In Praise of ‘Forest-Scaping’

Tuned into the precariousness of the climate crisis, ecological discourse underscored or punctuated several installations this year, from brands as diverse as Prada, Danish textile company Kvadrat, and US wallpaper label Calico. Forests in particular dominated many – providing a visceral symbol of healing, and the reconnective or regenerative power of nature.

Collective Digital Consciousness

A handful of brands including BMW and Italian yacht maker Rossinavi deployed inventive technology to explore ideas surrounding creating a unifying, collective digital consciousness. Some of the key ideas chimed with discourse from AdWeek Europe 2022 regarding a new participatory society (see Recasting Consumption), as well as brand experiences at Miami Art Week 2021.

Power of Play: Cherishing Non-Conformism

The post-pandemic desire to sweep aside years of strict lockdown rules spurred a design trend grounded in avant-garde aesthetics and non-conformism at MDW. The result was playful, surreal, often outsized design-scapes that exploded traditional archetypes and toyed with the boundaries of art and design. See also Playful Presence in NYC x Design 2021.

Hyper-Sensory Bloom Rooms

Biophilia in flower form (straddling both the wild and ultra-cultivated versions of floriculture) continued as a point of inspiration at MDW, in many instances via cross-modal concepts combining visuals, sounds and olfactory engagement elements. See also Biophilia-Based Brand Engagement.

Super Solace

Chiming with our Solace Seekers report, which explores how people are seeking ways to soothe their troubled psyches post-Covid-19 (alongside anxieties over the climate crisis, cost of living and the Ukraine conflict) was another trend – spaces with a semi-sacred ambience. These ‘divine designs’ from brands including Lee Broom and Roca support 360° respite. 

High Drama: Fashion’s Film Noir Inflections

Luxury fashion and jewellery brands largely moved away from flamboyant razzmatazz and opulence this year towards more simplified, but no less imposing displays to elicit attention. Some had inflections of cinematic auteur David Lynch; all had a touch of the film noir.