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Childhood nostalgia may influence how we decorate our homes in 2011

Subscribe to RSS RSSMonday, 17th May, 2010

Décor inspired by childhood memories was among the eye-catching designs revealed by talented design students from Birmingham City University, who are predicting how our homes may look next year, post-recession. The inspiring student work reflects the moods and aspirations in 2011, including an award-winning rustic design that brings the outdoors indoors.

Recently débuting at the NEC, Birmingham City University?s Trends Exhibition predicts the future looks for next Spring/Summer and wowed representatives from the interiors industry through a fusion of textile, product and surface finishes, presented in four eye-catching themed pavilions.

One of the feature designs, created by Textile Design student Frances Bleksley, was the pastoral wallcovering entitled Spirit, which won the Tektura Innovation Award for Wallcovering 2010. Frances used a range of muted spring tones from a romantic palette of greens, yellows and purples. The design was based on Frances? childhood memories. She added: ?Spirit is a trend full of life, where everything is alive and so wild, I had to find the ideal environment to seek inspiration. Cornwall, rolling hills, gypsy camps, wild flowers, freshly-born lambs - all the memories of my childhood. This design has been compiled from intricately detailed sketches conducted in old collapsed dens and big bold shapes taken from my research into Celtic architecture.?

As well as Spirit, the other three predicted trends were entitled Whisper, Genteel and Risk. The concepts were drawn from the ideas of more than 120 undergraduate and postgraduate design students from Birmingham City University.

Birmingham City University has built a partnership with: UBM Live, the country?s largest interiors exhibitor; Tektura, internationally known digital wallcovering manufacturer; and Global Color, International Trends Prediction Agency.

The partnership aims to raise the profile of the University?s design talent to the interiors industry. Now in its fourth year it has resulted in over 500 students engaging with industry, resulting in placements, internships and employment.

This year?s work with Tektura has had phenomenal results, culminating in the creation of four new wall coverings. Angela Paterson, Product Development and Marketing Director at Tektura, said: "The wallcoverings have each been specifically created for this project. They blend the uniquely individual quality of our wallcoverings with the creative inspiration of the Birmingham City University students, providing a truly individual response to next year?s look. They represent part of an ongoing partnership of Birmingham City University with Tektura to explore the boundaries of what is achievable in wallcovering design".

Joanna Birch, Head of Corporate Relations at Birmingham City University, said: ?This project highlights the benefits of industry and university partnerships in which the students, academics and business all benefit from each others' skills and abilities.?