DESIGN THAT MOVES YOU June 23-25, 2017
Los Angeles Convention Center
2017 COLOR + TRENDS LOOKBOOK Dwell on Design brings together the brightest people, the latest products, and curated content under one roof. The exhibition and conference showcase the best in modern design materials, furnishings, smart home technology, garden and outdoor products, kitchen and bath, and international design.
TICKETS: dwellondesign.com/register The Dwell on Design trademark is used under license and with the permission of Dwell Life, Inc.
2017+ COLOR Trends
REWIRED HUMANITY
QUIETUDE
COLOR NARRATIVES 2017+
By Mark Woodman CMG, MarkWoodman Design + Color Color and design evolve, emerging in new directions, while whispering of their not so distant pasts. Though it may seem that way at times, it is not just a sudden burst that brings a color into the design world. It is a studied journey, filled with narratives that illuminate the meaning for the emergence and direction of color, and design.
RAINBOW BRIGHT
With a view to 2017 and beyond, we will further evolve our love/hate relationship with technology and its place within our humanity, and with that, balance moments of calm, with the joys of excitement. Color is but one element of design, though it is often the most important. Nearly 85% of every consumer decision is based on color, so it is no wonder that getting color spot on is so important. But the narratives aren’t complete without texture and touch. How it feels, as well as how it looks, are key to designing our spaces. From an evolving narrative, to newly emerging inspirations, three important macro trends are carrying us forward with relevant colors, considered design, and key textures. 4
Color Narratives 2017+
By markwoodman
design+color
Color and design evolve, emerging in new directions, while whispering of their not so distant pasts. Though it may seem that way at times, it is not just a sudden burst that brings a color into the design world. It is a studied journey, filled with narratives that illuminate the meaning for the emergence and direction of color, and design. From an evolving narrative, to newly emerging inspirations, three important macro trends are carrying us forward with relevant colors, considered design, and key textures.
REWIRED HUMANITY This is an advancing story as we continue to merge more of our lives with our technologies. Driverless cars to keep us mobile, health-measuring Fitbits feeding information to our devices, as well as “the cloud,” and smart homes with smart products, are all elements of how our technology is intertwined with our lives. Our humanity is being rewired as we connect (and disconnect) from our devices and one another. Emerging Surfaces: • Soft touch textures •S atin finishes to create a quiet glow •M etallics and metallic washes over wood • “Smart” materials
Words: • Enhanced humanity • Multi-function • HumanTech • Augmented Reality
Colors: • Yellow symbolizes growth and energy •W arm greys bring contrast with hard metals and have a rustic urban aesthetic •E lectric and cobalt blue represent technology and a nod to human history •M id-range, muted orange represents all humanity
QUIETUDE According to James Stephens, “Quiet is the first happiness.” As a response to our rapid fire lives, we seek to subdue the noise and stress of moving through the day. Our devices are with us 24 hours a day, every day, and the need to turn them off and “have a moment,” is as important as our being connected. Emerging Surfaces: • Rounded, smooth, easy to maneuver around • Matte sheen, almost powdered • Shimmering finishes • Transparent or semi-transparent layering
Words: • Comfort • Calm • Escape • Relief
Colors: • Soft white • Muted grey, brown, and beige will suggest skin seen through a veil • Misted blue and green, as nature emerging in the fog • Yellow as pale as the first ray of morning sunshine • Subtle lilac and rose will take on mystic auras
RAINBOW BRIGHT
Despite the need for calm and rest, we will always crave motivation and excitement. It’s not always about being chill. Quiet moments may bring us simple calm, but then we need to jump up, celebrate and dance. It’s a response to negativity and bad news. It is the joy of seeing others excel, as you excel. For a joyful moment, all we need is to look to the rainbow. As a beautiful demonstration from nature, rainbows introduce colors of joy, suggest youthful innocence, and hint at a pot of gold waiting at the end. Emerging Surfaces: • Shine and polish • Multiple textures • Layering materials
Words: • Celebration • Joy • Upbeat • Bright
Colors: • Rainbow spectrum of all colors • Crisp white adds balance and brightness • Turquoise brings a water element from the sea and sky • Gold metallic symbolizes prosperity and forward thinking • Colors are not garishly bright, but remain cheerful
2017+ PRODUCT Trends
DAYDREAM
DESERT EXPLORER
FADED
NATURALIST
DESIGN & PRODUCT TREND NARRATIVES 2017+ By Stephanie Coffaro, FARO Creative
For much of the modern era, design has been about moving forward, pushing the envelope, progress for progress’s sake and exploring the unknown. While this has resulted in huge leaps in the evolution of technology and its role in our daily lives, it’s also established a constantly accelerating pace of life, an interminable need for instant gratification regardless of quality, and has left so many feeling exhausted, temporary, and in-between rather than being present and content with the here and now. We find ourselves waiting for the next big update or the next “cool” thing. Photo Credit: Eskayel Studio
RAW & REFINED
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DESIGN & PRODUCT TREND NARRATIVES 2017+ Continued...
