Will These Be the Top Design Trends of 2021?
This month’s Maison & Objet Digital Fair was full of ways to bring comfort and conscious consumption to our interiors
Agnès Carpentier
26 September 2020
The September 2020 edition of the Maison & Objet trade fair, which usually takes place in Paris, France, was this year transformed into a digital conference (the Digital Fair, September 4-18), hosted on its year-round digital platform, Maison et Objet and More (MOM).
Through online seminars, podcasts and product picks, the fair pinned down the trends for the coming year with the help of experts on style, architecture, design and lifestyle. The event explored the consumption patterns of the younger generations, the new needs created by Covid-19, the movement towards a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle, and the future of design.
Through online seminars, podcasts and product picks, the fair pinned down the trends for the coming year with the help of experts on style, architecture, design and lifestyle. The event explored the consumption patterns of the younger generations, the new needs created by Covid-19, the movement towards a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle, and the future of design.
Ports table by Bene. Photo by Wolfgang Zlodej.
Trends driven by the digital generation
On Maison & Objet’s 25th anniversary, trend forecaster Vincent Grégoire, director of consumer trends and insights at the Nelly Rodi agency, chose not to look backwards, but gave the conference the motto ‘(Re)Generation.’
In the fair’s January edition, he had stressed the activism of Generations Y and Z. In the September 2020 edition, he invited us to analyse millennials’ hyperconnected lifestyle, brought up on the internet and smartphones from a young age. He reminds us that by 2025, Generations Y (1980-1995) and Z (1996-2010) will represent 75% of the world’s workforce.
Trends driven by the digital generation
On Maison & Objet’s 25th anniversary, trend forecaster Vincent Grégoire, director of consumer trends and insights at the Nelly Rodi agency, chose not to look backwards, but gave the conference the motto ‘(Re)Generation.’
In the fair’s January edition, he had stressed the activism of Generations Y and Z. In the September 2020 edition, he invited us to analyse millennials’ hyperconnected lifestyle, brought up on the internet and smartphones from a young age. He reminds us that by 2025, Generations Y (1980-1995) and Z (1996-2010) will represent 75% of the world’s workforce.
Toucan Paradise wallpaper by La Touche Originale.
The portrait Grégoire paints of millennials, who grew up in the digital era, is that of “an augmented generation, enamoured of screens, gaming, and pixels.” They turn to social networks to spot trends, and don’t hesitate to boycott brands and hold them accountable. It’s also a generation that’s more invested in ‘wellness’ and swift to reshape the world.
With the advent of co-working and co-living, these young people have reinvented mix-and-match. Their décor favours eclecticism and flexible furniture. Tech is everywhere. Vincent Grégoire suggests this is the foundational element of their universe, “a facilitator that makes everything fluid” for these generations.
Millennials redefine the world and their environments through four new rules that have to be taken into account: more digital, more wellness, more mixes and more technology.
The portrait Grégoire paints of millennials, who grew up in the digital era, is that of “an augmented generation, enamoured of screens, gaming, and pixels.” They turn to social networks to spot trends, and don’t hesitate to boycott brands and hold them accountable. It’s also a generation that’s more invested in ‘wellness’ and swift to reshape the world.
With the advent of co-working and co-living, these young people have reinvented mix-and-match. Their décor favours eclecticism and flexible furniture. Tech is everywhere. Vincent Grégoire suggests this is the foundational element of their universe, “a facilitator that makes everything fluid” for these generations.
Millennials redefine the world and their environments through four new rules that have to be taken into account: more digital, more wellness, more mixes and more technology.
Desk, mirror and stool by Resistub.
Interiors shaped by the pandemic
In the seminar Information & Intuition: Anticipating the New Needs of Consumers after Covid-19, Jaye Anna Mize, vice president of home interiors at Fashion Snoops, and Carrera Kurnik, editor-in-chief of consumer culture and strategy at the same trends agency, identified four emotions that have emerged over the past few months: anxiety, isolation, fear and confusion. These are paired with more positive feelings – gratitude, inspiration, empathy and clarity – that are also a reflection of our collective responses to the pandemic.
