TREND FORECASTING - TOGETHERNESS

Guest Speaker, Victoria Redshaw, Trend Forecaster at Scarlette Opus shares her views on looking ahead in design, an excerpt from the Decor + Design Show, Melbourne 2021

TREND 2 - TOGETHERNESS

Stay at home orders changed everything. Rules were re-written.

There is an opportunity to harness the power of togetherness, a global push to equality and social equity. We need to leverage the deep uncertainty and make positive change.

Turbulence provides us with an ideal scenario for other systems to be implemented - let’s plot a new direction. Let's transform our reality – from something bad to something good.

Cultural direction - take action to achieve fairness;

Collaboration, caring about others, economies about sharing;

Lived reality based on the communion of people;

Spirit of willingness to contribute to a better community;

People stepping up and coming together as allies sharing;

Systemic racism, amplifying voices of indigenous, challenging gender identity;

A greater justice and more tolerance;

Collective awareness and be resolute about meeting the challenges ahead and achieving progress.

We are seeing the rise of "cancel culture" due to online communication dominance.

A tug of war between approval and disapproval. But we are reaching open mindedness to achieve change. We are listening, showing consideration, responding appropriately in the spirit of good will. Showing inclusivity, empathy, support, optimism, and empowerment.

We are looking through the darkness. This trend provides the positivity, openness, and generosity by which we can thrive. We dare to do things differently, to be creative, to be unconventional, to be expressive, to be unrestricted. Dare to humbly fail. To be expressive, collaborate, celebrate, and to be joyous.

WHAT THE TREND TELLS US

Free spirited, carefree, confident, unrestrained, kindness, encouragement of sunny, positive outlook.

Softness of form invites us to come together and take things easy, a chilled out vibe and late 60’s-70’s trend. A popularity of thrift resale and making trades for each other, nostalgic simplicity. It is built around a value of uniqueness.

Vintage finds have hero roles in room schemes. Retro design influence through designers and manufacturers new collections.

Acceptance of uncertainly is catalyst for experiments of unpredictable outcomes, this is shown in handmade qualities in pattern and textiles.

Ingenuity, creativity, unexpected collaborations, we search for new solutions. We make more with our hands, supporting artisans and respect practical hands on skills. This reassures us we are capable and we can do things for ourselves - a deep rooted message that relates to our survival.

Colours

Filled with positive energy and dissuade anxiety, fresh creamy softness, darks grounding and adding richness and depth. Sunset ombre.

Instils spring/summer trend and warmth and feels good, full of sun-drenched cheer.

Expansive in range. Foster feelings of nostalgia.

Grounding colours, dark syrupy, rich rum raisin

Works successfully in large and small groups, and strong pairings.

Patterns

Fruit and floral motifs.

Checks, plaids, stripes, stripes, ombre, textures, jumbo corduroy, rounded geometrics.

Typographics that promote messages of kindness, support and positivity, a late 60's and 70's vibe.

The past can seem more attractive than the present and even the future.

Patterns that have a lived experience will feel reassuring.

Perceived glamor, free spirited, wild abandon, seems more exotic than the mindful and more responsible society we have to currently live in.

Checks, plaids, stripes, brushed, blurred, rounded geometrics.

Materials

Plant fibres, cork, pottery, bamboo, terracotta, terrazzo.

Cut pile, tufted and shag pile.

Chunky and robust textiles

Jumbo corduroy

Woven ribs, bands, intersecting stripes, velvet, faux suede, stone washed linen, tie dye.

Image Courtesy of Victoria Redshaw's Trend Forecasting Seminar for Decor + Design Show, Melbourne 2021