Design Trend Report 2012

A few weeks ago I attended the annual Trend Report presented by David Nemeth in conjunction with the Institute of Interior Design Professionals.



The report forecasts local and international trends for the décor and design industry based on the results on the annual Maison&Objet expo in Paris as well as the annual Salone Del Mobile expo in Milan.

These 2 exhibitions are the primary furniture and design expos in the world.

Here are a few interesting snippets…look out for them over the next year and see how many become a reality…or maybe not so much:

Simplistic Furniture with a High Wood Grain:

Slatted Timber:

Exposed or Bare Lightbulbs:

Upcycling:  (Note: Upcycling means you reuse a certain object to perform a completely different function. ie. It stays what it is...you just use it as something else. Recycling means changing an objects' form and making it into something else ie. melting down a tyre and using the rubber as a mat)

Botanical References:

Colour Blocking:

Retro Influences:

Industrial Style:

Old-School Trunks:

Evolution of Cane:

Use of Typography as a Decorative Element:

Coloured Glass:

Intricate Wirework:

Below are the forecasted colour tones/hues for the next year:

Greens are still in...but in softer, creamier tones.

Greys make a big comeback...but in warmer hues.



Metallics are still huge...but the focus has moved onto Bronze.

Neutrals tend towards the Mushroom colours.

Berry shades are still in favour.

Blues are soft and powdery and lean more towards the grey scale.

Mustard yellows help to brighten things up a bit.

There have also been interesting developments on the retail side of things with the arrival of the:

These have been the answer to the current economic crisis as well as the ever increasing cost of retail rental space.

These temporary shops pop up for short periods of time in empty parking lots, unused retail spaces and in shopping mall centre courts.

They are small, temporary and tend to sell specialist or once-off branded products...then they pack up and move on to somewhere else...

It's a great way to reach lots of curious customers in a cost effective way and it also generates huge hype around the particular brand.

Apparently these are all over Europe and the US at the moment...and it's only a matter of time before we start seeing them here in SA.

In fact, I saw an Adidas pop-up shop outside the Old Eds Virgin Active last week.They drove it in on a trailer...it operated for a few days and then it was gone!

I also visited a pop-up Art Gallery off Juta Street in Braamfontein a few weeks ago...it was set up in an old office space.

Interesting times...