These emotional needs translate into the décor of the home, particularly in ways that help soften the negative emotions and make us more resilient.
Modularity Consumers are opting for a more modular interior, where they can carry out multiple tasks, such as working, eating or playing. “This pandemic has really caused consumers to look deep at their needs … and with that we’ve really prioritised items that are more adaptable for all situations,” Mize says.
Interiors shaped by the pandemic
In the seminar Information & Intuition: Anticipating the New Needs of Consumers after Covid-19, Jaye Anna Mize, vice president of home interiors at Fashion Snoops, and Carrera Kurnik, editor-in-chief of consumer culture and strategy at the same trends agency, identified four emotions that have emerged over the past few months: anxiety, isolation, fear and confusion. These are paired with more positive feelings – gratitude, inspiration, empathy and clarity – that are also a reflection of our collective responses to the pandemic.
These emotional needs translate into the décor of the home, particularly in ways that help soften the negative emotions and make us more resilient.
Modularity Consumers are opting for a more modular interior, where they can carry out multiple tasks, such as working, eating or playing. “This pandemic has really caused consumers to look deep at their needs … and with that we’ve really prioritised items that are more adaptable for all situations,” Mize says.
Procini vase by Chicura Copenhagen.
Healing and comforting interiors Increasingly, we expect interiors to also take care of our health, with renewed attention on solutions for air and water purification or antimicrobial work surfaces. “Ikea, right when the pandemic hit … came out with protective, purifying curtains that actually purify your home like a filtration system,” Mize says.
This focus also includes home fitness, with suitable materials and furniture that are adapted to indoor exercise.
Interiors have turned into a refuge, and we are investing heavily in the capacity to protect ourselves from the world outside with better sound insulation and an emphasis on sleep and the décor of the bedroom and living room. “We are definitely moving towards comfort,” Mize says.
Healing and comforting interiors Increasingly, we expect interiors to also take care of our health, with renewed attention on solutions for air and water purification or antimicrobial work surfaces. “Ikea, right when the pandemic hit … came out with protective, purifying curtains that actually purify your home like a filtration system,” Mize says.
This focus also includes home fitness, with suitable materials and furniture that are adapted to indoor exercise.
Interiors have turned into a refuge, and we are investing heavily in the capacity to protect ourselves from the world outside with better sound insulation and an emphasis on sleep and the décor of the bedroom and living room. “We are definitely moving towards comfort,” Mize says.
Ginkgo Pop poster by Common Modern.
Reliable, stable, durable, local The stressful climate in which we live reinforces our need for durable products. “People are home all the time, using their home products a lot more, so this resiliency is really key,” Mize says.
Beyond the pandemic, we are conscious of living in an environmental crisis. We are anxious to preserve our planet with lasting solutions, with little (or no) environmental impact, notably by putting new value on the local.
More humour The health crisis and life in lockdown have created a new need for little uplifting touches in our homes. “Consumers will be tightening their belts on spending, but they will find … value in little colourful pieces of joy that they can bring home with them,” Kurnik says.
Reliable, stable, durable, local The stressful climate in which we live reinforces our need for durable products. “People are home all the time, using their home products a lot more, so this resiliency is really key,” Mize says.
Beyond the pandemic, we are conscious of living in an environmental crisis. We are anxious to preserve our planet with lasting solutions, with little (or no) environmental impact, notably by putting new value on the local.
More humour The health crisis and life in lockdown have created a new need for little uplifting touches in our homes. “Consumers will be tightening their belts on spending, but they will find … value in little colourful pieces of joy that they can bring home with them,” Kurnik says.
Neva Lounge Trimmed chair, Cloud sideboard from Artisan.
Conscientious consumption
As regulars of Maison & Objet, trend forecasters Elizabeth Leriche, François Bernard and François Delclaux have once again given their interpretations of exhibited objects, in this case for the Digital Fair on the MOM platform.
The trio emphasised the advent of more simple and ethical things, imprinted with art and spirituality. These new designs will be popular with engaged and conscientious consumers who distance themselves from the mass production of products made just to be thrown out.
