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Dedicated to material innovation, London’s Surface Design Show was a welcome chance to catch up on the latest directions in this sector.

The early adopters of the 2024/25 Design Direction, PLAIN. Applications in Retail, Furniture, Lighting, Textiles and Kitchens

The early adopters of the 2024/25 Design Direction, PLANT. Applications in Accessories, Textiles, Bathrooms, Retail and Furniture.

While inspiration for bathroom design continues to be drawn from hotels and spas, there is now a focus on more quirky individualism, with palette preferences to match.

Laden with symbolism, made into deities, and one of the first creatures ever to be painted by people, horses have a unique place in the world’s cultural history.

In addressing the issues with extractive and polluting processes, material designers are looking to the patterns and principles of nature. Diversification in the sourcing and processing of raw materials is core to this bio-based revamp.

New Order of Fashion mentors regenerative fashion designers, convinced that their vision of the future is the way forward in an increasingly challenging environment. We speak to Frank Verkade and Helen Milne on the importance of harnessing creativity and innovation.

Metals of antiquity, a term coined by Plato, was given to early metallurgical discoveries made by people of the past. Now artists and designers are exploring this ancient knowledge.

Could Rose be more of a variation on a theme rather than an actual colour? The sheer abundance of pinks under this banner, from palest blush to Barbie tones, would suggest that the word isn’t perhaps as precise as some colour names.