Axalta released a trend forecasting studio that analyses the future of colour and finishes for 2022.
Silence, human touch and durable finishes are the main insights that Axalta has identified in vibes, its trend report and magazine launched on 14th
June 2021. The powder coating manufacturer’s forecasting studio predicts the trends regarding colour and finishes for the next year in the architecture and interiors sectors.
Alongside Covid-19’s effects, there is remote working. Since it requires silence, Axalta has predicted an increasing demand for surfaces that promote stillness and interior designs that can create a calm and enclosed environment. To express tranquillity, quiet colours, subtle textures and minimalistic surfaces will be used, as well as natural materials.
Moreover, AI and automated processes will cause the desire to develop designs that put humans at the centre by using surfaces that evoke handmade finishes in clay, wood and rattan combined with more industrial looking colours and textures. Axalta’s report predicts that this combination will be prevalent on facades, window frames and even interiors.
“We brought all the analytics and colour expertise together and saw that, whilst black, grey and white remain the timeless bestsellers, there is a new fashion for an anodised look - a smooth, matt, subtle metallic effect – which looks set to become the number one choice for specifiers of architecture, lighting, furniture and beyond,” stated Sally Put, Axalta’s ColourDesign Manager, who declared Axalta’s SuprAnodic Nature the colour of the year for 2021.
Each copy of Axalta’s annual publication comes with a sample fan deck that includes aluminium powder-coated samples in the 10 colours selected for the architecture and design mood boards. The report features insights from industry leaders and experts in architecture and product design such as Bestia Bikes (Spain) and Studio Seger (Belgium).
Furniture and architecture designers Studio Segers commented: “In addition to form, proportion and function, the right colour, fabric or finish is also what makes or breaks the furniture.”
“Usually, the designer works from the outside in; but now we increasingly find that we are working from the inside out - from the heart to the skin” added interior designer Colombo.
The report also features an interview with Melissa Woolford, founder of the Museum of Architecture that hosts the exhibition Colour Memories, sponsored by Axalta. It will open from 1st
October and include the personal colour stories and inspirations of over 20 architects who have chosen Axalta colour sample to best represent their memory.
“As we emerge from this time, the emphasis is changing. We’re all seeking the reassurance of human touch and a being-at-one with our environment. These feelings will be expressed in the design of our homes, work and play spaces as the year unfolds,” concluded Sally Put.