Top Colour Trend Tip for 2010: Blue

Back in July 2009 I mentioned that a small piece of the design trend jigsaw for Spring / Summer 2010 would be the FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa.  You can read the original post here: http://trendsblog.co.uk/?p=2237   and today I’d like to give you some visual inspiration for this trend and discuss the importance of the colour ‘blue’ over the next couple of years for designers.  I’ve put together a montage below that encapsulates the main features of the trend for interiors but firstly lets look at this trends colour palette:

• Mellow Yellow plays with Malachite Green and Lime. 
• Turquoise and Indigo help to balance interior design schemes – they provide light and shadow.
• An urban twist is delivered via light and mid-tone Concrete Greys that reduce the sharpness of the bright colours and provide a solid foundation.

From a Surface Pattern Design perspective:

• A carnival rhythm is present in the brushstrokes and wavy, dancing patterns that convey movement. 
• Complex dot patterns, resist techniques, Ikat and patchworks are prominent.
• In the main patterns are flat or layered silhouettes with striking contrasts between the background and foreground motif. 
• With so many different pattern types converging together it is crucial to create a sense of order.  This can be achieved by containing smaller patterns within the boundaries of geometric shapes. 
• Patterns should appear to be barely contained on products…looking as though they might jump off the surface.
• Malachite is an important surface effect.

Image: Istock – Photographer: Lise Gagne

As I mentioned in our Top 10 Colour Tips last Friday, blues will play a significant role in product and interior design this year and next.  Many are referring to dark blue shades (such as Indigo) as ‘the new black’ and I think that’s a fair assessment.  Why will blues be so important over the next few years?  Lets take a look at it from a couple of angles:

Firstly, if we are to be cynical, we must acknowledge that both the Fashion and Interiors industries depend on consumers buying into ‘newness’.  They sell the idea of newness, basically that ‘X is the new Y’, they promote ‘X’ and actively campaign to persuade consumers to madly desire ‘X’.  They are of course in the business of ‘selling more stuff’…so what are they to do if everyone already has a ‘Y’ and they don’t need another one!  So for the foreseeable future ‘X’ is Blue!  You probably already have a Little Black Dress…but do you have a blue one?

However…as Trend Forecasters we also focus on what consumers will naturally want and need rather than what they will be persuaded to desire.  Sometimes this is the same thing and sometimes it is most definately not.  So lets take a look at what people will need in 2010 and how this relates to the use of blue:

During 2010 & 2011 post-recession consumers will be ready to be more upbeat and have a brighter view of the future.  By introducing brighter colours into their wardrobes and homes (such as Turquoise) consumers can surround themselves with cheerful colour messages…therefore making it easier to actually be cheerful.  Blue has lots of positive connotations relating to holidays and happy times and it also suggests a sense of escapism from everyday life e.g. bright skies and clear seas.  Blue subconsciously sends beneficial messages to us.  And although ‘stable & familiar’ colours were what was needed during the worst period of the economic downturn, now, in order to lift our spirits, we need brighter colours to encourage us towards a brighter future.  Pale blues can also play their part by offering calmness and clarity.  As for Indigo…well it ticks some pretty important boxes:

• Indigo has great depth – This can be seen to relate to a more mature consumer attitude or relate to the deep sea & space topics that will be very ‘on-trend’
• Indigo is one of the oldest cultivated dye colours, dating back to India’s 4th Century BC – Heritage and tradition are becoming increasingly important so this ancient and noble colour connects us to the past
• Indigo comes from nature – Prior to chemical processing, the dye was originally created from Indigo plants.  Natural, vegetable dye stuffs are now desirable again as designers and consumers attempt to reduce their impact on the environment.

Painting by Dexter Dalwood (exhibiting at Tate, St Ives Jan-May 2010)

Finally, I was recently reliably informed by Shelley that historically Blue was believed to ward off evil spirits…so that is another great reason to incorporate Blue into your designs whilst the road ahead is still rocky!

Product montage credits:

Indigo Textiles: www.donghia.com

Bedding: www.honfleurhome.com

Party Pouf: www.jba-design.se

Pillow: Madeline Weinrib ~ Chair: Urban Outfitters ~ Interior image: Homes & Gardens