Birmingham City University's Trends exhibition showcased at this years Birmingham Interiors Show, at the NEC, received significant praise for its innovation, creativity and impact. The exhibition, created in partnership with UBM Live, the exhibition organisers behind Interiors Birmingham and forecasting agency Global Color Research Limited - Mix Publications presented the future trends to the interiors industry through a fusion of textile, product and surface finishes presented in four themed Pavilions.
Following the industry endorsement, Birmingham City University took the trends exhibition to this years Architectural, Retail and Commercial Lighting (ARC) exhibition in London on Wednesday 4th - Thursday 5th February 2009 at Earls Court.
The trends, entitled Contour, Punch, Opal and Roma were conceptualised by MA Interior Design Students and produced by over 100 BA (Hons) Product and Textile students under the leadership of curator and designer Simon Andrews and exhibition specialist John Hall. During the exhibition Global Color Research Ltd presented a "Trend Awareness Award" to the pavilion who had best captured the Winter Trends for 2010, students working on the Opal trend were announced the winners.
The feature formed part of a range of work undertaken in collaboration with leading industry partners including Tektura, the leading wallcovering contract manufacturer in the UK, providing highly tailored textured finishes to bespoke graphics provided by the textile students.
The partnership with Tektura had phenomenal results, culminating in the creation of four new wall coverings. One of the feature wall coverings, created as part of the project was BA (Hons) Textile Design Student, Ricky Mercer's sombre yet sensual swirls of copper and lapis blue, with an iridescent metallic finish, featuring hidden chameleons. The wallcovering will be featured at the ARC champagne bar, bringing a sensual, visual and provocative response to the trends featured at this years show.
Angela Paterson, Product Development and Marketing Director at Tektura comments: "The wall coverings have each been specifically created for this project. They blend the uniquely individual quality of our wall coverings with the creative inspiration of the Birmingham City University Students, providing a truly individual response to next years 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, comments: "the University has a wide portfolio of expertise in the interiors industry, from our academics to the work we do with business through design knowledge network. This project highlights the benefits of industry and university led partnerships in which the students, academics and business all benefit from each others skills and abilities during the collaboration".