Boutique Design | boutiquedesign.com

(February 2012) posted on Thu Feb 16, 2012

Across all categories, hospitality product designers find value in using varied resources.

By Megan Krause

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During my recent trip to the Heimtextil contract and home fair  in Germany, I saw a slew of hospitality products that challenge the status quo by incorporating new materials. Most notably, I observed a major focus on 3D effects in textiles, wall coverings and flooring. Many products were made using artisanal techniques like embossing, hand stitching, quilting and pleating, while others depended on modern methods including digital printing, laser cuts, overlays and burn outs.

There was also a wealth of unexpected materials. Plastics worked their way into textiles as lustrous details and resilient coatings to repel dust and water. In one education session, the lecturer Anne Marie Commandeur from forecasting and design firm Stijlinstituut Amsterdam, pointed to up-and-coming designer Anique Noordman—who makes sculptural textiles using rubber, vinyl and constructed pleats—to illustrate the value of innovation.

New materials also showed up in the wall covering realm, in the form of decorative stone chips, glass beads, feathers and ribbons. In terms of flooring options, high-pile rugs featured cutouts that revealed striking materials like cowhide and incorporated hand stitching to add a homemade feel.

These material innovations were definitely part of the show’s wow factor. But, I’d also like to mention a few broader textile trends that emerged, including sheer, airy fabrics; optical illusions created by shimmer and shine; nature-inspired patterns featuring trees and flowers; and photo-realistic prints.

Inspired design only begins to describe the fabulous hospitality products that came in with the New Year. Read more about the power of great hospitality product design  in BD’s sister publication Hospitality Style.