January, 2007 Pattern your worldby Renée Labbé Decorative prints find their way onto new mediums. Each and every season, scores of designers – whether fashion, interior, or product types – spend countless hours and money deciphering the prints and patterns of the moment. This is serious business - knowing which prints are "on trend" helps determine the look of almost everything from handbags and dresses to throw pillows and table napkins. It’s fair to say it's a billion-dollar industry. Even cosmetics packaging and school notebooks fall prey to the must-have pattern trends. But what happens when pattern itself becomes the trend?
Indeed, prints & patterns have been popping up in the unlikeliest of places.
On window as viny adhesives, for a cheep & cheerful alternative to blinds or curtains; as gadget
"tattoos" for easy recognition; even as refrigerator faceplates for those who will wish to add
interest to their kitchen décor. And if that wasn't enough, there are even exterior wall motifs
that can be used simply as decoration, privacy screens, or even as trellis-work.
So where exactly does this new pattern-obsession stem from? Does it evolve from the surge of glamorous wallpaper
trends? Can it be linked to the continuous exploration of customization? Or perhaps it belongs to the art-driven
trends of baroque, rococo, & art nouveau, in which ornamentation lies at the heart of each design?
We suspect the true answer is all of the above. History has shown a trend never evolves purely on it's own
without influence from outside sources, but rather it morphs from a collection of influences. Schtickers,
a brand of artsy and spirited decals intended for ipods and laptops - could be considered an transition from
the bejeweled PDA craze (set into motion by celebritantes like Paris Hilton), combined with a need for
distinguishing your portables from those of others.
Choose from a fun variety of Lapschticks and Podschtickers.
At Electrolux, decorative fridge faceplates reference both the evolving baroque trend and the current
trends in wallpaper, a shift that the company clearly understood could help differentiate their brand
from the competition. The same can be said for the wallpapered ipod nano case and the beautiful
Nokia phone decorated in a Cath Kidston signature print. Likewise, UK-based designer Susan Bradley's
outdoor wallpaper seems to be inspired from those same trends.
Yet the progression of some trends is sometimes simply a matter of both evolving form and
necessary function. Patterned wall panels and vinyl adhesive wall stickers, for example,
have their roots in the renewed popularity for wallpapers.
However, as wallpaper can be a tricky and timely endeavor, many decorators are opting for placement
decoration. Our favorites include B+N panels Helsinki and Versailles, and Skugg
Flora adhesives by Unsold Form.
No matter how the demand for prints & patterns has evolved, it's clear the trend has yet to run it's course.
As a special tribute to pattern, we at Voice of Color have designed our own versions, one for each of our
new emerging themes: Bloom, Blue Notes, Helios, and Space. Simply click on any pattern to download.
Print on adhesive paper, cut out, and apply to any adhesive-ready surface.
You can use the remaining paper as a stencil – just trace to the desired surface and paint!
decoration. Our favorites include B+N panels Helsinki and Versailles, and Skugg
Flora adhesives by Unsold Form.
