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Paris Design Week

September 19, 2023

Homemaking is white hot. Think: domesticity as design direction.

It's coming up cake stands and candlesticks as renewed interest in traditional home life commercializes “homemaker” activities and aesthetics. A new lifestyle brand to keep an eye on, Mas Creations debuted with a living room scene fit for Don’t Worry Darling or Mad Men. Italian glassware from Mario Luca Giusti and Ichendorf Milano set the stage for retro garden parties, and an exhibit of artistic ashtrays signal smoking's fashionable resurgence. Minval Living’s sculptural tableware gave us a feeling for a return to collecting silver. Participating in Design Week, department store Le Bon Marche curated an exhibition of Spanish brands transforming homes into surreal fantasy spaces—To:From caught our eye emulating retro kitchens and canned goods.

"Polished playfulness" is the next frontier for maximalist, mood-boosting interiors.

It started with tufted rugs, wavy mirrors, and saturated color palettes as people sought interior design pick-me-ups during the pandemic. Now, sophistication and subtlety smooth out the design sensibility that reads more mature than trendy. Timothée Leclabart, one of Maison & Objet's "rising talent" selects, stood out with refined whimsiness, presenting a new collection of colorful chairs that look like cute friendly ghosts. We were smitten with Addison Ross’s bubbly pepper mills, Lily Juliet’s pastel marble serving pieces, and did a double take at Jonathan Adler, who seems to be toning down his flashy factor with playful takes on proper home design in delicate pop colors.

Our report, Consumer Dynamics: Aesthetics Pivot, projects creative & aesthetic direction shifts 2-5 years out.

Good office design beats Millennial amenities.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: it’s time to return to classic, comfortable office spaces. Environments that take themselves seriously simply make people feel important and productive. Exiting the era of Millennial tech-worker benefits like bottomless kombucha and mid-day yoga, we expect to see the investment reallocate to better office design, furniture, and décor. To coax the WFH-inclined off the couch, might we suggest an ergonomic “healthcare chair” from Noogi that trades polyester and padding for wood and moveable seat panels, or acoustic “negotiation rooms” from Evävaara Design. Nodding to the good ol' days of business and the current romanticization of print, Bigso Box of Sweden’s classic file boxes caught our attention.

A micro-mobility movement inspires new gear and gifting.

Another rising talent awardee, Athime De Crecy’s designs rethink everyday habits like getting around and moving stuff. His prototype for a lightweight electric bike struck us for its ability to carry luggage, which had us thinking: as micro-mobility designs like e-bikes advance, outfitting will follow. Also exhibiting at Maison & Objet, Tomo makes clothing and gear for urban riders, marrying style and function. Out and about in Paris, we stumbled upon a gift shop showcasing bike gear from Thousand—expect to see chic helmets and gloves topping gift wish lists in years to come.

Minimalism may have a second act.

While color and clutter prevail, Minimalism quietly makes its case for a second coming. Shape and texture breathe new life into plane-Jane style. Bulbous, blobby, and buoyant features give muted, neutral presentations a punch in the arm. 101 Copenhagen’s “Sumo” vase brings amusement to minimalism in a nod to Japanese wrestlers’ voluptuous form. British brand Toogood showcased a “Dough Ceramics” collection, presenting as soft, lighthearted, and anti-bland. Giobagnara adds dimension through texture, blending weighty materials like leather, marble, and wood. Rule of thumb moving forward: don’t be boring.

But wait, there's more...

Munich Musings

September 12, 2023

Retro living and artificial surfing.

September 05, 2023

Gas stations, small homes, and a good ol' office

August 29, 2023

New romance, New England, no morals.

August 22, 2023

Gen Z’s quarter-life crisis and collectibles craze.

August 15, 2023

Jell-O, dolls, and religion return

August 08, 2023

Ralph reborn, peak produce season, and the circus is in town

August 01, 2023

Peak Pickles

July 25, 2023

Big female energy drinks.

July 18, 2023

Nostalgic IPs never end.

July 11, 2023

Fresh findings from Paris.

July 05, 2023

Tourist traps' ironic allure.

June 27, 2023

Shopping's existential crisis.

June 20, 2023

Rising tides for surf culture.

June 13, 2023

Fashion’s foot fetish.

May 30, 2023

Micro clout beats follower count.

May 23, 2023

The dupe culture wars.

May 15, 2023

PMS and EDM.

May 08, 2023

Cruises’ Gen Z era.

May 01, 2023

Vegas and mahjong

April 25, 2023

Boob jobs and Judy Blume.

April 18, 2023

Condiments and Gwyneth’s $1 win.

April 11, 2023

Pasta as creative direction.

April 04, 2023

We took our talents to Texas for SXSW

March 28, 2023

Weddings’ glow-up.

March 21, 2023

Scream queens and F1 fangirls.

March 14, 2023

Rock stars and english majors.

March 07, 2023

Sleep sells.

February 28, 2023

A Goop-ified hospital giftshop.

February 21, 2023

The best Super Bowl strategies.

February 14, 2023

Kinky fashion and dupe culture.

February 07, 2023

Hikers, bikers, and ravers, on my!

January 24, 2023

The brandland business model.

January 17, 2023

Laissez-faire fashion and religious retail.

January 10, 2023

Postpartum products and anti-aviation travel.

December 20, 2022

Self-care climate control and sassy snacks.

December 13, 2022

The great sardine surge.

December 06, 2022

Sad beige baby rooms.

November 29, 2022

“Sciura” chic and sexy solar design.

November 22, 2022

Mad Men advertising and cheap dates.

November 15, 2022

Reintroducing 1950’s housewives.

November 08, 2022

Barncore and pretty pet products.

November 01, 2022

Hypebeast Halloween costumes.

October 25, 2022

A meme-marketing epidemic.

October 18, 2022

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