Category — Design Intell

2012 can bring new opportunities to engage your customers. By looking ahead, you’ll be well-positioned to integrate marketing strategies and take advantage of technology to deliver your brand message. No matter how fashion forward your message is, how on target your products and services are; if you can’t reach the right client it doesn’t matter. Here’s a look at three marketing trends for 2012 to put on your radar screen.

 #1 Social Studies: Learning to be everywhere your customers and prospects are.

 When, where and how we communicate has changed dramatically in the last five years. Here are some stats I find incredible.  Five years ago, Facebook had 12 million users, Twitter was in its infancy and the first iPhone had yet to be unveiled. Today, there are 800 million Facebook users, nearly 200 million Twitter accounts and more than 10 billion Apple apps downloaded, and more  coming everyday. Mobile devices, new social networks, and check-in sites and location-based services are adding new wrinkles to the marketing communication mix. Silverpop refers to this convergence of mobile, social, local and email as “mocial.”  In a world gone mocial, we will change the way we interact with customers. To get your mocial mojo working in 2012.

• Grow your database through social and mobile. For example, you could add an email opt-in or lead-gen form on your company’s Facebook page, capture emails via SMS or app downloads, and/or use tablets to gather info.

• Design campaigns around the concept of sharing, delivering your strongest call to action at a time that makes sense rather than asking people to share something before they consume it. For example, instead of just including social-sharing icons in an email with a link to a white  also insert sharing links within the white paper  itself and send an automated follow-up email inviting downloaders to Tweet the best idea they got from your paper.

 #2 Actions Speak Loudest: Unlocking the power of behavior.

In the new era of marketing, companies must listen to, learn from and speak to customers and prospects on a one-to-one, personal basis. The focus will shift to widening the scope of information being collected to gain a better understanding of who the key influencers are.

• Sync up your platforms so you can pass data back and forth in both directions more efficiently, better optimize content, and improve communication between sales and marketing.

• Create scoring systems that take your customer and prospect behaviors into account—including social actions such as “liking” you on Facebook, sharing your content to a social network and commenting on Blogs.

#3 Personality Plus: Marketing content becomes more human.

Not so long ago, marketing was all about selling your products and services. Regardless of whether you were selling caviar or consultations; delivering your message in an impersonal voice was just fine. While delivering product news, sales and discounts is still important; expectations have  shifted.  These days, customers and prospects move  effortlessly between your company’s social presence and photos of their best friend’s recent vacation, so stiff corporate messaging that sounds like it was crafted  in legalese creates a disconnect. In 2012 the focus will change to delivering helpful, educational content with verve and personality: “Yes, we’ve got sizzling steaks, but here are our staff’s favorite wine pairings for that steak, our guest chef’s video tips for grilling it, and customer recommendations for the most mouth-watering sides to enjoy with it.” It’s time to get real, get human and add value.

• Spend less time talking at your customers and more time paying attention to their behaviors and listening to them via social networks, community forums and surveys. Talk to them the way you would talk to another human being, employing a voice that’s distinctive, engaging and yours.

• Include messages designed simply to inform, entertain, surprise and provide value rather than sell. For example, a packaged goods company might offer favorite recipes from the staff, a technology company could author a how-to white paper that doesn’t hype its own product, and a cruise operator can recommend travel, packing and on-shore dining tips.

• Introduce your self through words and pictures, including stories and anecdotes. Put simply, people like to do business with people.

via Silverpop

Marketing Profs

It’s that time again-  the trend  pundits are releasing their predictions for 2012. So in the spirit of sharing , I am bringing you 12 Days of Trends. The list includes a bit of everything. I’ll talk trends in color, design, textiles, consumer, marketing, social media and sprinkle in a couple of my own spottings to give you the big picture of what will be affecting you and your business next year.  I’m kicking it off with a preview of  Heimtextil Trends. Heimtextil, the largest textile show starts the round of design shows January 12, 2012. I’ll be there so watch for daily in depth posts and interviews.

