International Market Centers (IMC) announced that its proprietary TrendWatch program will showcase three directional trends — Touch Points, Pod and Prologue — through a series of half-hour CEU-accredited webinars in advance of fall 2020 High Point Market.
“IMC is delighted to offer this virtual overview/preview of colors, patterns and motifs as part of our fall 2020 market lineup,” said Dorothy Belshaw, executive vice president, chief marketing and digital officer for International Market Centers. “In a time where it’s more important than ever for businesses to be in-the-know about leading product trends, TrendWatch offers timely and relevant information.”
Below is a brief description of each trend as well as its respective webinar date and time.
Touch Points
Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. EST (0.5 CEU)
Uncertainty creates a longing for familiarity, exploration, momentum, and progress. In TrendWatch’s TOUCH POINTS, tactility satisfies the senses, evokes positive memories and awakens imagination. Vivid, earthy and savory hues such as stone, clay and sand; lush, ripen landscapes; tempting waters; exotic cuisine; patterned tiles and architectural details; cherished artifacts; unique accents; soothing and natural finishes; lustrous effects — these elements come together to define TOUCH POINTS, where experience and (at times) wistful nostalgia are shaping the next chapter in personal expression. Casegoods, accent furniture, decorative accessories, area rugs, lighting, and textiles, will headline. Expect noteworthy finishes, materials, construction, and/or artisan techniques, and special focus on refined natural finishes; stone and/or glass accents; brushed finishes; high-low pile; pleating and other tailored effects; dimensional surfaces; and geometric shapes.
Pod
Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. EST (0.5 CEU)
Personal space takes on new meaning in current times, as families pivot to home environments for education, earning and entertainment. Are we working from home, or living at work? POD, a family-focused sanctuary where career and family converge, offers answers. Emphasis is on universality, spacious comfort and an effortless flow of information. Pod presents upholstery, home entertainment, office, bedroom (adult, teen, kids), lighting and more, with emphasis on curves, comfort-enhancing mechanisms, streamlined surfaces, energetic colors and mobility.
Prologue
Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. EST (0.5 CEU)
Millennials span a wide range that covers early 20s to late 30s. In Prologue, TrendWatch examines the life stages, decision-making and preferences of the demographic’s older subset. Examine this influential group’s spin of past, present and future-focused design to tell the story of modernity circa 2021. Here, classic elements and meaningful functionality exist hand in hand. Expect home products in all categories, and especially designs that meld traditional and classic references with modern forms, patterns and hues.
TrendWatch is curated by 24-year magazine editor and home furnishings trends forecaster Julie Smith Vincenti of Nine Muses Media.
“Despite these extraordinary times — indeed, because of them — trends emerge, evolve and expand,” explains Smith Vincenti. “Home and how our families, friends, and communities thrive in this moment takes on great significance. TrendWatch’s Fall 2020 themes — Touch Points, Prologue and Pod — tell these essential stories through a curated assortment of new home furnishings."
To be considered for TrendWatch, exhibitors must submit digital imagery (measuring at least 5”x7” at 300 dpi) and a completed product description form by Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. TrendWatch participation is offered exclusively to IMC High Point exhibitors.
