Trend: Functional furnishings and the design of relationship

Individual furnishings define the trend in “living rooms and bedrooms.” They are homely yet aesthetically pleasing, and have great significance for their owners. The furnishings are sophisticated in function and an expression of personality just as much as a TV or hi-fi systems is. In textile design new manufacturing techniques change our perception: Iridescent colours make the fabrics strikingly eye-catching. Carpets – likewise due to innovative manufacturing techniques – turn into optical eye-catchers and become a tactile experience. These new textiles and carpets look like works of art in any domestic interior environment.

Another trend is the communicative aspect of furnishings: They are interactive, communicating to their users and, thus, turn into pleasant companions. More and more it became apparent, the jury members Luigi Ferrara, Glen Oliver Löw and Paolo Tumminelli say, that nowadays we were also dealing with the “design of relationships” between furnishings and users.

The present and future according to the jury: The category “Living Rooms and Bedrooms” indicates a search for new approaches. The oft-championed retro-design of recent years hardly plays a role any longer, though many products were inspired by familiar originals and classics. A search for new aesthetics was also noticeable. The jury was immediately impressed by the “beauty” of the products!

Jurors: Luigi Ferrara, Glen Oliver Löw, Paolo Tumminelli

You can find the winners of "red dot: best of the best" 2004 here.