HEMEROTECA
12 enero, 2016
Furnishings and furniture trends are in the face of social change at ZOW (16-19 february, Bad Salzuflen).
Social trends and technical innovations have a key impact on the way in which we live and how we furnish our homes. Current trends such as digitalisation and interconnectivity are also reflected in the design of interiors and furniture as well as the corresponding materials and surfaces. As a trend scout and proprietor of the agency Trendfilter, Katrin de Louw has set herself the task of recognising these trends. The interior designer will be styling the special exhibition space in Hall 20 at ZOW 2016, where she will be showcasing social trends which are set to have a major influence on our lives in the coming years and which will thus also have an effect on furniture design.
The trends exhibition space in Hall 20 is divided into the areas ON, ON+OFF and OFF: The central issue of the first trend box with its bright design entitled "ON" concerns the Internet of Things, which greatly influences our lives and interior design and architecture as the most important technological trend at the present time. After all, a study conducted by the American market research company Gartner predicts that by the year 2020, around 20 billion devices will be connected to the Internet – today, according to estimates, this number is in the region of 4.9 billion devices. The amounts of data generated and exchanged between the connected devices will explode to the same extent. The anticipated flood of data represents both an opportunity and a challenge for companies: On the one hand, new possibilities for applications and innovations will be opened up, on the other, however, the demands regarding data protection will rise.
Digital connectivity of tomorrow
The Internet of Things will give rise to new, so-called smart objects which will accompany us in our everyday lives. Trade visitors to ZOW can gain an initial impression of such objects in the ON trend box, where visionary student projects will be showcased alongside products already available on the market. "sensed" by Tim Streilein and Alexander Wamhoff of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is a special highlight", remarks the trend expert. The product concerned is a desk lamp which imitates the person@¬#s sitting position, thus indicating any potential incorrect posture. "When a person is sitting bent over at a desk or he straightens up again, his movements are copied by the lamp. In this way, preventive healthcare is actively promoted – an aspect which, against the background of demographic change alone, will play a key role in all product developments in the future, including in the connected world".
Since advancing digitalisation means that it is now virtually impossible to separate work and leisure, the changes in the world of work brought about by the ubiquitous availability of data will be dealt with in the ON+OFF trend box. For in the future, people can and will work from anywhere, which will result in a work-life blending. Places of work and working hours will become more flexible, furniture will become more versatile in terms of its functionality. Surfaces can change in the event of a transition from work to leisure and vice versa. "The design of tomorrow@¬#s furniture is determined by a coffee break at the desk or working in comfort during one@¬#s leisure time", says de Louw. "This is shown in exemplary fashion in the On+OFF area divided into black and white."
In contrast, the OFF trend box does justice to the growing desire for mindfulness. The more digital our everyday lives become, the more people seek real experiences. All of the senses, which the Internet cannot (yet) satisfy – namely touch, smell and taste – are becoming increasingly significant, particularly in the area of shopfitting and commercial construction. At the same time the continuing DIY trend is further promoted by the increased desire for peace and relaxation – after all, these homemade products do not only encourage creativity and interaction involving the sensation of touch but also satisfy the desire for personal esteem.
All of these trends are captured by the OFF trend box with its exhibits: Students of Detmold College of Architecture and Interior Design will, for instance, be showcasing furniture which allows the users to pause for thought and provide them with a new perspective in order to enjoy the moment. Moreover, there will be a presentation of new surface structures with innovative coating technology to inspire the senses as well as tangible examples of products for more awareness in times of digitalisation. For instance, the colouring book for adults which more and more stressed knowledge workers are consciously taking time out for the regeneration of body and soul. Or the offline oasis, which completes the ZOW_trend exhibition space as an antipole to the connected world: The lounge with its exquisite varieties of teas is an ideal meeting point to conduct effective discussions about the trade show in a relaxed atmosphere or to enjoy a short break during a visit to ZOW.
ZOW 2016 will be held at Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Centre from 16 to 19 February. Here in Hall 21, Katrin de Louw will be taking a close look at the issue "Furnishings and furniture trends in the face of social change" in the central ZOW_update Lecture Forum from Tuesday to Thursday at 11.30 am. Guided tours through the ZOW_trend exhibition space in Hall 20 will be available from Tuesday to Thursday at 2.30 pm.
* For further information: www.zow.de
