New aesthetics for furniture

“The various forms of change taking place will result in a new aesthetic in furniture design,” designer Kristina Meyer is certain.

Together with Thorsten Rosenstengel she runs the studio byform productdesign. “This new aesthetic and a different approach when it comes to product development will transform furniture construction and home living,” according to Meyer.

And it’s for this reason that the duo wants to use the upcoming interzum event as an opportunity to take a look into the near future. Under the heading “Furniture in Change – Shifting Boundaries” they are curating the Function & Components Trend Forum with innovative design ideas.

The special event at interzum will outline how the fittings and lighting industry is coming up with innovations to prepare for the future, and the themes and issues it is currently tackling. Components such as fittings or lighting systems play a significant part in enabling new designs and home living concepts to be applied to actual products, as they are quite literally the elements that keep everything connected. That’s why it will be particularly exciting to find out where manufacturers see the most potential to develop their solutions further and drive forward new products.

The Function & Components Trend Forum will be focusing on neo-ecology as the main theme for this year’s interzum.

Neo-ecology includes concepts such as resource-efficiency, use of renewable energy and innovative materials, and product development that takes into account the entire lifecycle of a product and beyond.

“In this special event area, we will be highlighting concepts that demonstrate or emphasise on the product the key requirements when it comes to neo-ecology,” says Thorsten Rosenstengel. “We have divided the topics into circular design, new flexible approaches to furniture and spaces, new technologies, "no more fittings" and new aesthetics.”
As a result, the special event area will be a hotspot for forward-looking fittings and other products and components that have been designed for the circular economy.

As part of the special event, new products and prototypes will be on display that demonstrate how the need to conserve resources is leading to new design solutions.

“The concept of solar design is another one that excites us,” says Kristina Meyer from byform. This trend aims to incorporate solar technology fully into day-to-day life. But it also involves a new aesthetic approach, with the aim of eliminating that familiar sight of black surfaces on the roofs of houses,” says Meyer.

An exhibit that makes this new technology visible on a conceptual level will also be on display in the special event area.

The aim of the Function & Components Trend Forum is to present the themes outlined in a creative way and showcase a fresh and innovative product aesthetic.

“Taking centre stage are innovative and ecologically sustainable solutions to future challenges,” says Kristina Meyer. The wealth of new ideas for product designs is set to spark an inspiring and forward-looking exchange of ideas.

"If visitors go away from the area having been able to get an overview of the themes that will affect our actions and thinking in the immediate future, then that’s a real achievement,” says the designer.

You can find more information about the Function & Components Trend Forum here.