In its first major retrospective, design studio Form Us With Love presents a number of early pieces, celebrated classics and new work—exploring a decade of industrial design consultancy, business ventures and civic projects.
As a studio, Form Us With Love has spent the past ten years repositioning brands through design. Utilising progressive manufacturing techniques and nurturing on-going dialogues with each client, the studio has sculpted innovative collaborations with the likes of IKEA, Muuto, Absolut, Menu, La Cividina Cappellini, + Halle, DePadova, FontanaArte, Bolon, Ateljé Lyktan, Design House Stockholm and Hem.
"For us this exhibition is about the alchemy of getting things right. There is a narrative element to all our projects, as well as a cultural side, and therefore many areas for people to get interested in. Take the Plug Lamp as an example—a light we developed during 2007/2008—integrating an electrical socket into a lamp as an answer to the increasing demand of charging laptops and phones," says Jonas Pettersson co-founder of Form Us With Love.
The studio describes its role as ‘design-led investors’, acting as a bridge between production challenges and behavioral patterns, a methodology growing in popularity but one at the studio’s core from the very start. Looking into this mix of smart, well-informed and warm hearted stories gives an insight into the potential for this approach to design.
"The design industry as a whole has matured. A new a stronger strategic sense is prevailing—as if the ‘yet another product’ designers, who were around when we first started, have finally been outgrown. Today, every product is a brand and that puts pressure on all designers to be lateral. This exhibition is about the lessons we’ve learnt," says studio co-founder John Löfgren.
About Form Us With Love | FUWL - www.formuswithlove.se FUWL was started in 2005 by John Löfgren, Jonas Pettersson, and Petrus Palmér. They met studying Product Design at Kalmar University, in deepest, darkest Småland, a county in southern Sweden known to be the heartland of Swedish furniture manufacturing. Even if the number of products that carries its name is big for a relatively young design studio, the biggest achievement for FUWL isn't the actual product, but the process of thinking, creating and communicating design. Through its relentless search for new opportunities and collaborations FUWL has shown that there are still great opportunities right under our noses. FUWL's ambition is to be part in creating the top design companies around and has a strong belief that holistic design thinking is the way to get there.
Last October, Fashion Trendsetter and Trendsetter Interiors Teams had an amazing business trip to Bordeaux. Senay GOKCEN and Mutti PORTO share their travel notes about this beautiful city in southwestern France. Senay GOKCEN | Editor-in-Chief | Fashion Trendsetter Mutti PORTO | Editor-at-Large | Fashion Trendsetter Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River and you can view this beautiful river while landing at the Bordeaux Airport.
Since our team members are working on various areas – from fashion to automotive design, from architecture to the fresh food industry; we travel as much as we can to gain more inspiration from different cultures of cities and countries.
Grand Hommes, Bordeaux.
Last October, taking the advantages of our business trip, we planned a quick city tour and started our route by visiting the chic Grand Hommes, Quinconces District at the center of Bordeaux.
You know you're in France when you see Galeries Lafayette Stores.
There were so many ‘the best of the best’ French fashion brands’ stores, luscious French patisseries, artisan chocolatiers, bistro cafés and charcuteries in and around these locations. But when you’re travelling with pregnant team members you experience the ‘aha’ moment of “Houston we have a problem!” The reality of hanging meats and sausages from the ceilings don’t make any sense of inspiration when someone in your team is having ‘morning sickness’; but shops that sell quality artisan chocolates, melted not only our hearts but kept us going from one meeting to another.
It’s hard to tell which brand’s collection is the nicest this season, because it’s French Fashion, how could them look bad any way? We fell in love with Anne Fontaine’s Fall 2015 Collection at Galeries Lafayette, with its beautiful white blouses paired with black trousers and accessorized with gold metals. These are truly must-haves of the season. Swarovski's sparkling ‘Stardust Collection’ and Hermés’ store displays were our favorite ones with their bold and bright color palettes.
Hermès' ‘Fall 2015 Accessories Collection’.
For the day two, we spent our whole spare time at the Rue Sainte-Catherine, which is the main shopping street in Bordeaux. The weather was fine and we had great time while walking through this 1.2 km long pedestrian street and enjoyed spotting the interesting trends on the window displays.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE at FASHION TRENDSETTER All images copyright by Senay GOKCEN & Mutti PORTO. All rights reserved.
LuLu Group International has appointed Design International and Eng. Adnan Saffarini as the Architects of Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis - the Group's new flagship mall in Dubai.
Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis will become the new gate to the 7.2 square kilometers 'Dubai Silicon Oasis', a smart city with world class facilities that is home to over 700 high tech companies, institutes, hotels, business parks and large residential communities, located right off Emirates Road and Al Ain Road in one of the fastest growing parts of Dubai.
