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How do color stylists create the color palettes for next year's products? In the seventh of our series, Monika Fecht, Head of Design Management at RENOLIT, returns to show us the mood boards she developed to create the colors for 2009-2010.
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Text & collages by Monika Fecht
„Die Seele ist ein weites Land.“ / “The soul is a vast territory.” Arthur Schnitzler
Having already reached its peak, the trend towards individualism is turning on itself and destroying the art of uniqueness. Human beings are experiencing a feeling of discontent brought on by a situation where they are entirely left to their own devices and free to do whatever they want. This ego trip is evolving into a journey into new lands, which they hope will offer them what they believe they have lost.
In keeping with this state of mind, the various color and design trends for the coming season are like visions of distant lands or perhaps even continents, which are waiting to be rediscovered. These are worlds with opposing traits full of creativity. A general mixture of fashion and decoration, austerity and playfulness, color and neutrality and tradition and innovation will be seen – a combination of vintage and ethnic influences.
Our familiar sense of color is changing in that links are being established between reality and virtual images in urban living environments. Subliminal and inconspicuous or dissonant, even aggressive color harmonies are appearing.
We are encountering surrealistic aspects in strange forms, surfaces, combinations and fragmented designs with collages and patterns. The design exhibits sculptural volume, flowing, feather-light materials and dimensions hanging in folds.
In this confused world, we are developing individual methods of camouflage in order to fit in and take up a stance. In view of this fact, being original and natural is becoming all the more desirable. Textured surfaces and soft felts are just two of the tactile responses.
Within this puzzle of ideas, whether they be systematic or disorderly, elegant or irritating, the search for new creations always focuses on achieving convenience for users in everyday life.
The aim of this chaos is to escape from the real and virtual world, to distance ourselves from the old, to find new strength and to reinvent ourselves – all with a view to ultimately asserting our position. This brings about self-confident changes, which not only make it possible to reconsider and reinterpret what is familiar but also generate unexpected results.
The need to express our own individuality was satisfied through having the largest possible variety of product ranges; now it is all about identity and a convincing opportunity to fulfil the need for affiliation.
The most important factor for the new season is the playful use of color. Color can be used to define a personality, a difference, or to show affiliation to a group of like-minded people. It is the power and the driving force for the coming season. The new palette features colors and nuances ranging from synthetic white, matt aluminum, ore grey, tobacco brown and white gold to surrealistic pink and deep blackberry shades, juniper green and translucent blue.
The new collages for 2009/10 portray a certain design flexibility. This flexibility can be seen in people’s own minds in the form of current reflections, fading memories or crazy dreams, in the playground of new creations, in people’s awareness of being green in the environment or in the clarity of deep blue waters in the area of well-being.
This ego trip is evolving into a journey into new lands, which they hope will offer them what they believe they have lost. In keeping with this state of mind, the various color and design trends for the coming season are like visions of distant lands or perhaps even continents, which are waiting to be rediscovered.
Land of Reflection / No Man‘s Land
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The elegant combination of ink black and radiant white continues to be seen. Graphical lines and geometric micro-patterns govern the mathematical interaction of Cubist designs, which feature imposing materials such as high-gloss finishes. The severe contrast is broken up by ethnic influences in colorless shades ranging from cool light grey or slate grey to anthracite. At the same time, the dark, saturated and lightly colored greys set the tone. Neutrality is seen in the form of fine tweeds and felt materials, which almost give the impression that they are set in a hazy backdrop.
Land of Memories / Land of Dreams
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The colors of old scripts, books and book covers, films and photographs have a determining influence on the new palette. It features sensuous powder and skin tones, milk white and creamy white, ivory and porcelain, warm wood colors, and tobacco brown and mocha brown. The surreal images and forms of our dreams manifest themselves in the design. Padded contours as well as layering and folding techniques create an illusion of volume. Alienated features are presented in the latest putty and khaki shades, in white-grey and green-grey, in light gold and mother of pearl.
Land of Playground / Land of Goldmine
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Linked structures have long been established in everyday urban life. Now they are challenging us and are winning over design and architecture with charm. The interaction of individual fragments creates transparency, weightlessness and a bizarre diversity. Terracotta, caramel, red-orange, copper and the red-brown of African earth are the new colors concerned. Old geometrical patterns from China and the sophisticated pioneer style of North-American gold diggers have inspired us. The group made up of black-grey, beige and bronze features a slight dust effect. A little gold powder can be randomly seen shimmering on the surfaces. Fine and coarse linens and fabric textures can be found not only on the fashion market.
Land of Heat and Heart
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In the upcoming year, powerful reds in a wide variety of shades will be seen. These shades range from deep purple, blood red, brick red and salmon red to coral shades and even pastel and flashy pinks. The ultraviolet color shades have an almost eccentric appearance. Extremely dark blackberry shades are challenging us to come up with new and elegant combinations. Ethnic influences are reflected in the origin of the materials used. Scottish tartans and handicraft techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Cubic and organic forms are determining the design of the products which are on offer.
Land of Awareness
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Climate change and discussions regarding sustainability are altering our color preferences as well. Shades of green can be seen not only in public areas, they are also making their way into broad areas of our design culture. The 1950s and 1960s are influencing us with their tropical exoticism. Bluish fir green, British racing green, emerald green and lemon pastel, crocodile green, moss and deep olive shades in combination with yellow lend color to the new style. In addition, by amalgamating all these tones the creation of the camouflage effect occurs, which is very vogue in its own right.
Land of Feelings / Land of Deep Waters
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Blue can do two things. It brings us together as it extends across the earth in both the expanse of the sky and the depths of the ocean. At the same time, blue takes us on a journey of reflection. Fresh air to breathe and the rhythmic splashing and rushing of clear water, it creates energy and inner quiet. The color palette ranges from light turquoise, aqua, light blue and petrol blue to darker shades such as navy, cobalt, indigo and ink blue. The new surfaces have a transparent and airy appearance. Glass imitations amaze and deceive our senses.
Originally published in frank.stein magazine. Reproduced by kind permission of Monika Fecht and Frank Stein.