The minimalist fashion for white is being replaced by tactile natural products like wood, a leading designer has told a design forum organised by panel producer Kronospan UK.
German-Italian surface designer Salvatore Figliuzzi told the Forum Vision of 2011 Surface Design, held at Kronospan’s Centre for Design Excellence in Chirk, that people want and are buying more natural materials because of their warmth, structure and touch.
“Texture is becoming very important,” he said. “Without really knowing why, people want to feel and touch the pieces so wood grain is becoming central.”
He said high-end contemporary furniture design is seeing a desire for wood surfaces with a rough saw-cut finish, while wood is also being used for feature walls.
“While these trends may not make the mainstream, the contemporary mode for mixing wood with a colour will become a familiar sight in interiors.”
Guests, including manufacturers, designers, shopfitters and distributors were given an opportunity to shape Kronospan’s trends for the new year by providing feedback on 36 surfaces designs presented at the forum.
“The idea of the forum was to ask our customers to engage with our design process and to hear their thoughts, as our eyes and ears to the end users,” said Paul Duddle, Kronospan’s product development and marketing manager.
The forum was the final leg of Kronospan’s annual design “journey”, which takes its designers around the world seeking inspiration and identifying future trends.
