Trendspotting – Sphere Trending

Sphere-spotting: Detroit

By Cathy Schneider Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Color Theory

As the first & only Unesco City of Design in the United States, Detroit is a global hub of culture & creativity. Detroit Month of Design is a citywide collaboration of the arts that gathers designers, consumers, residents and the greater community to celebrate Detroit’s role as a national and global design capital. Detroit Month of Design returned for its 14th annual edition this September 1-30, 2024.

Eastern Market After Dark

This year’s Eastern Market After Dark (EMAD) was the signature event of the annual Detroit Month of Design. EMAD showcased an array of talented artists, businesses and musicians, transforming Eastern Market into a hub of live music, open studios, and vibrant galleries. With thousands of people in attendance, it truly showcased the best of Detroit’s design and culture.

ArtClvb at Newlab

ArtClvb is a specialized market network created for the art world, combining social networking and marketplace features. Art Fair, Detroit was a three-day event showcasing contemporary, affordable works ranging from emerging to mid-career artists, making it accessible to the general public. The event was a celebration of art, culture, and community, offering diverse programming designed to enrich and inspire. Our team made it over to the location at NewLab next to Michigan Central. Featured artwork included “Gold State Coach’ by Mary-Ann Monforton and ‘Etched in Pavement’ a documentary and installation by John Sippel.

Glow & Swing at Beacon Park

One of a kind LED swings lit up Beacon Park in a magical way, creating amazing photo opportunities for Design Core Detroit’s Month of Design. The swings appeared to be sleek and modern during the day and evolved into glowing circles of color changing light at night. The illuminating experience was up through October 6^th and we are so glad we did not miss out!

Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: Paris

By Emily Siwek, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Architectural Design

Riann Henkel, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Interior Home

Merci, Paris “Into The White”

We love gathering new information in the Fall, recently we were in Paris for the Maison & Objet tradeshow and made our way around the city to see the latest in retail as well. At Merci, the creative general store of Paris, the latest installation called “Into the White” put neutral hues in the spotlight showcasing everyday goods in a variety of parchment shades.

BHV, Paris “Iconic 70s”

The department store BHV always has a special theme of the moment and this year their focus is on the 70s with rich, warm hues and retro geometric patterns.

Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: Berlin

By Mandi Mankvitz, Sphere Trending President of Possibilities

The expected belief in traveling to Berlin means an overwhelming experience of alternative music, edgy art and graffiti and the late-late night clubs. While this can be true, the reality is that Berlin is also a city filled with families shopping for back-to-school supplies, co-workers enjoying an after-dinner drink in a jungle-like courtyard and countless parks, gardens and canals filled with people enjoying nature. In our retail trendspotting we found that nature extends into every nook and cranny of a Berlin’s lifestyle too!

Misfit Bar is a juxtaposition of loud metal music and a charming courtyard.

DIY Floral Explosion

The city of Berlin is known for it’s creative vibe and a must-see destination in the Kreuzberg neighborhood is Modulor – over two floors and more than 3,000 m² of craft, DIY and maker inspiration.

Encased and Preserved Nature

The Voo Store is a cult favorite and a hidden gem of avant garde fashion, décor, accessories and even a tiny deli tucked into a quiet courtyard on a busy Kreuzberg street.

Bunchery by Blomrum

The H&M Home store in the Hackescher Hof shopping district features a ‘create your own’ area by Swedish company Blomrum, known for their direct-to-grower approach to sourcing the trendiest – and freshest – florals.

Follow along for more dispatches from our European travels this Fall! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: NY NOW

By Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Color Theory

Another dispatch from New York – this time with a focus on the tradeshow, NY NOW, a leading event featuring brands and makers.

The unbreakable tableware from Japanese Studio Aras is made from a unique blend of recyclable resin and glass, designed to last a lifetime and reduce waste. Aras chooses to present values that contribute to society. “The Sustainable Collection began with the question of whether we could reuse natural materials that had become industrial waste, such as “cedar bark” and “seawater,” and convert their value into materials that enrich the food experience. The Sustainable Collection is a proposal for the tableware of the future.” – Project Manager Mizukami from the Eras Team. The traditional Brown from the Cedar Bark Series expresses the vitality of plants in a deep, dark forest, while the Black expresses the scene of a cedar forest lined with rows of cedar trees. The Seawater Series depicts the traditional Mineral White, a Marine Blue which depicts the clear, vivid blue sea of the south, and Coral Pink which depicts the sea dyed pink by the setting sun.

Next up? Our team is headed to Paris and Berlin. Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sphere-spotting: New York

By Cathy Schneider, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist and Director of Color Theory

Our team recently attended Shoppe Object in New York and D.A.R. Proyectos was a brand that stood out – blending smart design with traditional Andean artisan techniques.

Using indigenous stones and minerals, they create unexpected and playful yet relatable everyday objects. They believe the world is full of life, not only from plants and animals, but rocks as well and they believe these rocks to be symbols of life. In pursuit of finding new ways to keep the essence of their cosmovision alive, they are always looking for design spaces in which to preserve their creative expression. Cultural traceability is key to keeping the intricate patterns and the forgotten symbolism of indigenous Peru alive.”

Follow along for more dispatches from our travels! We have a lot more coming in September so don’t miss out! Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.

Tag: Trendspotting