Conscientious consumption
As regulars of Maison & Objet, trend forecasters Elizabeth Leriche, François Bernard and François Delclaux have once again given their interpretations of exhibited objects, in this case for the Digital Fair on the MOM platform.
The trio emphasised the advent of more simple and ethical things, imprinted with art and spirituality. These new designs will be popular with engaged and conscientious consumers who distance themselves from the mass production of products made just to be thrown out.
Zig Zag & Tam Tam stools and Sherbet vases from Pols Potten.
Bernard sees an aspiration to simplify or even spiritually elevate our possessions in this post-industrial epoch – a trend he calls ‘Modernastic’ – while Delclaux points out a new focus on the local. He talks about the ‘New Traditional’, and says it’s “creation that establishes new traditions by searching for a proximity of production at a hyper-local scale, that respects an environmental ethic.”
Finally, Elizabeth Leriche sees an artistic breeze blowing through the lifestyle sector, with a powerful expressivity of form and graphics. She highlights examples of new objects that are “flattened or in totemic forms à la Brancusi, stripes à la Buren, drips à la Pollock, cubic faces à la Picasso and reassuring organic forms”. This season’s trends cross the boundary between art and craft.
Bernard sees an aspiration to simplify or even spiritually elevate our possessions in this post-industrial epoch – a trend he calls ‘Modernastic’ – while Delclaux points out a new focus on the local. He talks about the ‘New Traditional’, and says it’s “creation that establishes new traditions by searching for a proximity of production at a hyper-local scale, that respects an environmental ethic.”
Finally, Elizabeth Leriche sees an artistic breeze blowing through the lifestyle sector, with a powerful expressivity of form and graphics. She highlights examples of new objects that are “flattened or in totemic forms à la Brancusi, stripes à la Buren, drips à la Pollock, cubic faces à la Picasso and reassuring organic forms”. This season’s trends cross the boundary between art and craft.
Siena paint from the Terres Lointaine collection from Atelier Germain.
A return to raw and natural colours and materials
Earthy palettes The return to simplicity and nature can be seen in the fact that the colours favoured in our interiors remain largely inspired by the earth, vegetation and the sky, in “a monochrome motif of muted shades picked up by stronger accents – citrus, fennel or Black Krim tomato,” Bernard says. He also highlights the “whiteness, the diaphanous paleness” of the materials, for example alabaster, which for him signifies the quest for the spirituality of creation.
Delclaux highlights “a mineral and woody spectrum composed of pale woods, pebble greys, the colours of the earth – ochre, brown, terracotta – and the colours of glazes: celadon, porcelain blue or Prussian blue”.
Elizabeth Leriche defines the spectrum of colours of the year as “warming and muted”, where warm tones (saffron, terracotta, garnet) are contrasted with forest colours (sage, pine and turquoise) and punctuated by neutrals (chalk and slate grey).
A return to raw and natural colours and materials
Earthy palettes The return to simplicity and nature can be seen in the fact that the colours favoured in our interiors remain largely inspired by the earth, vegetation and the sky, in “a monochrome motif of muted shades picked up by stronger accents – citrus, fennel or Black Krim tomato,” Bernard says. He also highlights the “whiteness, the diaphanous paleness” of the materials, for example alabaster, which for him signifies the quest for the spirituality of creation.
Delclaux highlights “a mineral and woody spectrum composed of pale woods, pebble greys, the colours of the earth – ochre, brown, terracotta – and the colours of glazes: celadon, porcelain blue or Prussian blue”.
Elizabeth Leriche defines the spectrum of colours of the year as “warming and muted”, where warm tones (saffron, terracotta, garnet) are contrasted with forest colours (sage, pine and turquoise) and punctuated by neutrals (chalk and slate grey).
Swatches from Libeco Home.
Natural and raw materials In the move towards more simplicity – indeed rusticity – it’s no surprise that the most natural and raw materials possible are chosen. For Bernard, this season’s winners are pale woods and woven materials (straw, webbing and caning). On the textile side, we give pride of place to linen, wool, rattan, seagrass and sisal.
