology of the surrounding environment.

The Body as the Muse

Multiple European Cities — The body has been an influential form for centuries. An exploration of happenings during Milan Design Week unveiled that some of the latest furniture, textiles, lighting, ceramics and glassware are finding solace in the external beauty of chiseled chests and rounded breasts, or go beyond the naked eye to the organs beneath the flesh. WARNING: This feature is not for the faint of heart!

Relaxed Fit

Worldwide — Over fifty styles of seating and lounge designs have the feeling of relaxed fit in this gallery. What is relaxed fit? It is a term in fashion coined for jeans. Levi describes its jean cut, “One of our most comfortable fits, the classic Relaxed Fit 550™ Jean offers an easy universal fit through the seat and thigh, tapering below the knee.” And why not have seating offer such comfort? It does! So many collections are showing off their relaxed fits at trade shows around the globe; see them here!

"Aesthetics 125" model is made by rapid prototyping

Automobile Aesthetics

Multiple European Cities — If it were somebody’s first time attending Milan Design Week s/he might have been slightly confused by all of the motor vehicles and electronics on display at the Fuori Salone. Perhaps then, it is not surprising to see that so many new design products, like an office desk, sofa, or bench look as though they take inspiration from the lines of cars. See some from Milan in this gallery.

Mattoncino lego table

From Digital to Design

Multiple European Cities — The digital world is surrounding us. Gaming is a humongous industry and almost every semi-civilized person is walking around with at least one electronic device on his/her person. Pixelesque motifs and patterns have been very popular over the last seasons. And during our run through of the oodles of Milan Design Week activities we saw some more pixel-like creations.

Urban Elegance

Textile Directions 2011/12

Multiple Turkish Cities — Amsterdam-based design agency Lobster Concepts works with Uludag Exporters Association to interpret the international market directions and demonstrates how Turkish home textiles can meet the demands of such trends. Within this gallery see four inspirational groups with Pantone color stories for the 2011/12 seasons and ample textiles from Turkey that fit the bill.

Ingenuity

Revitalize the Dimensions of Time

Bangkok — During the 2011 Bangkok International Fashion Fair & Bangkok International Leather Fair the Thailand Institute of Fashion Research (inFASH) presented its Spring/Summer 2012 forecast. inFASH is a special research organization, which aims to develop, research, and integrate academic fashion knowledge with industry experience. For the S/S 2012 season overview the focus is on “Art & Science: Revitalize the Dimensions of Time.”

NEWSLETTER #357 - Milan's Fascinating Fashions

Milan — This week’s gallery of images is a collection of fascinating fashions the Trendease Team encountered while weaving through the streets and happenings of Milan during design week. Subscribers will find inspirational materials, mannequins, lingerie, jewelry, and furniture within this newsletter.

NEWSLETTER #358 - Curvature

Worldwide — This week’s gallery is all about the curvature. It is that sleek line found in trendy indoor and outdoor seating for the upcoming seasons. Italy, Turkey, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, and even China are some of the countries taking part in the movement. Subscribers can visualize the smooth silhouettes with the photo selection within.

NEWSLETTER #359 - MoOD 12/13 Trend Preview

Brussels — For this week’s newsletter Niek Deprest, trend coordinator, shares with us a sneak preview of the “Sublime” inspirations she will curate this coming September at MoOD Brussels. Deprest states, “The central theme for the trend booklet that MoOD proposed to its exhibitors is beauty. Let it be clear: textiles and textile design has never been as trendy.”

NEWSLETTER #360 - Sophisticated Asian

Multiple European Cities — This week’s gallery gives subscribers visual clues on how, after years of the Asian Sensation design movement, we begin to see Asian styles turning it up a notch with a higher air of sophistication. Wallpapers, room dividers, textiles, upholstery, and even sleek Italian kitchens are getting into their cultured oriental beauty regime.