Functional Future: Design Trends That Will Pave the Way for 2013 and Beyond

With the new year now upon us, industry designers in the field of architecture, furniture making, and home design are gearing up to focus on progressive trends.

England (I-Newswire) February 6, 2013 - Every passing year has brought forth dynamic forces that continually shape the way people live at work and at home. Architects, interior designers, furniture makers, engineers, and other industry professionals are always on point with the next big trends to reinvent the world of design. With sustainable architecture at the forefront of today's eco-conscious society, here are some of the key themes that will underscore the look and feel of future homes, skyscrapers, and structures in the coming months:

Experimentation

Natural resources are slowly dwindling, and designers are now exploring innovative measures to utilise repurposed materials and finding new ways to achieve their creative goals, as more enlightened clients realise that big, bold ideas can pay dividends in a constrained and risk-averse environment.

Technology

Advancements in techonology will continue to serve their influential purpose in the design industry. More and more residences and buildings are now using greener power methods such as solar energy to provide a better and reliable source of electricity and become more cost-effective in the long-term.

Rejecting Existing Models

In the same way that recession can bring about experimentation, it can also force people to tear up their existing business or structural models and try something radically new. The continued rejection of the existing models in 2013 could lead to a whole new way of thinking for brands and designers.

No Quadrennials

With 2013 stretching into the vast horizon, many are concerned that the design industry could see a downturn. But another way to read it could be that this lack of on-diary events could provide more freedom for brands and clients. This year, with its lack of distractions, could be the time when brands, not events, take centre-stage.

Democratisation

As technologies have spread and become more affordable, so design - particularly in the product and interactive sector, has become more democratised. More affordable tools in more people's hands could lead to bright and innovative new thinking, and it is important that professional designers reinforce the value of what they do so that radical ideas they envision for society will quickly become reality.