Stripes are also popular, providing a graphic contrast, and she also highlights the appeal of patched or fringed materials, a raw but sophisticated and authentic treatment of fabric with imperfect edges, as though “fallen from the loom and crudely cut”.
Leriche highlights the importance of wool and piled fabric in creating comfortable and enveloping textures. She also notes the enduring appeal of ceramics (terracotta, sandstone, paper clay, terre mêlée), stone (travertine), natural wood, blackened metal or coloured glass.
Natural and raw materials In the move towards more simplicity – indeed rusticity – it’s no surprise that the most natural and raw materials possible are chosen. For Bernard, this season’s winners are pale woods and woven materials (straw, webbing and caning). On the textile side, we give pride of place to linen, wool, rattan, seagrass and sisal.
Stripes are also popular, providing a graphic contrast, and she also highlights the appeal of patched or fringed materials, a raw but sophisticated and authentic treatment of fabric with imperfect edges, as though “fallen from the loom and crudely cut”.
Leriche highlights the importance of wool and piled fabric in creating comfortable and enveloping textures. She also notes the enduring appeal of ceramics (terracotta, sandstone, paper clay, terre mêlée), stone (travertine), natural wood, blackened metal or coloured glass.
USVA napkin design by Anu Leinonen for Lapuan Kankurit.
More ethical, more durable, more wellness
Other digital talks focused on the ethical values of caring, durability, recycling.
Care Antoine Fenoglio (Les Sismo), Marilyne Goulard (Tarkett) and Eric de Thoisy (SCAU Architecture) discussed the power of architecture to do good and the manner in which we can face the present crises, in a talk entitled Caring Architecture.
“The point of Care is not to overdramatise, but to approach our interiors by tackling the problem of vulnerability head on,” de Thoisy says.
Durability and recycling Virginie Corbasson, director of European Development, and Virginie Mourouvin, style expert at Carlin, explored the trend of Neo-vintage and Second-hand Goods as new growth opportunities for brands.
“Amid economic troubles and a lack of meaning, active consumers have been sharpening their pragmatic approach during this health crisis. Going forwards, they will be focusing on products whose design and aesthetic are top-quality and are recyclable or can even take on a new life second-hand,” they say in the talk description.
More ethical, more durable, more wellness
Other digital talks focused on the ethical values of caring, durability, recycling.
Care Antoine Fenoglio (Les Sismo), Marilyne Goulard (Tarkett) and Eric de Thoisy (SCAU Architecture) discussed the power of architecture to do good and the manner in which we can face the present crises, in a talk entitled Caring Architecture.
“The point of Care is not to overdramatise, but to approach our interiors by tackling the problem of vulnerability head on,” de Thoisy says.
Durability and recycling Virginie Corbasson, director of European Development, and Virginie Mourouvin, style expert at Carlin, explored the trend of Neo-vintage and Second-hand Goods as new growth opportunities for brands.
“Amid economic troubles and a lack of meaning, active consumers have been sharpening their pragmatic approach during this health crisis. Going forwards, they will be focusing on products whose design and aesthetic are top-quality and are recyclable or can even take on a new life second-hand,” they say in the talk description.
Chameleon Inge natural home from Marta.
Finally, architect Marie Deroudilhe and Quentin Hirsinger, president of matériO, in a talk entitled Sustainable Interiors and Materials: The Quandary, analysed the fact that the choice of construction materials often comes down to a more complex equation than just their pure durability. “There are no good materials or bad materials, it’s all about using them well,” Hirsinger says.
Deroudilhe, imagining each project as a durable entity, says that “reuse and vintage pieces could easily represent 60% of a project, against 40% new things”. To make this work, it’s vital to preserve that which already exists, and to have no fear of mixing the modern and the old in purposeful anachronisms.
Finally, architect Marie Deroudilhe and Quentin Hirsinger, president of matériO, in a talk entitled Sustainable Interiors and Materials: The Quandary, analysed the fact that the choice of construction materials often comes down to a more complex equation than just their pure durability. “There are no good materials or bad materials, it’s all about using them well,” Hirsinger says.
