The first of Trend and Colour Application workshops for Carpet sector, realized with the collaboration of Ned Graphics Turkey Carpet Distributor Design Academy and Lobster Concepts, is held in Design Academy education saloon…
Famous Dutch Trend Designer Inkrit Berbee has informed designers about 2015-2016 colour trends and colour combinations within the scope of workshop. Trend and Colour applications workshop has attracted the attentions of the designers of leading companies in carpet sector and has the feature of being a first in the carpet sector. The designers participating in the workshop has taken a chance to be enlightened about how fashion and trends are shaped in the world and how to follow these trends as designers. In the first day of the workshop Inkrit Berbee has given some information about trend concept, trend predictors and the concept of trend carriers; and told that ‘ A trend can represent physical and aesthetic variance or it can also represent mental and intellectual variance. Trend predictors are the people who work oriented to recognize the features of attitude, mentality or lifestyle that change according to the present trends.’
‘The products have the meanings…’
Berbee, underlining that the consumers purchase a product since they like it, stated that ‘However, product’s representing a value in social, cultural and psychological manners lies behind of it. Today we are attributing a meaning to every product. Some products are show-off, some of them are challenging or maybe the other products represent conventionalism. When a person has a product with this value aspect, s/he associates it with this value again. Sometimes we do it on purpose and sometimes completely unconsciously.’
‘Trend carriers spread the trends’
Inkrit Berbee, focusing on that trends are changing every year; however, the trend of the next year is not shaped in a short time like a year, said that ‘The trends, reflecting on the society has a history for at least 5-year. However, many people cannot follow these steps before and even if they try, they may not recognize. This process reflects on the social life step by step. The innovators direct the trends and the first adopters come and first majority late majorities follow them. Finally the rest of the people involves in this process.’
‘Spread of trends varies according the sectors’
Trend follower Inkrit Berbee, underlining that spread of trends vary according to the sectors from the aspect of time, said that ‘Colour predictors initiates the season palette process. Thread choosers develop threads according to these palettes. Brands start to develop their own concepts. These prepared concepts make their debuts in the fairs. Weaving mills develop pattern fabrics and produce cartel. Retailers try to develop their own productions. Prototypes are produced and then order processes starts. While these processes are going on, trend predictors follow the trends and maintain informing their customers about new developments. This process may vary according to the sectors. For instance this process may take 1-2 years for Cosmetics Sector, 2-3 years for Clothing Sector and 5-7 years for Design Sector.’
‘Colour combination is an essential element that affects the consumer behaviour’
Inkrit Berbee, putting an emphasis on which there are more than one factors that trigger us to purchase a product, mentioned that ‘These are our needs, the functionality, price and visual quality of the product and the integrity of the colours for us. The prior element of visual quality is colours off course. The effect and importance of the colours is pretty much on purchasing behaviours. %85 of consumers decides according to the colour factor while making a choice between similar products. When telling a colour which is in our mind to a person, -if we benefit from colour reference systems-, we can express it truly.
‘The collections that are being made should have a story’
Inkrit Berbee, underlining that making a complete research is necessary before forming a collection, explained that ‘If we are forming a collection, it must have a story necessarily. We should have a story necessarily while forming Mike Carpet collections, noting that colours are the essential determiners in consumption choices. What will our target audience feel when seeing these product and which meanings will be attributed to them by target audience? We should thing these matters before. We should give a story while presenting every collection.’
‘Nature is the best source for sustainable design’
Inkrit Berbee said that the nature continues to be the essential source for human being all the time no matter how much humanity advances and went on that ‘No matter how much technology and society has advanced nature is an immense source for us all the time. We can see both colour and design with its purest and most different applications in nature. We use the information we have and finish it. However, there is a source that never ends in nature. Sometimes a frosted lake or a green forest may be an inspiration source. For this reason, a designer should observe the nature very well and follow the seasons properly. Nature is the essential source from the angle of sustainable design. Forgetting our origin and the need for the nature is not possible no matter how much the society and technology has advanced. We will always need a piece of ‘green’ near us. Its best solution is off course spending time in nature but in case we do not have a chance to go out it may be useful to give a place to a piece of ‘nature’ at home.
‘Carpet is the sub group of home textile’
Inkrit Berbee stated that the carpet sector in Turkey has a large capacity and development and on account of this fact it is seen as a different sector; but in fact their being presented in home textile products will cause much better results and adds that ‘When home textile is mentioned, sofa, curtain, quilt cover and carpets are understood. All of them move together all around the world. However, Carpet sector is moving as if it is a different sector in Turkey. Special fairs are organized and special stores are opened. In my opinion much better results could be obtained if the carpets would be presented with the other home products.’
