TREND FILE BY JANET MORAIS

September 10, 2015

*Written by Janet Morais

When Coveted edition Magazine approached me to an article on Design Trends for their Spring Issue I agreed. But when I sat down to write it I realized it would only be repeating what has been printed over the last couple of months in every design magazine across the globe. In a nutshell here it is: 2015 Design Trends – gentle and muted pastels, smoky shades of grey, soft neutral & metal hues. Prints and pattern are definitely back on the rise; on one side we see fluid prints, luxurious peacock feather patterns, graded dip dye designs, blurred images, floral and tropical prints.

On the other we see strong geometric designs, 3D patterns, repeated forms, kaleidoscopic images. The current textures are derived from nature; exotic animals, mineral & vegetable are making their mark. And my personal favorite metals, we are seeing a change towards steel, cooper, pewter, gold and other metal accents all in a matt finish in preference to just chrome and stainless steel. Here they are perhaps described in a different way but the question that lies beneath all this is; who dictates the trends? And what is the creative process of a designer? Do they keep trends in mind when developing a collection?

See also – Maison Lenôtre at Maison&Objet 2015

As a designer I make it a priority to know what culture is today in order to react to it, I must stay current and constantly immerse myself in research and scouting while mentally compiling mood boards and getting an emotional sense of where all this stimuli is taking me. My creative drive is obsessive; I am sensitive to the world around me and make it my job to stay above what is current. The clues of where I will take my collection next are all here now but as a business woman in the creative industry I must know what people want before they want it.

The idea that there is a cult of originality out there is completely false. Many companies follow forecasting agencies, others look to their industry peers while the brave follow their instinct. Trend forecasting agencies predict colors, styles, textures, and themes to be presented in the upcoming year. It is there job to attract consumers and help retailers sell their brands. Consulting trend reports can be the difference between thriving or tanking. In 2014 the Gem Lamp as part of the “Elsewhere” exhibit at Maison & Objet and this year the Drapesse Chair was nominated as part of the “Techonomade” exhibit.

As a trendsetter I must say appropriation is the most important element I can apply to my collection. This is taking an idea or mood and changing it into something tangible while infusing my own personal interpretation into it. I would like to remain in the position of trendsetter and innovator not only with my designs and aesthetic but also in the way my company is branded and how l interacts with my clients. Join me on my journey to full and create empowering statement pieces.

See also – FontanaArte at Masion&Objet