This is a spot check on a number of trends we spotted at Milan’s Salone this year.
PLN Creative Director, Lucas Wotawa, took one for the team and travelled to Italy this time. He tried to not let his own viewpoint impinge on this review – and just report on what he saw. We took his notes and mixed them up with what others are reporting and present nine key trends. It’s not particularly about fashion, which is far more fleeting, but sometimes the two may overlap. It’s also not meant to be definitive, but simply highlight some longer-term trends that may be seen in the furnishings design world for some time.
60s and 70s Design
Just when we thought mid-century was done and dusted the 60s and 70s seem to be making a resurgence. The darker hues and serious approach to design of this period was well represented in Milan – and the representation of 70s design with a contemporary take was also seen around the halls and rooms. Segmented soft furnishing also seems to be on the rise: both in those darker tones as well as lighter, more contemporary shades.
Gucci Ancora
Bright, Optimistic Colours – Oranges
A stalwart tone of the 1970s was orange – and the cheerful colour was seen in abundance this year. Not a garish orange though, but the orange of an Aperol Spritz or maybe a Negroni. (You can see where our man in Milan got his inspiration from!)
Heiji Table
Glass, Ceramic & Concrete
Makers using natural materials look elegant, clean and beautiful. The Lokum glass table from Sabine Marcelis (a Kiwi in accent if not exactly a New Zealander), particularly took Lucas’ fancy with its ephemeral presence, but concrete pieces from Pedrali and Nine also caught his eye.
Lokum - Acerbis
Metal – Mono and Sheet
Modern techniques making metal look and feel softer and more enticing. The industrial look from the bolted-together mono-metal pieces was prevalent but geometric shapes of bent and formed sheet metal were also on offer from the likes of Porro, Bestcase and Vero.
Hong Kong Chair - Vero
Soft and Comfy Sofas and Upholstery
Upholstery has expanded. It’s plumped up and presents softness and that homely feel of nights around the telly, or chatting with friends with nice wine, or just chilling on a Sunday afternoon. The feel is exemplified by Knoll’s Willo Perron ‘Pillo’ sofa – which is made of nothing but big, plump, overstuffed pillows. You feel as if this sofa would hug you and envelop you.
Sustainability
Use of recycled materials or pre-waste was prevalent. Cardboard laminated with bio-resins was seen in pieces such as the Catifa 53 chair. More properly this was wood-by-product, but described as PaperShell or paper pulp. We loved the story of the Singaporean designer Emeline Ong, who used her brother’s old homework to create tables and wall-hooks.
Paper Pulp Tables - Emeline Ong
Playfulness
One commentator mentioned a memory of Memphis – that 80s group of designers for whom the main rule was, there are no rules. Whether you consider their style as bright, geometric and bold – or just plain kitsch or even tacky – their playful approach seems to be making a comeback.
Memphis Milano
Big Proportions
A continuing trend is big blocky dimensions, which is showing no sign of disappearing anytime soon.
Examples are the Dudet armchair by Patricia Urquiola, the ‘Squash’ collection from a collab between Faye Toogood and Poltrona Frau or ‘Gummy’, also from Toogood.
Gummy Chair - Toogood
Finished MDF
That stalwart of flat-pack furnishings and DIY stores is being seen in a new light at the moment. Designers such as Muuto, Arper and Cruso have taken this basic material and created beautiful, and functional pieces.