Heimtextil Trend Preview 2012/2013

Montage, Heimtextil’s 2012/2013 trend reflects the thoughts, ideas, inspirations and predictions of the members of the Trendtable. Each year,  Heimtextil’s trends are developed by a  Trendtable of international designers that review the most important overriding trends and provides valuable orientation and predictions for product developers, creative teams, furnishing specialists and designers. The Trendtable defines Montage as a process that symbolizes the individuality and needs of the consumer.  Montage is about taking existing elements, mixing them together to make something new and creating something of our own, something that has never existed before.

The four new trend themes are ‘Colour Riot’, ‘Dark Lux’, ‘Craft Industry’ and ‘Split Clarity’. In all four trends, color plays the dominant role.

“Color is the decisive signal for the coming season. Powerful and omnipresent, color refreshes the senses, sets important accents and is a conscious part of all styles”. Claudia Herke

Overview of the Four New Trend Themes.

‘Colour Riot’: colors in revolt

In ‘Colour Riot’, dynamic, shades of color appear in a new context – fresh, bold and vivid. And there are no limits on the interaction with light. High-gloss materials, colored laminations, superimposed motifs, fluid and flexible fabrics underscore the brilliance of monochrome colors. New are ‘optical fibers’, iridescent effects and recycled materials. Quality, wear resistance and longevity are important to these high-grade materials.

When it comes to patterns- look for broad stripes, all-over geometric patterns and graphic motifs  The computer world is represented by digital designs, photographic prints and hologram effects. Despite the playful urge to experiment, the unexpected looks appear clear and unequivocal.

Buzz words:

glossy, coated, technical knits, smooth wool, clean felt, graphic patterns, diagonal stripes, pixel optics, overlay geometrics, color blocking, 3D effects, reassembled

‘Dark Lux’: the beauty of the night

The shadows of the night create a dark, mystical and elegant color series dominated by deep black, which is particularly expressive on lustrous materials. Rounding off the color world are dark, colored accents – pepped up by metallic champagne and gold. Rubberised, liquid looks and glossy surfaces interact with furs and long-haired, smooth hides. Clarity and severity give the sumptuous textiles their modern appearance. Iridescent, shimmering and transparent qualities with animated surface modulation generate an air of mystery. Deep gloss, metallic shimmers, sequins and elaborate materials are to be found in almost all product segments.

Buzzwords:

Luster, shadow prints, distorted patterns, embroidery, matelassé, crystals, glossy, leather, new opulence, varnished, 3d laminates, material contrast, elegant + modern architectural inspirations, straight line appliques, irregular reliefs, graphic stitching, graceful strength, metallic shimmer, brocade, vintage

‘Craft Industry’: a blend of tradition, handicrafts and the modern

The combination of tradition and handicrafts on the one hand and industrial and mechanical methods on the other dominate the look of ‘Craft Industry’. A sunny-warm and lively color series is oriented towards natural landscapes with sky, mountains, lakes and forests, which contrast with industrial, metallic coal, copper and old-gold tones.

‘Craft Industry’ shows lively surfaces with irregular textures and lots of structured elements. Important are qualities with an authentic image and materials with vintage character, as well as restrained destroyed and used looks.

Fine patterns are created using creative techniques. The dominant elements include composite or offset checks, extraordinary patchwork designs, broken patterns, stripes and checks with partial pile effects, hand-sewn looks, intarsia and elaborately processed patches.

Buzzwords:

Uncover, industrial past, lively, authentic, vintage, used, structured, reused, tumbled, washed, crashed, waxed, quilted, simple, inserted patches, interrupted pattern, handstitched, folk look, nomadic lifestyle, handmade character, flamed effects, embossed, Shetlands, pile effects, unusual skins, native, genuine, natural,

‘Split Clarity’: the bare essentials

Less is more – ‘Split Clarity’ concentrates on simple, functional and essential elements. In other words, the focus is on sustainability, quality, high technology and new materials. The result is clear-cut, modern aesthetics. Clarity is reflected by a series of colors inspired by nature. The minimalistic and restrained compositions are generally interrupted by a single expressive shade. Material versatility is crucial. Metallic and reflecting surfaces, semi-plain patterns and transparent materials are used, as are animated but restrained surfaces. Linear, high-contrast and severe graphic designs set unequivocal accents. Depth is created by the interaction of light and shadow in different materials and surfaces.

