'What's Hot!' and 'What's
Not'
Eyeing Trend
Fashion is born by small facts, trends, or even
politics, never by trying to make little pleats and furbelows, by
trinkets, by clothes easy to copy, or by the shortening or lengthening
of a skirt.
- Elsa Schiaparelli
What this Italian designer says about fashion is just as applicable
to art. The marketers, producers and consumers who make and enjoy
Hollywood's smash hits also affect artwork and its audience. Art
production and consumption are both influenced by the same consumer,
business, brand and marketing trends that influence skirt style
and length and crowd the highways with similar auto design, style
and color, whether the models are Chevrolets or Cadillac's.
Tech Past & Futures: 'The Future is Tech' Then and
Now
Technological art and cultural themes keenly demonstrate shifts
in trend that speak to audience behaviors, image and brand. Consider
case briefs below that examine art's influence and the influence
of art as they relate to technological advances and trends.
NBC's logo changes in 1987 depicted statements about the "Peacock
Network" and its divisions; the bird stature was shifted
to infer the corporation's "forward looking" position.
NBC's logo history and artwork are available at
http://www.big13.net/NBC
Peacock/NBCPeacock1.htm
Technology has afforded remarkable advances in both the creation
and popularity of digital art, animation and illustration. Consider
for example the influence of anime, the Japanese animation and
design rooted in comic books, cartoons and now prevalent in products,
fashion, games and films.
Trend Parts, Patterns and Resources
Trendy isn't good, (unless of course you're Andy Warhol, or the
creator of the Hula Hoop). 'Trending on average' isn't too bad and
trend watching is absolutely terrific. But above all that is trend
spotting. It's phenomenal because once a trend is identified, accepted,
examined and thoroughly discussed it's mainstream. Unless it shows
real staying power or the potential segue of trend-setting niches,
the marketplace is way too crowded to pioneer a move or strong position.
Probably, because trends are predictable but always subject to change!
Likewise, trends repeat.
Your artist's observation and awareness are your best resources
for determining trends. Still, here are some helpful tips, predictions
and guides to supportive resources:
- What's at Wal Mart? Check out your local Big
Store. What's on the end caps? Check the impulse aisles, toy department
and even the clearance rack -- where last year's trend moves out
the door. What's in Big Store's art department?
- Go shopping. Compare that shopping excursion
with visits to local car dealers, specialty stores and boutiques,
from fashion and jewelry to home design: carpet, cabinetry, lighting
and tile. What colors are influential? What cultural themes? Shapes?
Designs? What's promoted as inspirational, trend setting, a 'designer
favorite' or creative and unique?
- Pick up a periodical. Likewise, a visit to
the library's periodical section is a must. There, you'll find
the depth and breadth of trend's artistic, cultural and political
influences. Be sure to flip through the range. Architectural and
'luxist' journals, ethnic trades and pop culture are just as revealing
of trend as your customary art and photography journals.
- Examine junk mail. Got junk mail? Don't throw
it away! Junk mail, as well as spam, actually offers value for
trend-spotting. Free catalog's and advertising circulars are good
info sources. Upscale catalog's will help you identify the rising
trends behind new products and the customer-designer favorites
driving artistic design, color and style. Discount ads, specials
and coupons are definitive in showing downward trends. And even
the content and subject lines of spam can be revealing.
- Remember real estate. Consider the political,
consumer and cultural trends that are impacted by environmental
issues, land premiums and real estate markets. These market drivers
emerge homeowner and tenant trends toward tiny houses and small
spaces. Tiny spaces often demand really big art that flows or
mirrors light and 'opens' space. Cultural and environmental influences
will be very important to this art buyer along themes that relate
to green space, landscapes, light, water and cityscapes.
- Think green. Framing and medium materials that
include recyclables, architectural salvage, and enviro-friendly
products, organics and sustainable resources should also continue
gaining momentum among new buyers and 'luxury' collectors. Natural
design materials such as bamboo and grass cloth will gain higher
status, and may indicate stronger preferences for matting and
art colors from nature's palette.
Additional Resources
With your artistic eye and camera lens on the panorama of trend,
it won't be hard to spot. Then ask the next question, the one attuned
to your creative hunch. Here's one to inspire you: One renowned
designer projects a return of chrome as a metal influence, which
may indicate a rising trend not unlike the Art Deco period of minimalism,
especially in light of today's cultural path toward reducing one's
'ecological footprint.' What future does chrome hold for your work?
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