The master mind of Dubai Silicon Oasis is Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, a company established in 2004 and wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. It will be the first smart city of Dubai, providing both living and working integrated communities at the very lowest energy consumption per capita, located just 12 minutes' drive from Downtown Dubai and 15 minutes' drive to Dubai International Airport.
Mr Yusuff Ali M.A., Managing Director of LuLu Group International, owner of one of the fastest growing retail real estate corporations in the Middle East and Davide Padoa, Architect and CEO of Design International, one of the most innovative architectural firms with offices worldwide, together with Engineer Adnan Saffarini have presented the iconic Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis project to Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority.
Arch. Davide Padoa said: "All of the parties involved in this project share the same values: the development of the community, as well as the desire to be at the forefront of style, technology and sustainable innovation, which is what Dubai Silicon Oasis stands out for".
The revolutionary design of Avenues Mall, Silicon Oasis is composed by five gigantic shape-alike pebbles. Inspired by ancient Arabian movements across the desert, Design International wanted to offer both a strong architectural statement and an imposing gate into an oasis of calm and tranquility in the otherwise hectic pace of modern suburban Dubai. Inside, the mall features nature at its most exquisite values, with five plazas that resemble the five elements of an oasis: The Cave, The Canyon, The Forest, The Lagoon and The Mirage.
Benjamin Moore Names “Simply White” Its 2016 Color of the Year
Color Leader Reveals Color Trends 2016, Highlighting White as a Timeless and Versatile Design Statement
Benjamin Moore, North America’s favorite paint, color and coatings brand, today announced its highly anticipated 2016 Color of the Year – Simply White OC-117. The company also unveiled Color Trends 2016, a corresponding palette of 23 colors to illustrate how white works within the color spectrum.
“The color white is transcendent, powerful and polarizing – it is either taken for granted or obsessed over,” said Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Creative Director. “White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential. The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry. Of the top ten best-selling Benjamin Moore colors, variants of white occupy five spots. It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our Color of the Year.”
The Benjamin Moore Color Studio forecasts color trends after a year of research attending major industry shows around the world, while also taking cues from standouts in architecture, fashion, textiles, home furnishings and the arts. White transcends style, and is seen in traditional, transitional and modern interiors. The color also presents attractive exterior looks for the home, from colonial to contemporary and virtually everything in between.
The Color Studio arrived at Simply White OC-117 after careful review of the company’s more than 250 white selections. According to the Color Studio, it was the most neutral, level and constant in the various light sources used in today’s design environments.
The 23 colors of the Color Trends 2016 palette include the following:
About Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore Color of the Year & Color Trends 2016 can only be achieved with Benjamin Moore paints. Offering residential paints for any project, the Benjamin Moore portfolio includes Aura®, Aura® Bath & Spa, Regal® Select, Natura® ben®, ADVANCE®, ARBORCOAT® and Aura Grand Entrance®. All 3,500 Benjamin Moore colors are available in pint samples at local retailers along with Color Trends 2016 curated palette cards. Benjamin Moore products are exclusively found at the more than 5,000 Benjamin Moore independently owned paint and decorating retailers across the U.S. and Canada.
To learn more about the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year and Color Trends 2016 palette, or to find the closest Benjamin Moore retailer, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.
Founded in 1883, Benjamin Moore is North America’s favorite paint, color and coatings brand. A leading manufacturer of premium quality residential and commercial coatings, Benjamin Moore maintains a relentless commitment to innovation and sustainable manufacturing practices. The portfolio spans the brand’s flagship paint lines including Aura®, Regal® Select, ben® as well as the most environmentally friendly premium paint in the marketplace today, Natura®. Benjamin Moore is renowned for its expansive color portfolio, offering consumers and designers more than 3,500 colors. Benjamin Moore paints are available exclusively from its more than 5,000 locally owned and operated paint and decorating retailers.
Heimtextil Forecasts New Furnishing Trends with 'Well-being 4.0' the Overarching Theme
◊ WGSN Group Presents Trends for 2016/2017 ◊ 'Theme Park' Moves to a New Location with a Large, Stand-alone Platform in Hall 6.0
'Well-being 4.0' is the key trend at the next Heimtextil trade fair (12 to 15 January 2016). In a discussion broadcasted live worldwide on 8 September 2015, managers of the trade fair revealed the new furnishing trends for 2016/2017. Lisa Douet of the WGSN Group sat on the podium at 25 Hours Hotel in Frankfurt. This Group from the US is spearheading the design of the 'Theme Park' this year. Anne Marie Commandeur from Stijlinstituut Amsterdam, Mayouri Sengchanh from Exalis/Carlin International and Felix Diener were other members of the Heimtextil trend forum at the conference. They were on hand to predict the interior design trends in textiles for the coming season.
