Wanderlust Furniture 2010

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anderlust 2010 ICFF and Salone Internazionale del Mobile If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. - Ferris Bueller

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From Kaleidoscope. Includes a deep look into the 2010 New York and Milan furniture fairs, as well as observations across multiple categories. www.kascope.com

Transcript of Wanderlust Furniture 2010

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anderlust2010 ICFF and Salone Internazionale del Mobile

If you don’t stop and look around once in a while,you could miss it.

- Ferris Bueller

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We love to wander, and we love direction. What matters to us is at the periphery and at the center. Wanderlust is our campaign to find inspiration in everything around us, no matter how small or subtle. We believe that if you look closely, every detail has its place, its potential. In the end, everything matters.

Wanderlust aspires to be more than the collection of cool stuff you can typically find in your RSS feed each morning. Rather, we curate and organize our collection into the most meaningful set of ideas, objects, environments, and experiences. Unlike hefty powerpoint documents touting broad, often intangible, macro trends, we start small and work our way out. Through this process, we know from the start that the opportunities we identify will be actionable and useful to our work. Because our Wanderings are already manifesting themselves in tangible ways, we’re inspired to adapt and reapply them to new projects.

When We Wander...

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We believe that small details can lead to big ideas. To find those details, Wanderlust begins it’s process by studying trends in the most forward-thinking industries. We love the inspiration they provide and the level of access they offer. We then extract the higher level meaning behind each of the trends we identify. Not all patterns grow into deeply rooted trends, and not all trends impact all businesses. However, we see all of our observations as opportunity and inspiration.

...We Always Come Back

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We asked Kaleidoscope’s Karl Ludeman to tell us a little more about his experiences this year at furniture fairs in New York and Milan.

What inspired you to make this volume of Wanderlust?

We like to go places and see things and think about why they are that way. Hopefully we’ll inspire ourselves and get others to think about things a little differently. Plus, it’s fun.

How did the trends you identified change from this year to last?

Most patterns we saw last year have continued to hang around, evolving or changing in different ways. One of the most interesting transitions during the past year has been how front-and-center the DIY movement has become. The trained and untrained have embraced the use of everyday materials and sought to use them in exciting new ways.

What do you hope people will take away from looking through this document?

Looking for trends will only give you a snapshot of right now, the immediate present. But understanding the root causes behind a given trend can give you insight into what drives people to choose one experience over another. What are the root causes for the choices today’s consumers are making?

Anxiety and self-determination, which actually are not mutually exclusive as they would seem, but each driven by the other. It’s a vicious, beautiful, and ultimately very productive cycle.

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FLYTTER(fly’ter)Perpetual motion.

NATUUR(na’tyr)Want to get away? Do it from the com-fort of your own home.

LE MONDE ANCIEN(le mond an-se-’en) Forget your worries by remembering the past.

DIY(do it yor-’self)If you build it, you will have one.

DIREKT(di-’rekt) What would happen if you had to design with only a straight edge and a pencil?

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part one:

wanderings

part two: applications

We look to the work of designers globally for inspiration and understanding. From our observations at ICFF and Salone 2010, five key patterns emerge:

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DIREKTDirekt (di-’rekt) adj. (Direkter, Direktesten) orig. German

1. straight, linear, angular 2. broad, thin surfaces broken by subtle

3. simple forms with subtly disruptive details

planar shifts

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DIREKTDirekt (di-’rekt) adj. (Direkter, Direktesten) orig. German

1. straight, linear, angular 2. broad, thin surfaces broken by subtle

3. simple forms with subtly disruptive details

planar shifts

Better Broken Even the most subtle surface changes transform a forgettable piece of furniture into something fresh.

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Design should never say, “Look at me.” It should always say, “Look at this.”

- David Craib

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God is in the details.

- Mies van der Rohe

Light & Shade Treating light and shadow as a material, designers consider the context and environment of their work, not just the object itself.

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DIYDIY (d-i-y) (Do It Yourself) orig. English

1. to make something on your own, with or without formal knowledge of process2. a movement to counter modern consumer culture’s emphasis of relying on others to satisfy needs

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Under the Sink These days, if you want something, it might be better to make it yourself. Like a common sponge, what you need might be right under your sink.

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A thing is worth what it can do for you, not what you choose to pay for it.

- John Ruskin

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Imagination is more important than knowledge.

- Albert Einstein

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Step One and Done Little-to-no assembly required means you can rearrange and repurpose whenever the mood hits.

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The greatest thing about DIY culture is that you can pretty much do anything you want. So go ahead and do it!

