„Each of the proposed themes has its guiding idea, each has been realised with a predominance of a specific technology and with the use of specific techniques. All of them have references to stylistic trends which we have been observing this year, mainly in Europe: during Milan Design Week, London Design Festival, at the Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris, and Formnext in Frankfurt,” explained Professor Sławomir Fijałkowski, the author of the publication.
Extracted topics are:
– bottom-up referring to the obvious, though usually neglected by today's jewellers, conclusion that jewellery also has a left side and its equally important reverse, which requires attention;
– vintage tools symbolising a nostalgia for the functional reliability of old tools;
– Urban jungle as a reference to both the pulse of modern metropolises and the reverse process: nature's return to urbanised areas;
– translucencyopening considerations on the effect of light – its dispersion, illumination, radiance, transparency, the physical properties of materials, and optical illusions and deceptions;
– Teddy bear, fully realised using digital techniques, for which the comic strip bear and its iconic images became the basis: the historical Teddy Bear, Disney and literary depictions of Winnie the Pooh, Haribo gummy bears, and even graphic logos that form the basis of effective branding strategies in the jewellery industry.
The above trends have been presented through numerous examples of new designs observed at the attended exhibition events, as well as jewellery created by students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Łódź.
„Starting the work in 2010 on systematising knowledge about contemporary creative industries with the clear intention of interpreting them in amber jewellery design, we did not expect that this undertaking would develop over time into an artistic and promotional project on a national scale. Today, the Trend Book has an integrating significance for many circles interested in the innovative use of Baltic amber and raising the quality standards of contemporary designer jewellery,” wrote Prof. Fijałkowski in the introduction.
Over these 9 years, the „Trend Book” has significantly influenced the change in traditional habits and established opinions, forcing a contemplation of the future of jewellery, and therefore the future of its manufacturers and designers. „The macro-trends presented in the ‘Trend Book’ and the jewellery designs based on them become an inspiration for many creators to develop their own design paths. Thanks to such foundational material, designers develop colour trends and work on form, always trying to go a step further, effectively eliminating what is irrelevant” - summarised Marcin Tymiński, President of the Goldsmiths' Association.
Trend Book 2019+
Author: Sławomir Fijałkowski
Publisher: National Amber Chamber of Commerce
Partners: Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, Department of Promotion and Social Communication of the Municipal Office in Gdańsk, MTG SA
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