New design themes will be defined by an integrated approach which restores a people-centred design focus with a stronger appeal to the senses. 'Well-being 4.0' is all about textile furnishing that exudes an aura of relaxation and calm. Everything will be geared towards offering a better life and greater well-being. At the same time, technology and science intertwined with textiles play a key role. The number 4.0 echoes 'industry 4.0' and stands for smart, digital and customised solutions. Or in a nutshell, the idea is to trigger positive feelings and responses to stimuli at the touch of a button.
'We need to find ways of connecting what's natural with what's artificial,' comments Lisa Douet during the conference, underlining one of the core challenges. 'In addition to respecting technology, we have to ensure that natural materials and handcrafted products have a place on the design shelf of the future too.'
Both the new trend book, presented during the conference, and the 'Theme Park' at the fair offer diverse pioneering projects in this respect. The trend predictions are also examined in more detail on a newly designed website.
Heimtexil Theme Park 'well-being 4.0' - Trends 2016/2017 - an Overview of the Themes
Protect: good for us
This trend predicts a clean aesthetic, or crisp, understated design. It goes hand in hand with a versatile range of wellness products and detox programmes. As a valuable and rare commodity, silence takes centre stage. It becomes an antidote to a world where we're constantly connected and increasingly feel the desire to switch off and do ourselves some good. The trend is all about protecting our physical, but above all our psychological needs.
Energise: digital dreams
People use technology to boost their feelings of well-being. The borders between being online and offline are becoming blurred. And the digital world is encroaching on our physical world. In this process, light is becoming a new way of creating intangible shapes and highlighting dynamic contours. The colour spectrum pulsates between strong and weak contrasts. At the same time, bright and virtually fluorescent colours vibrate in comparison with darker electric-blue shades. This high-energy trend livens up the aesthetic with intensive brilliance and gloss, kaleidoscopic patterns and humorous, athletic designs.
Nourish: sensory design
Urban and natural landscapes converge and spawn a new, sustainable world. The focus is on making areas green. The colour palette celebrates the beauty of greens, as well as dark browns and greys, in harmony with elements such as the soil and stone. Natural materials are coupled with pioneering design. Handcrafted products play a special part in the process by accentuating the beauty of the source.
Enrich: appealing to all the senses
The focus is placed on opulent and highly decorative elements which blend cultural references with the past and future. Ornamental ensembles and shimmering, classy materials are eye-catching. Superb, rich colours like plum and crimson abound with metallic gold, brass and bronze elements. A hint of the Orient is blended with iconic patterns which reinterpret classicism with splendour to perfection.
All images courtesy of Heimtextil - Source WGSN
Three Sections in One Volume
The new trend book comprises three sections. The first is a book portraying four trend themes based on materials, designs and colours. The second is a colour palette which looks at the range of the new on-trend colours and can be used as a tool to work with. Finally there's an editorial which illustrates the predominant 'well-being 4.0' trend. The editorial looks at the use of plants to appeal to the senses, places the spotlight on valuable minerals and therapeutic textiles and defines which colours constitute a feeling of well-being.
New Location for the 'Theme Park'
As the world's biggest trade fair for home and contract textiles, Heimtextil plays a special role as an indicator of trends and metric of first-class, well-designed textiles with innovative functionality. Which is why Messe Frankfurt got the Heimtextil trend underway back in 1991 and has consistently expanded it ever since. Every year a trend forum with an international line-up uncovers the most important trends. It gives product developers, creative teams, furnishing businesses and designers valuable advice and reliable trend forecasts. For Heimtextil 2016, the trade fair's managers are continuing the 'Theme Park' concept, developed the previous year for Heimtextil. This platform is moving for the first time to hall 6.0 where it has plenty of space and can stand alone as a showcase. Its concept development and implementation, the accompanying book and the new website are the responsibility of the WGSN Group from the US.
About WGSN Group WGSN is a global foresight business. Our experts provide deep insight and analysis of consumer, fashion and design trends. We inspire our clients to plan and trade their range with unparalleled confidence and accuracy. Together, we Create Tomorrow.
WGSN is the World's Global Style Network, comprising of market-leading products including WGSN, WGSN Lifestyle & Interiors, WGSN INstock, WGSN StyleTrial, and WGSN Mindset bespoke consultancy services.
About Messe Frankfurt Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's leading trade fair organisers, generating around €554 million in sales and employing 2,130 people. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 29 subsidiaries and 57 international Sales Partners, allowing it to serve its customers on location in more than 160 countries. Messe Frankfurt events take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2014, Messe Frankfurt organised a total of 121 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Comprising an area of 592,127 square metres, Messe Frankfurt's exhibition grounds are home to ten exhibition halls. The company also operates two congress centres.The historic Festhalle, one of the most popular venues in Germany, plays host to events of all kinds. Messe Frankfurt is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
