Trends & Displays – London and Valencia April 2011

January 2011 saw this Trend Wall by Global Colour Research, The Mix and British Contract Furniture Association at the Materials and Surface Design Show in London's Business Design Centre in Islington.

The Trend Wall was the highlight of the show and predicted 2012 colour and texture trends. Epiphany, Scratch, Vanity and Monitor were the theme groups with the colours relating to these top trends.

We thought it would be interesting to compare these colours and textures from the Trend Wall with selected European displays and designs happening in Spring 2011.

This first image is a detail from a window by Benetton in Verozza in Spain. These bold yellows, greens and blues certainly echo the samples in our trend wall.

The Scratch theme in the Trend Wall above refers to mid century mark making and corporate colours.

This Benetton shop window has simple graphic forms which could well be a design for a company logo.

We couldn't help adding an image of the architecture of the Benetton shop in Verozza, it really is quite beautiful in an Art Noveau architectural style. Grand, decorative but slightly worn like the 'Vanity' theme of the Trend Wall at the Business Design Centre.

Monitor is the Trend Wall theme of high gloss and neon hues. Strong pink is definitely the choice d'jour at the 'Hello Kitty' store in Verozza in Spain. In this detailed image we can see it makes a very striking window display.

According to Wikipedia Hello Kitty was first designed in 1974 by the Japanese Sanrio company and Yoko Shimizu was the designer.

Hello Kitty continues in popularity today. This is no fluffy kitty and this strong graphic cartoon character image definitely belongs in the up to the minute digital age.

Hyper bright, graphic inspired floral fashion designs certainly caught the viewers attention in the windows at Thomas Garcia in Valencia in Spain this April.

The bright 'Monitor' theme stripes predicted by the 'Trend Wall' were seen here is these bold shoes by Thomas Garcia.

The 'Vanity' theme colours from the Trend Wall at the Materials and Surface Design Show in London can be seen again here in this display at Zara Home in Valencia, Spain.

The old gold and rick velvet textiles and accessories have a vintage, glamorous feel.

Is it coincidence we have found evidence of the Trends predicted at the Surface Design Shows Trend Wall this year even accross the continent? It is hard to tell. However we liked the Trend Wall by Global Colour Research and we look forward to more exciting trends and retail displays next year.