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The 6th annual Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum displayed an amazing collection of inspiring designs and innovative inventions. From 3D printing kiosks to non-stick ketchup bottles and beautifully constructed furniture, we were well and truly fascinated by so many of the contenders across all seven categories.

Take a look at some of our favourite designs…

We headed out to Islington the other week to check out the Surface Design Show 2013.  Like every year, there is a huge focus on ‘the next big thing’ and a large part of the event focused on upcoming textural and colour trends.  One seminar we were particularly interested in was the ‘Colour and Material Trends’ talk, hosted by Mix, which focused on the trends for S/S 2014.

Hannah Malein kicked things off with a retrospective on the trends forecast at last year’s show for 2013 – predicting the sophisticated pastels and shades of green that we’re seeing everywhere at the moment.  Hannah talked us through the trends we can expect to see next year…

Veil:

Veil has an almost dreamlike and ethereal feel; moody but not exactly sombre.  The trend is influenced by current political complexities and tensions in the world, as well as a play on light and dark. Important colours that play out in this theme include cobalts, sulphurs, muted greys, and coppers. Materials are characterised by contrasts – rubbers, marbled surfaces, mattes and glosses combined.

Burst:

Burst is strongly influenced by the dominance of the green agenda, climate change consciousness and the importance of environmental thoughtfulness. Wide spectrums of greens dominate the palette, along with aquatic hues and tinted whites. Iridescent coatings, cellular forms and linear patterns also dominate the textural side of this trend.

Phase:

Phase takes inspiration from Art-Deco forms and hues in popular culture at the moment. Blending modernist trends from the 1920’s to the 1940’s, the trend focuses on classic shades of bright yellows, deep mustards and bursts of cobalt. Leathers, honeycomb structures, Bakelite and plastics govern this trend too.

Ping:

Perhaps the most interesting trend to emerge comes from the youth subcultures of the Far East. Sweet, shiny, and poppy, the trend is playful, ultra modern and very commercial. Upbeat pastels, minty greens, peaches, blues and classic blacks permeate through the trend – with a subversive feel of soft tactile textures, candy aesthetics, as well as satins and coloured flecks.

It’ll be interesting to see how and to what extent these future trends express themselves in the design world, from architecture to interiors, to fashion.  We’re already starting to see these trends emerging, so who knows what we could be seeing in a year’s time!

This week Hillgate were lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the Design Museum’s eagerly awaited ‘Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary Things’ exhibition. Promising an intriguing insight into everyday objects, this is a permanent collection and the only one in the UK devoted exclusively to contemporary design and architecture.

Despite the snow Hillgate travelled to the NEC for Interiors UK 2013.  First stop Parker Knoll in Hall 1. The stand showcased a large selection of upholstery designs in cosy fabrics, from new checks to vintage inspired florals.  We were also able to get a sneaky peek of the new Penshurst Rise, which incorporates revolutionary discreet motion technology within its classic wing armchair design available in May. So keep your eyes peeled!

 The DesignerBlock&Co store is a fun space crammed with unique designs. The quirky displays definitely required a closer look, from chandeliers with wings to tartan paint!

For an insight into the upcoming trends we headed to The Birmingham City University and Global Color Research Mix stand in Hall 2. The Birmingham City students’ interpretation of Flint and Clash, two of Global Color Research Trends for Autumn/Winter 13/14, resulted in tactile mood boards featuring earthy tones and twiggy textures for Flint , and brightly coloured hanging lamp shades in multi-colours for Clash.

The Christmas decorations have been taken down, the last of the mince pies and stilton finished and here at Hillgate, we’re super excited about 2013.

You have probably noticed our new logo which has been designed to give us a fresh, new look and our diary is already looking jam packed with clients exhibiting at Interiors UK and a trip to Paris for Maison et Objet in January alone.

We’ve also got some exciting projects bubbling under which, fingers crossed, we will be able to share with you soon.

In the meantime, all of us at Hillgate would like to wish you a successful, healthy and exciting 2013!

With Christmas just around the corner, Hillgate were lucky enough to visit this year’s Taste of Christmas show at London’s ExCel. Perfect for getting into the festive spirit, the show clearly demonstrated the UK’s ongoing passion for Christmas food and drink.

With delicious samples at every turn, the team were particularly taken with the abundance of amazing cheeses from companies such as the Cornish Cheese Co. A firm favourite was the Pickled Onion Cheddar from Snowdonia Cheese Co Ltd.

There were also some delicious offerings from British Fine Foods which sources only the best delicacies this country has to offer. We were also drawn by the Spiced Cider company thanks to its wonderfully aromatic Christmas smells – we are counting down the days until 25th December!