GATHERING STRUCTURED REFLECTION IN THE FURNITURE BUSINESS BY TREND MAPPING
Year: 2015
Editor: Guy Bingham, Darren Southee, John McCardle, Ahmed Kovacevic, Erik Bohemia, Brian Parkinson
Author: Frei, Andrea; Eriksen, Kaare
Series: E&PDE
Institution: Aalborg University, Denmark
Section: Design Methods
Page(s): 600-605
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
Setting up the direction for new product designs in the furniture business can be more or less
structured and in many situations the idea for new design concepts, constructions, details, colouring or
choice of material are directed by random input from retailers or external designers or from studying
trend agency reports besides considering other matters like new market strategies etc.
In this paper the authors describe a methodology to create a richer discussion among the manufacturer
and the retail partners based upon a collection and structured play/interview using research data
collected by design students at an international furniture fair. The first test version of the method was
developed and carried out by design engineering students and design researchers in collaboration with
a furniture manufacturer and the results and methodology are presented and discussed in this paper.
Keywords: Trend mapping, trend analysis, furniture design, design communication, design engineering students