NATURALIST
As a direct response to our heavy reliance and interest in technology and the digital movement, “Naturalist” is the counterbalance that truly brings us back to the earth and the elements, seeking beauty in the ordinary and disconnecting from the virtual world to be more present and in the moment. Warm and grounded, a color palette of earth tones, deep greens, and sage combines with natural materials like unfinished wood, cork, rattan, caning, abaca, and wool to create a relaxing and soothing escape from our hi-tech lifestyle. Big leafy plants invite nature to be present in our spaces in a less controlled, more natural way. Organic, unrestrained patterns and textures are inspired by those found in nature, and a focus on recycled materials and environmentally friendly products reflects a continuous trend towards social and environmental responsibility and mindful choices.
DESERT EXPLORER
“Desert Explorer” takes the well-worn Bohemian trend of the past and gives it a more sophisticated and personalized upgrade. With influences from North Africa, India, and traditional Native American cultures, it is about bringing warmth, pattern and texture into our spaces whilst creating a slow, eclectic elegance. As travel becomes more influential and desirable in our lives, it also gives us an opportunity to integrate a global influence, cultivating our spaces and making them up of pieces we collect throughout our more memorable adventures around the world. Versatile, more subdued colors like dusty peaches, sandy browns and taupes, spice-inspired colors and even mauve create a beautiful palette without being overly garish, giving this trend some serious staying power. Plush woven poufs, embroidery, washed linens, nubby blankets and textiles, and geometric patterns used selectively and artfully go a long way to creating visual interest and warmth in even the most minimal of spaces.
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DESIGN & PRODUCT TREND NARRATIVES 2017+
Continued...
RAW AND REFINED
We’ve seen rustic and antique, we’ve seen polished and new, but in 2017 we are pairing the old and the new together to create a worn-in, understated elegance that highlights a beautiful contrast between rough and smooth textures and a departure from the temporary in favor of pieces that will last. Old pieces of furniture recovered in new fabrics, freshly dyed vintage rugs, distressed wood in various natural tones, concrete and matte metals in brass and bronze all celebrate this hybrid aesthetic of softened industrial and controlled rusticity. Working in tandem with Raw and Refined is the idea of returning to craft and heritage- purchasing one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces from local artisans in lieu of off-the-shelf, machine manufactured items from big-box stores. Adding personalization to our homes with custom craftsmanship and a great attention to little details makes this less of a trend and more of a guideline for timeless designs that suit our situations and lifestyles.
DAYDREAM
Inspired by sunsets and a life aquatic, dreamy pastel hues of pink, blue and periwinkle, soft textiles, and light, whimsical patterns create a relaxing watercolor world. The Daydream palette pairs well with the still-influential Nordic design elements, bringing color fluidly and subtly into the built environment.
FADED
They say black and white never go out of style, and this year will continue to prove them right. A monochromatic palette of neutral tones in blacks, whites, and mineral grays creates a terrific base for contrast within our spaces. Put those hues on display by using smoky glass, translucent finishes, clear acrylic or tulle and mesh-like textures for a more airy quality that won’t oppress a room. Bright white and dark timber floors will also make a huge statement without going out of style.
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Special Thanks to
&
FARO CREATIVE
Official Publication Sponsor
The Dwell on Design trademark is used under license and with the permission of Dwell Life, Inc.