Dispatch from the World of Design

The Global Forecast:

This year, our team executives traveled to Milan, Italy to attend the International Salon & Furnishings Exhibition, Salone del Mobile di Milano.

Otherwise known as the Milan Furniture Fair, it is the largest trade fair of its kind in the world. This extraordinary exhibition showcases the latest in design & furnishings from all around the world. The Mission: gather resources & inspiration to bring back to our design teams, as we collectively explore the future of art and design.

This trailblazing exhibit offered a unique glimpse into global design macro movements and shifts in aesthetics that will be seen in years to come.

Takeaways:

Biophilic principles remain at the forefront of the global movement. From massive organic tree-shaped sculptural elements to dramatic living-wall installations.

These artfully designed moments exhibit the essence of biophilia by representing nature in the physical space, the nature of the space, with mimicry of natural analogues.

Scaled to new heights, with a focus on exaggerated proportions in lighting fixtures, wall ornamentation, and focal elements, this bend towards maximalist design was front and center stage. Floor-to-ceiling installations and colossal fixtures imposed maximum volume into the spaces, counterbalancing the height and visual weight of double volume ceilings.

Whimsical wonders give credence to the shift toward more quirky, colorful and imaginative philosophy in design. Perhaps in direct opposition to the serious & straight-lined approach that has dominated design for so many years, we are now seeing a more playful attitude expressed in robust shapes, bold colours and (sometimes) risqué forms.

The Domestic Dispatch:

Domestically, our teams traveled to the highly anticipated High Point Market in North Carolina, to deep dive into the latest trends & offerings of manufacturers of furnishings, fabrics and accessories.

This multi-day event, covering more than 11 million square feet, and featuring over 2,000 exhibitors and suppliers, with over 180 buildings housing the latest in furnishing products geared to the design industry.

With the mission to discover new product lines and suppliers to add to our well-established repertoire of trade-only furnishing sources, our team successfully identified many new furnishing partners with innovative products.

Takeaways:

Curves commanded the exhibition, with not a straight line in sight. From upholstered furniture, to lighting to decorative accessories; curved forms, organic shapes and rounded edges commanded the stage.

Bold and evocative expressed the sentiment of furnishings, art and accessories by use of unexpected elements, over-scaled patterns and over-size fixtures.

Natural notions again captivated the audience with plenty of nature-made materials, such as seagrass and rattan, clay embellishments and lighter, more sandy-hued wood finishes.

The team at HPA Design Group takes pride in understanding the future of design, the macro-trends that will shape the industry in years to come, and this investment allows us to deliver future-proof, innovative and pioneering communities to our Clients we serve.

For more information about this Trend Forecast, or how we utilize this collective information in our design process, contact Amy Becker: amy.becker@hpadesigngroup.com