Buzzwords:

Minimal, graphic, functional, intelligent, smart textiles, vibrant surfaces, metallic aspects, severe, constructed, sculptural materials, volume, technological evolution, ultra-light, shiny, immaterial, smooth, faded and pleated, opaque prints, laser-cuts, varied nature of materials, sustainability, quality, hi-tech, new materials, modern, calm, pure

Interior Design magazine has announced  the finalists for its BOY( Best of the Year) awards today.. I also find it interesting to follow the contest- especially to see what they see as the best textiles and of course, window treatments and I always vote. The winners will be announced December 1st at their gala in NYC.

See the finalists for Window Treatments below and to see the other finalists click HERE

Athey Shade featuring Chilewich  in collaboration with DFB   

Collaboration between Chilewich and DFB for the Athey Shade line (introduced in 1928 by Bronx Window Shade – it’s the oldest dual operation pleated shade still in production today) This is the first time use of Chilewich signature woven textiles for Athey window treatments. 5 weaves – 40 colors

 CONRAD Original Sunshades, Wintersea Weave No.1762 by CONRAD

  Soft, cool grey with subtle depth and texture, the Wintersea window shade is handcrafted of ramie and palm fibers and white warp threads in a smooth weave that can live in harmony with a traditional or contemporary

Natural Rollershades by Hartmann&Forbes    

 The New Realism  by Hunter Douglas Hospitality    

The New Realism blends the notion of foregrounds and backgrounds, merging layers. The result provides an opportunity to take an ordinary or everyday sight and re-perceive it, revealing its beauty and uniqueness

Do you agree?  Is there a product mising that you think should be a finalist? Comment below:

Let me introduce Eun il lee, master Korean textile designer and partner in Artvivant Textiles. Lee is a hidden gem in the textile world; creating inspirational and unique textiles for Coulisse and  Nobilis along with his own firm. Both collections contain stunning textiles with a focus on window coverings as their end use. 

 We recently caught up with Lee and his partner Terry Bayless to discuss his collections and the process. The textiles are produced in the Philippines to take advantage of the natural fibers Asia has to offer; it’s  a varied range of materials – beads, leather, silk, branches, raffia.  Eun il lee’s textiles strike a balance between ancient and modern fibers combined with century old Korean looming techniques. The list is long and  I am always inspired by it. 

Nil’s style philosophy comes from the ying and yang.  This can be the connection between God and man, God and nature, or man and nature. Yin Yang is also present at more personal level- relationships between man and his or her history, home, parents and friends. Nil weaves these relationships into his fabrics.

Nil explains,  “I have a certain feeling with each material. My perception of silk, for example, is the womanly. The combination of hard fibers like abacas and pineapple and soft materials such as silk is exactly the philosophy of Yin and Yang. When you put them together they fight and harmonize to create a new personality.”

 Nil sees his loom as the tool for his creations- the fabrics are his painter’s canvas or the music’s notes. He says it best: “The fabrics are my poems, my songs, my paintings.” The handloom used to create his emotional textiles, was devised about 2,000 years ago and was brought to England by the Romans. The process consists of interlacing one set of threads of yarn (the warp) with another (the weft). The warp threads are stretched lengthwise in the weaving loom. The weft cross-threads, are woven into the warp to make the cloths.

Innovative materials are often incorporated into the designs, via traditional back-strap weaving. Artvivant focuses on blending natural fibers in such a way to produce a quality level similar to modern man made fabrics, for example the piña silk or pineapple thread which is the base material for many of the designs, is traditionally used for rope making.

The incorporation of bamboo, sticks and buri reeds provide horizontal strength and stability, which eliminate the need for cross bars in roman blinds, and make for elegant panel glides, room dividers, or roman blinds.

Couldn’t get to market? Check Out Design Confidential TV for a look at the hot new products introduced at High Point this week. here’s a peek of what showing:

Libby Langdon has partnered with Braxton Culler Inc. to produce her first licensed furniture collection. Courtesy of Furniture Today

Kathy Ireland expands her brand with licensing partnerships with four upholstery manufacturers – Albany Inds., La-Z-Boy’s Bauhaus USA division, Lloyd’s of Chatham and Jonathan Louis. Courtesy of Furniture Today

Home Accents Today showcases new  lighting, accent furniture and area rug product launches.

Watch for future posts where we’ll talk trends, market reviews and  give you  our favorite picks.