Cover story: New concepts for innovative surfaces
The German based company Visual Research is specialized in in-depth trend research. The company is in contact with a widely spread network of designers that contribute to the creative process. One of their more prominent observations is the use of glitter pigments in specific lifestyle areas which allow the assumption that glitter will become a major trend within the next two to three years. A story about how a new trend starts.
Innovative surfaces; encounter glitter flakes
Mr. Oliver Spies of Visual Research confirms: "During our research in Europe, Asia and North America we encountered innovative surfaces on an array of sporting goods that become more and more appealing, especially as they act as role models among lifestyle sports and activities."
Innovations in the youth sports sector play a significant and defining role as source of inspiration for visual communication. What starts as underground movement within a small group of people will sooner or later have an effect on the mass market. Think about the slick designs of fixed-gear bikes that at some point ended up in fashion spreads as hip accessories, and whose bold colors defined a whole series of fashion trends as well as graphic designs. Here, advertising works as the most important medium.
The fixed-gear bike scene design their bike very carefully,
important today: glitter © Gantimur Meissner
Design detail on a fixed-gear bike in NYC © visual-research.com
All young and athletic things are desirable and carry positive connotations in general. As the proces goes: good stuff will be copied and a new trend is born. Because of this it is important to know that designers for the surfaces of surfboards, long-boards and frisbees resort to glitter pigments for dramatic effects. This way they are refining special editions that are geared towards a trend-oriented consumer group of thirty- and forty-year-olds. Caused by the quickly increasing popularity of these activities up to the point that they become sports for the masses it is important to give this development special attention.
Retro surfboards by Faktion made with Geoshine® polyester glitter
© photo visual-research.com
Retro surfboards by American manufacturers such as Faktion are directional in their use of glitter flakes. The same is true for trendsetters among European producers.
Surfboards of the German surfboard brand Norden
© photo visual-research.com
Superseding the 60’s/70’s retro-trend and adding new influences and advanced technical feasibilities, this trend has already repercussions in coatings of investment goods. For a longer period of time glittering effects were not so popular in the automotive sector, but they are now being used again in car paints by high-end car tuners. Vivid examples are the fun fair aesthetics of the 70’s that can be used as value-enhancing components because of their high recognition factor.
Glitter surfaces at the design festival in Berlin presented by the new skateboard brand Langbrett
© photo Langbrett.com
About Visual Research
Visual Research is in contact with a wide spread network of designers, creative types – in general, an eclectic set of people that in one way or another contribute to the creative process. With their interviewing techniques Visual Research has access to an extensive pool of ideas, knowledge and observations which they filter and process. In the end they are capable to come up with pretty precise predictions of future trends and tendencies.
Mr. Oliver Spies is enthousiastic about the cooperation with Geotech; "During the last six months we relied heavily on the product range from Geotech to enhance trend objects with special coatings for exhibitions in Berlin and Cologne. Those proved to be easy to work with and lived up to the visual and aesthetic requirements of our research. Especially experimental works with Geoshine® and Geospectra® glitter reached a particular originality."
Styling samples with Geoshine® by Visual Research
for the helmet manufacturer KED
© photo visual-research.com
Links
www.visual-research.com
www.roggs.com
www.langbrett.com
www.faktionsurfboards.com