Deroudilhe, imagining each project as a durable entity, says that “reuse and vintage pieces could easily represent 60% of a project, against 40% new things”. To make this work, it’s vital to preserve that which already exists, and to have no fear of mixing the modern and the old in purposeful anachronisms.
Designer Ramy Fischler, founder of RF Studio, and Philippe Brocart, director general of Maison & Objet, at digital talk Design, and… Action!
Design reinvented to imagine the world of tomorrow
In an interview with Philippe Brocart, director general of Maison & Objet, designer Ramy Fischler evoked the renewal of design and the new ways of creating for tomorrow. “We are forced to think about the world after in a hurry,” he says.
Design Fiction is the solution proposed by RF Studio, the agency he founded in 2011, which now numbers around 20 collaborators. By ‘Design Fiction’, he refers to a school of thought that has existed for a decade and which, instead of proceeding to the creation of new products through classic industrial steps (plans, scale models…), occurs through fiction – storytelling – and video.
Design reinvented to imagine the world of tomorrow
In an interview with Philippe Brocart, director general of Maison & Objet, designer Ramy Fischler evoked the renewal of design and the new ways of creating for tomorrow. “We are forced to think about the world after in a hurry,” he says.
Design Fiction is the solution proposed by RF Studio, the agency he founded in 2011, which now numbers around 20 collaborators. By ‘Design Fiction’, he refers to a school of thought that has existed for a decade and which, instead of proceeding to the creation of new products through classic industrial steps (plans, scale models…), occurs through fiction – storytelling – and video.
Sens-Fiction exhibition in Lille, France, conceived by RF Studio. Photo by MEL-Anouk Desury-Light Motiv.
Fischler communicates with millennials by using one of the most popular forms of media, the TV series. Four episodes have already been produce: the question of living things (eg a vegetable plot) in the kitchen (in an episode entitled Eco & Living Kitchen); the place of new technologies in our interiors (Smart and Friendly Home), trends introduced through co-living and co-working (Coliving & Work) and, finally, fun and wellbeing in the home (Play & Care).
“My subject is less in the creation of objects as of ecosystems,” he says. “If you want to build the city of tomorrow, for example to reinvent the greater Paris area or the pedagogy in a school, you can’t do that in a powerpoint or a model.”
Design fiction is therefore a direction for the future, for imagining the future that speaks to those who have grown up in the post-industrial era, strongly digitalised since the 2000s.
The series produced by the designer can be found on his social networks and the Maison & Objet website, and in the Sens Fiction exhibit in Lille, France, from 16 September to 15 November 2020 (pictured).
Tell us…
What do you think of these trends? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Fischler communicates with millennials by using one of the most popular forms of media, the TV series. Four episodes have already been produce: the question of living things (eg a vegetable plot) in the kitchen (in an episode entitled Eco & Living Kitchen); the place of new technologies in our interiors (Smart and Friendly Home), trends introduced through co-living and co-working (Coliving & Work) and, finally, fun and wellbeing in the home (Play & Care).
“My subject is less in the creation of objects as of ecosystems,” he says. “If you want to build the city of tomorrow, for example to reinvent the greater Paris area or the pedagogy in a school, you can’t do that in a powerpoint or a model.”
Design fiction is therefore a direction for the future, for imagining the future that speaks to those who have grown up in the post-industrial era, strongly digitalised since the 2000s.
The series produced by the designer can be found on his social networks and the Maison & Objet website, and in the Sens Fiction exhibit in Lille, France, from 16 September to 15 November 2020 (pictured).
Tell us…
What do you think of these trends? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Love the natural wood & fabrics. The wood minimalist furniture reads”mid-century modern” to me. One of my favorite design styles!
So interesting. How the world has changed in such a short space of time!! Good to hear Gen Y is likely to accent re-useable and lasting products. We live in a digital world, which will remain, but a more relaxed and meaningful approach to home/working life can only be a plus!
Love some of the ideas posted - but don't see any of the traditional styles - ie Ralph Lauren furniture/design which was at the Milan event too. Love their throw cusions and objects for decoration.