Chances are you are already developing your own solutions to life’s little problems. Take notice of the simple work-arounds that the people around you develop. For many makers, the local hardware store (or the back of a garage) has everything they need. Changing the paradigm for high quality furniture allows the surface treatment of raw materials to transform from being unfinished to finessed.

Why do kids like building blocks so much? Because everyday they can make something completely new. Just because we don’t have official play-time anymore doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be allowed the same feeling of invention and reinvention whenever we feel like it.

DIY

Don’t Try This at Home

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FLYTTERFlytter (‘fly-ter) f (Flytte, Flyttede) orig. Danish

1. to move or to be in motion2. giving a static object the appearance of motion

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FLYTTER

Freeze Frame Capturing the movement of a static piece can energize the mind as you imagine not what it is doing now, but what it will do next.

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Everything in the universe is moving in respect to everything else.

- Neil De Grasse Tyson

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It is our nature to be in motion; complete rest is death.- Blaise Pascal

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Creative Violence Knowing how a surface was formed enables one to visualize the act of it being made. These memories create value over products that don’t inspire the same images.

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I hate to advocate violence, but [it’s] always worked for me.

- Hunter S. Thompson

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The More You KnowKnowing the story of how an object is made can change the way you look at it. Do you know the story behind each of these objects?

The holes in this were vase created by gunshots.

This taglieri was modeled after one that was made over decades of use, creating the perfect cutting surface.

Sculpted table surfaces leave behind witness of man’s work.

STORY

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NATUURNatuur (na’tyr) n. org. Dutch

1. being of, or inspired by nature2. post modern approaches to 20th century nature themes

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NATUUR

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Art New-veau Natural imagery and post-modern design sensibilities create a self-aware illusion of nature for those whose lives have been spent primarily removed from it. 30http://kascope.com/

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I can enjoy society in a room; but outdoors, nature is company enough for me.- William Hazlitt

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The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.- Chinese Proverb

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COMPARE

No Interpretation NecessaryIn 2010, inspiration often takes the form of literal translation. Examine the similarities between the piece of furniture above and it’s likely inspiration below.

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LE MONDEANCIEN

Le Monde Ancien (le mon-’de an-se-’en) origin. French

1. Reference to the close of the 19th Century, usually ascribed to the artistic climate of world weariness2. Having a desire to be part of something that will last3. Classic design archetypes redone with modern materials and processes

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LE MONDEANCIEN

The future is no more uncertain than the present.

- Walt Whitman

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Antique Chic As we search the past for peace of mind, new colors and materials appear unexpectedly to harmonize novelty with comfort’s melody.

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When people are discontent with the present, they begin longing for the past.

- Nigel Hollis

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Out with the NewIn with the Old

TIME

Artists have always referenced the past, but the reasons for doing it today may have more to do with an uncertain future than paying homage. Rethinking antiques with a modern aesthetic can help to create a surprising sense of whimsy because you have no idea what time period you’re in. And given today’s climate, that might be the point.

Adults tend to be hyper-aware of things that can harm them, but sometimes it’s good to feel like a kid again. Remember all the best furniture at grandma’s house? By reinventing vintage styles correctly, designers can let users fill in the blanks about the product’s history. Some will retreat to a different time while others will see something that’s altogether new.

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Now it’s time to put it all together. We’ve done the deep dive during part one, and now it’s time to step back and see how everything fits together, where patterns overlap, and how they might affect the world we live in and the work we do.

Trends raise our awareness of the social and cultural changes that are constantly occurring around us. Use the predictions and observations in this section to discover new ways to address consumer needs and to design new products, services or experiences. At Kaleidoscope, we expect Wanderlust trends to inspire action. Built from tangible examples that can be easily reapplied, each connection made in this section is designed for easy access. Feel free to modify or evolve the ideas to best fit your needs.

We’re constantly referencing our past work to see where patterns have held steady, transformed, or died off. The content in this section references past editions of Wanderlust, so if you’d like a copy, let us know.

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FORECASTERPredictions for how trends impact key industries.

CALL TO ACTIONWhat are you waiting for?

BLENDERWhere transportation and furniture worlds collide.

TRACKERSee how the Wanderlust observations have sustained, evolved, or faded over time.

part two:

applications

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Our applications combine hours of observation and analysis over the past few years at multiple trade shows and events. Check out our past editions if you’d like to dive more deeply into the concepts.

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See a trend here you’re not familiar with? Let us know and we’ll send you one of our previous editions.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

MASH AESTHETICS

BACK TO BAUHAUS

CONCRETE JUNGLE

SUPPLY AND DESIGN

FLYTTER

CYBORG

NATUUR

DIY

DIREKT

le MONDE ANCIEN

RETROSEXUAL

STRONG, SILENT

2009ICFF, Salone

2010ICFF, Salone, NAIAS

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FLYTTER

CYBORG

NATUUR

DIY

DIREKT

le MONDE ANCIEN

RETROSEXUAL

STRONG, SILENT

Light continues to be a source of experimentation in design far beyond the lighting category. Affordable and effective lighting technologies enhance the animated, moving objects that make up Flytter.

