Global trends and creative opportunities: Ewald Damen speaks to Designerati

This interview first appeared in Designerati.

What are some of the defining design characteristics at the moment, in terms of consumer preferences, creative styles, and key social and economic influences?

I feel ‘trends’ have gone in multiple directions at the moment, from pastel and soft, to hard, edgy and urban – probably reflecting the characteristics of a more diverse society and influenced by evermore accessible media. To define a singular style for this moment in time would be inaccurate as we see art deco influence, farmhouse chic, strong graphic and street design. A typical cycle would mean we will end up with a more minimal approach soon – as a reaction to all the different styles we are currently seeing; something of a reset.

What is the current state of the retail/hotel/restaurant design sector, and how ‘design-savvy’ are consumers in general?

We still have a section of the market that is very innovative with design, mostly within the top-end luxury market which has the money to spend. However, often, it is the lower end of the market that is much more creative, entrepreneurial and more risk-taking in terms of their designs. These boutique innovations often inspire the mid-segment in a more safe and watered-down version.

In what ways is design evolving and what new directions and creative opportunities might we expect to see in the near future?

New technologies like 3D printing, hopefully, have a positive impact on the way we design and offer more opportunities to create more complicated or challenging designs. Equally, I hope that there will be a stronger and more integrated movement towards a qualitative and environmentally-friendly approach to timeless design, as the throw-away society is no longer sustainable.

Where do you get your design inspiration from?

Inspiration hopefully comes from different sources as, otherwise, it would be a copy. Art, design, architecture and nature all inspire me, but often ideas or designs start to come alive when walking through a street in a city, attending a concert, or especially when watching a theatrical performance.

How has the pandemic affected design options? Has it had any impact on your designs or perhaps more widescale trends?

The pandemic has certainly influenced some practical decisions like cleanliness and spatial movement during the design process. I think it has also influenced the ‘why’ in many designs – for retail and hospitality, and even residential or offices. A change in mentality, or realisation, has possibly changed our purpose for shopping and dining out, making it more about the experience and entertainment, which probably also has an effect on the design of the space.