The recent Industry collaboration with colour consultancy Global Color Research and Birmingham City University (BCU) proved a resounding success at interiors 2010 in Birmingham, with a wealth of creative new talent from 120 students from MA Interior Design and BA Printed, Constructed and Embroidered Textile Design and Interior Design study programmes.

Students were briefed 9 months in advance by Global Color Research, working with the support of university academics. Four pavilions within the Thinking space area in Hall 2 at interiors 2010 featured the students interpretation of Global Color Research’s four Spring/Summer 2011 trends, Whisper, Spirit, Risk and Genteel. The project is supported by interior 2010 organisers UBMI Live and also Tektura wall coverings.

A cluster of honeycomb structures capture the imagination using illusion and subtlety of pattern for the trend Whisper. Global Color Research were particularly impressed with this group of students collaborative work, as they felt that out of the four areas, they had managed to capture the essence of the Whisper trend the best. A combination of translucent materials, layering processes and an overall iridescent quality produced some effective results.

Spirit, was primarily based on folklore, ‘the coming of spring, fresh nature, fresh colours, rustic textures and hand crafted objects is a return to our roots’. Students used a combination of natural materials, stitched and handmade techniques to interpret this trend.

All the selected student wallcoverings for this live project were digitally printed by Tektura Wallcoverings and a wallcovering designed by Francis Bleksley, a BA (Hons) Printed Textile Design student, as shown above, was voted the winning design by public vote. Frances’s design, ‘Spirit’ is now going into production, digitally printed onto textured canvas, available exclusively through Tektura.

Risk is a trend where rough and smooth polished extremes combine. Experimentation with materials were explored, using new finishing processes and holographic fabrics and illumination. The brief was a challenging one, ‘Risk is a trend where ‘Sci-Fi meets Low-Fi’. As the old decays and collapses, our post-industrial society embraces the beauty of dereliction, while melding it with the modern and futuristic. The result: toxic colour and science fiction references’.

The Genteel Trend was described as Decadent, Romanticised, Nostalgic and Ornate. Students used a combination of fused lace, digital imagery, abstract moulding combined with stand interaction to interpret this trend.

This work will tour other UBMI Live organised events throughout 2010 starting with The ARC lighting show at Earls Court 2 from 3rd – 4th February, then Interiors Abu Dhabi, Decorex International at The Royal Hospital Chelsea in September and The Sleep Event at The Business Design Centre in November.

Image credits: main stand images courtesy of BCU Press Photos, all other images by Jackie Norton

To find out more about this project: www.bcu.ac.uk/business
interiors 2010
Global Color Research
Textura
Interiors 2010 Abu Dhabi
ARC

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