Light technologies, in particular LEDs, have become more accessible and affordable. By applying light in unexpected features on cars, furniture, and other objects, designers bring their products to life in new ways.

Trends in sustainability continue into the auto show, with an emphasis on the short term. Hybrid and eco-friendly production cars indicate the urgency with which manufacturers are trying to provide solutions.

An evolution of 2009’s Supply & Design, Natuur adjusts the trend’s path slightly, incorporating realistic nature imagery and objects in a more serious tone.

Tired of last year’s pure form of rationality, the Direkt style of modern design incorporates subtle, idiosyncratic details to hold one’s attention, while not straying for classic Bauhaus roots.

While not immediately obvious, there is a connection between Concrete Jungle and Cyborg through the expressed importance of original, natural ingredients and components.

While transparency remains important across products and brands, there has been a shift away from knowing a product’s lifecycle towards using a more pure, unaltered product in the first place.

Nature remains a popular form of inspiration, with each year bringing new interpretations and variations on the theme.

Tracking Trends

Some patterns sustain over long periods of time, some die off quickly, and others morph into new ideas. Constantly refining our point of view, our observations are tracked over time. Along each path, markers indicate key influencers and motivators for each trend.

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Once filled to the brim with abstract metaphors intended to evoke emotions and strengthen strong bonds with users, the design world is moving away from poetry and moving towards prose. Gone are the gestures of plants and other living things in favor of the real thing. Coat racks aren’t inspired by tree branches; they literally look like them. Cars feature leafy fabrics, lamps, and interfaces. Taxidermy, perhaps the ultimate expression of literalism, appears to be everywhere.

It seems that the more our world advances technologically, the more it attempts to incorporate natural forms and signals. Last year, we identified the furniture trend Concrete Jungle, which introduces elements of nature into our uncompromisingly modern world. This year’s trend emerges out of many of the same reactions. Some consumers cope with the pace of technology and urbanity by surrounding themselves with reminders that simpler lifestyles still exist. Others thrive on the pressures of modern life, using Reverse Abstraction as a humorous, ironic way to show self-awareness.

Reverse AbstractionA Blend of Natuur & Cyborg

BLENDER

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Aware of their role in encouraging rapid consumption, Design’s internal struggle with this power has often resulted in products that are more simple, austere, long-lasting, and well-crafted. While this point of view remained uninteresting to many businesses, evolving consumer sophistication indicates a shift in priorities. Products with simple impressions and refined silhouettes in both automotive and furniture categories indicate a newfound interest in attracting consumers through curious simplicity. Once they’ve begun to interact with a product, consumers find these products filled with interesting details to delight them.

For the mass consumer, access to everything is enabling people to be more discerning. Teens in Oklahoma can now easily track denim trends in happening Osaka. Overloaded with information, people learn how to filter out pushy messaging and visual noise. Economic troubles force higher end shoppers to be more restrained as well, since their mass counterparts disapprove of any outward expression of wealth or advantage. Regardless of class or status, everyone desires indulgences, so they head off in search of something more subtle.

Differentiation is in the DetailsA Blend of Direkt & Strong/Silent

BLENDER

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The postmodern design world constantly references its own history for inspiration. In the past years, one key decade or design movement triumphantly reemerges for a short time to rule over it’s tradeshow. However, we’re now seeing an explosion of experimentation with historical design. Everything from Victorian to Vuvuzela is appearing in the furniture world, while the automotive industry leans on redesigns of successful models from four different decades. Strangely enough, all these designs coexist pretty nicely, feeling less and less like nostalgia. Building on the Mash Aesthetics trend from 2009, our post-post-modern reality relies on the juxtaposition of once opposing elements for new sources of innovation.

The current approach is like firing a shotgun loaded with design cues from myriad eras and movements. We’ve seen mash culture in music and fashion for years, and now more mass-produced objects have adopted the trend. Entire cultures are now built around the pieces and parts of past generations. It’s important to remember that the vintage and retro themes are not always about an escape for modernity, not about nostalgia. This trend is for innovators looking forward, as they use their unprecedented access to style to find new solutions to new problems.

