Bergisch Institute for Product Development and Innovation Mangement
Dorian Kurz reported on “current design trends - chances of the consumer goods industry of tableware, kitchen and household appliances in the region of the Bergisch Land.
Current design trends? The short term adaptation of design trends doesn’t offer successful chances on the long run. Of course current trends, as the comeback of the “ornament” should be recognised and analysed. The engagement in design must be embedded in a long-term strategy to generate real chances.
Design reacts on social changes, technological developments and new needs of the consumer. Interesting sociocultural changes can be noticed in milieus, household structures and habits in Germany and of course the world (examples: import / export, international kitchen, global Branding, made in Germany, made in Solingen).
Changes in the kitchen, the living- and the bathroom have to be analysed. The zones of cooking and living are getting closer in functions and aesthetics. The same happens to the zones of sleeping and bathing.
Technological developments (examples: induction, W-lan, touch displays, home entertainment, LED), new materials/combinations and manufacturing processes can provide new ideas.
The increasing need of being “mobil” offers chances to innovative and successful products (examples: “food and drink” travelling by car, by train, by air; at school, at work)
The desire of being “individual” offers chances among the world of standard products (examples: Nike, Mini, Apple, Montblanc, Gucci, Swarovski, Blanco).
These keywords indicate numerous chances to the consumer goods industry in the region of the Bergisch Land. Design trends have to be analysed in the context of sociocultural changes and to be placed into a long-term strategy.