Editorial

Foto: Koelnmesse; FAR

At present we are inclined to question everything which, for decades, we had regarded as a safe bank for our affluent society: first and foremost, of course, the global financial sector, but also the principles of growth and consumption and the ever-faster merry-go-round of innovations. We are looking for a path that leads to sustainability. That goes for our interior culture too. Are trends actually compatible with this day and age at all?

There is a lot more to interior culture than living with furniture classics and cultivating a certain style. Interior culture is a reflex response to our personal circumstances. It is about our reactions to the here and now, but also about the ongoing development of our “hardware”, of the products we choose. Every time we decide on a certain product, we are effectively making a statement – in favour of a certain aesthetic language, an attitude to life, a need, a tradition or a sense of responsibility. Trends indicate the direction in which designers, manufacturers and interior designers are driving this development. The continuous creation of new product ideas is an inextricable part of our interior culture that not only reflects change but delights in staging it.

At the beginning of every year, the halls of Cologne Exhibition Centre become the venue for a very special experience, providing a stage for the interiors of the future and showcasing the entire spectrum of furniture and interior design innovations. At the bar in Pure Village, the fair’s new presentation format, exhibitors from Germany, Europe and all over the world will be getting together to discuss the latest trends and new products.

Our latest Content Folder is dedicated to the trends and innovations that will be on show at the imm cologne 2010. In addition to a preview of the first new products, it presents 12 trends that will influence the way we live tomorrow. They include predictions about future layouts as well as selected product and interior trends, illustrated with a series of specially produced photos.

A summary of the Trend Book explains the current Interior Trends “Discipline”, “Comfort Zone”, “Rehab” and “Trickery”. In spite of all the differences between the various styles, one thing seems certain: quality is becoming a key factor in furniture design. By the way: the enclosed DVD also includes a podcast of the Trend Book press conference in Stockholm, as well as a host of explanatory texts and an interview with designer and Trendboard member Cecilie Manz from Copenhagen.

This folder also focuses on the imm cologne’s D3 Design talents event, where colleges, students and graduates can present their work and make important business contacts. The D³ Contest, which will again be presenting an array of inspiring prototypes by next-generation designers, has established itself as a particular highlight that draws manufacturers and designers like a magnet.

The two insider interviews with imm cologne chief Udo Traeger and exhibition designer Dick Spierenburg provide some interesting insights into the development of the trade fair concepts as well as background information on the imm cologne and its new Pure Village format.

To make your stay in Cologne all the more enjoyable, we’ve also compiled a new selection of design-oriented tips about the city for you and your readers.

As always, you can use the articles and photo materials free of charge provided they are credited accordingly. We would ask that you notify us of any publication and, if applicable, send us some specimen copies. I hope the material will provide some interesting ideas and look forward to welcoming you to the imm cologne 2010.

Best wishes from Cologne,



Markus Majerus

PS: Because of the amount of information we have compiled for you, we have included a DVD along with the Content Folder. In addition to the texts and photos from this issue, it also contains the two folders published in the run-up to the imm cologne.

All texts and photos – including those from earlier content folders – are available from our free online content system at www.imm-content-service.com.

Author: Markus Majerus
4,098 characters
Free offprint