Mash to the FutureA Blend of Le Monde Ancien & Retrosexual

BLENDER

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While the furniture and auto worlds look to the past for inspiration, new opportunities emerge in everyday consumer products through many of the same motivations. In a chaotic world, consumers respond to vintage and retro themed packaging as it reminds them of a simpler (and higher quality) time in their life. Brands use their heritage to reconnect with jaded consumers and provide peace of mind. By reverting to a simple message, many products cut through marketing hype and get to the core of consumer needs.

Designers can also look to the past for innovative ideas that will help products stand out at retail. Old school ideas applied to modern times, often resurrected through technological advancements, have the potential to form something groundbreaking.

Simpler TimesRoot trend: Retrosexual

Can you tell which products are vintage and which ones are new? (We can’t either.)

FORECAST

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The more technology advances, the more people yearn to reconnect with the natural world. Bioelectronics is an emerging field, particularly in healthcare, but we see it’s application across all consumer electronics. Form following function, these electronics tend to mimic their inspiration found in nature. We see this explicitly in furniture and automobiles, and we expect to see this trend continue to creep into more aspects of our lives. The natural symbols are not a rejection of technology, it is technology and nature existing in paradoxical harmony.

Glossy black plastic is becoming antiquated, soon to be replaced with forms, textures, and colors that remind the consumer that nature provides the best color palette. Authenticity will be a key to success in this approach; a revival of beige-colored plastics won’t make the cut.

Image: kennymatic | Flickr

BioelectronicRoot trend: Natuur

FORECAST

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People have always enjoyed customizing their cars. Whether they apply a few crudely-placed stickers to the back windshield or replace every mechanical component with chrome-plated aftermarket parts, it seems like everyone wants to make the products they own more personal.

While customization grows in categories like footwear and consumer electronics, major automakers have yet to fully capitalize on this trend. Despite some efforts in this area, cars have become increasingly more complicated to repair or refine. Most automobiles cover up most of the working parts under the hood, discouraging self-maintenance. While this

has helped their service businesses, they may also be missing out on an important return to do-it-yourself resourcefulness.

Imagine if anyone could assemble a car without instructions. While proposals like this require a lot of investment, the auto industry aches for change. What if automakers created a plug and play system that allowed consumers to replace parts as easily as plugging a socket into the wall? Allowing consumers better and more intuitive access to their vehicles makes them more aware of the help they need to make their car perform at its very best.

The Car You Build YourselfRoot trend: DIY

FORECAST

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Not surprisingly, many healthcare product providers must prioritize other aspects of their business before design. The resulting products have historically been difficult to use and intimidating for patients. Leveraging design as a tool to improve recovery times and quality of care, the healthcare industry’s perspective on design is shifting. Once technology optimizes certain processes and procedures, design becomes the key tool for businesses to differentiate their offering.

The Direkt trend will help emerging healthcare businesses jump the curve. On products, the clean, uninterrupted surfaces will emphasize the technology beneath while comforting patients through it’s modern appeal. Especially with capital equipment, applying the Direkt aesthetic will help products that need to retain a classic aesthetic for extended periods of time. In environments, the modern-but-idiosyncratic aesthetic reminds patients of their homes and aids recovery. Doctors will choose the tool that seems precise, durable, and free of excessive styling.

Direkt HealthRoot trend: Direkt

FORECAST

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At Kaleidoscope, we like trends that inspire ideas, but we love trends that inspire action. With each new project, we assess the cultural landscape to identify trends and brands that are a good match. A trend may represent an opportunity to express your brand in a new way. However, sometimes it is more authentic for a brand to be part of an anti-trend.

To fully understand each opportunity, we immerse ourselves in the trend. We gain empathy by designing and interacting with a space that represents our target. Most importantly, we don’t stop after we’ve achieved awareness. We generate tangible directions for how our insights will inform our current and future work.

The final step is to inspire teams, seeking both excitement and investment in an idea. Through visionary concept work, designers envision trends through the lens of a specific product or brand. Concepts can be quick cardboard models, life-like prototypes, or outlandish pieces solely for inspiration. Regardless, this step of creation is absolutely essential in making your ideas succeed. Good luck and have fun!

Trends should raise your awareness of the social and cultural changes happening around you. More importantly, they should inspire you to act. Use these trends to discover new ways to address consumer needs through new products, interactions, or experiences.

If You Don’t Use It, You’ll Lose ItOur call to action

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Thank YouWe hope you enjoyed this book and found our observations valuable. If you have questions about Wanderlust, please contact us. We look forward to collaborating with you to bring these trends to life.

Katie [email protected]

This presentation is a collection of past and present work by designers around the world and does not intend to solely represent work by Kaleidoscope.

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The refusal to rest content, the willingness to risk excess on behalf of one’s obsessions, is what distinguishes artists from entertainers, and what makes some artist adventurers on behalf of us all.

- John Updike

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