First there was minimalism - the more austere and streamlined the better. Then we were caught up in the heady delights of luxury and opulence. Now, it seems, the interior decor pendulum has swung again. With a new confidence in the air, 2008 design trends look set to take a more personal, pioneering approach in which design and art, nature and technology, shape and form come together in a relaxed - and more innovative - manner. Says architect Andre Fu of AFSO, 'One of the most interesting design themes for the coming year will be an eclectic play of heritage and old school.' In Fu's design for the lobby of Shanghai's new Jia Boutique Hotel he has played with a diverse mixture of bespoke furniture and art installations - think black lacquered sculpture, washed oak flooring, suspended heritage birdcages, embroidered wall fabric wall panelling and quirky works of art. Luckily, the ability to mix and match with flair can be available to all. This year, Ross Urwin, Lane Crawford's general merchandise manager of Home and Lifestyle, aims to show his customers how they can mix styles with panache. He cites the contemporary shapes of sofas and tables by innovative British designers Naught One, colourful linens from Caravan in Paris, and a giant-sized china cup and saucer (which is actually a planter) from Thorsten Van Elten as popular single-item choices. A sense of fun is key this year. Figures such as Spanish designer/artist Jaime Hayon cross disciplines with ease. He's one of Urwin's tops picks: 'He just keeps inventing new concepts and his work has a fun element to craftsmanship.' Using classic design elements and commitment to change can - and should be encouraged to - co-exist happily. 'I believe many of the classic 20th-century pieces still being made suit the Hong Kong market,' says Urwin. 'Brands such as Knoll and Vitra, especially the designs by Saarinen, Eames and Prouve, will be top sellers.' The focus is on unusual combinations, hi-tech treatments and personalised products and furnishings. The tailored specifications approach is helping to push the boundaries of design. Shanghai-based architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of NHDRO, founders of trend-setting design store Design Republic, believe that 2008 will be experimental: 'Materiality and ... multidisciplinary collaborations among artists, architects, designers, sculptors and other disciplines will continue.' Designers to watch include Konstantin Grcic, Studio Job, Marcel Wanders, Tom Dixon, Jurgen Bey and Maarten Baas. Limited-edition pieces will also add exclusivity. Works by designers such as Ron Arad (Bodyguards), Marc Newson (Lockheed Lounge) and Zaha Hadid (Aqua Table) are increasingly fetching high prices and blurring the distinction between design and art. Technology continues to be inspired by organic forms. Hadid has long been a proponent of bold fluid shapes in her architecture and this flows into her furniture designs, such as the 2.9-metre-long vinyl-fabric-covered Moon sofa system for B&B Italia. Other techno favourites include Joris Laarman's sculptural polished aluminium Bone Chair and the metal laser-cut polished Ribbon stools by Nendo for Cappellini. Organic shapes - spheres, honeycombs, crystals, bones - offer more than a passing nod to nature. Yet by incorporating hi-tech modern materials such as metallics, mesh and foams, they become totally of the moment. On a more practical level, advancing technology and applications with hi-tech functions will be more common in the home. LED lighting and energy-saving systems look set to become more affordable, replacing the more traditional halogen lighting and fluorescent tubes. Says Jason Yung of Jason Caroline Design: 'LED allows more options for mood lighting in additional to basic functions. It is more long-lasting and environmentally friendly and goes really well with the 'nature-oriented' trend of the year.' For colours and textures, the emphasis is firmly on natural elements and simplicity of approach. Different wood finishes, coloured glass and polished metals should be popular. An increasing awareness of the environment will influence colour choices with green set to become the newest neutral, as a subtle backdrop to growing consumer eco-consciousness. Mid-tones of fern, pine and sage work well with clear blue and turquoise to bring the outside in. For a more earthy feel, sandy tans and warm browns will be popular. Embracing nature in terms of patterning and decoration will also be big. 'It's like 'florals in the city'', says Yung. The recent Design Miami Fair saw the trend towards sustainability and ecology gaining momentum in the design world. Says Urwin: 'I do not believe this to be a theme or passing trend any longer. Having a conscience and being aware of one's impact on the world globally is today a part of design.' The eco movement is as much about attitude as it is about materials. The good news is that more and more designers are taking responsibility for using ethical manufacturers as well as opting for sustainable or recyclable materials whenever possible. Sophisticated elegance in terms of crystal lighting, metallics and high-sheen finishes also provide a striking palette. Tom Dixon's brass and iron base table light and unpolished brass Beat Vessels celebrate the traditional craft of metalwork brought into the home. Designers will also gain inspiration from current events on the global stage. The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing look set to influence the trend market with browns, coffee tones, gold and red tones remaining popular. The emergence of a modern Chinese-based design aesthetic is, according to architects Neri and Hu, a complete departure from the preconceived notions of imagery or silhouette. Their covetable new own-brand home furnishings line, called neri & hu, is a case in point. It emphasises scale, proportion and function in a bid to balance modernity and heritage. The extrude wood stools, divide consoles, structure tables and lacquer ware in turquoise and orange are designs to watch. In fact, it seems the international influence of modern Chinese design has only just begun. Say Neri and Hu: 'Modern Chinese design is enjoying some success and recognition and what we look forward to in 2008 is a larger-scale awareness about the brands and designers and what sort of design 'imprint' China is shaping up to leave on the world.'
