When it comes to specifying performance textiles, it’s all simply a matter of preference—right? As long as a fabric is durable, stain resistant, flame retardant, and doesn’t fade easily, designers are essentially comparing apples-to-apples and ultimately making decisions based on pricing or patterns—right? Not necessarily. As environmental and human health concerns have taken on greater […]
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New from the Arc-Com Design Studio, the award-winning Foundation Collection featuring INCASE Crypton Technology is an example of the kinds of thoughtful, conceptual performance textiles we’re seeing for 2018. We’re calling the trend “full circle architecture,” where concepts from historical architecture are transformed into fabric that in turn get installed inside new architecture. […]
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In the groundbreaking book, Textile Technology and Design: From Interior Space to Outer Space, contributing essayist Alexa Griffith Winton explores the evolving role of textiles as “an interstitial interface” in the context of contemporary design practice “in which advanced computational and fabrication technologies combine to create textiles capable of both reacting to their surrounding environs […]
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One of the most exciting trends in contract fabric is a move toward intense, distinctive colors and exciting patterns. This new trend breaks through all of the myths about design limitations with contract performance fabrics. These looks could fall into the realm of any luxury interior textile, yet they offer the extraordinary performance required for […]
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As resilient as they are stain-resistant, Crypton fabrics are made to hold up to frequent cleaning. There’s a reason that over 1.5 million yards of Crypton fabrics have been installed in major hotel and restaurant installations as well as healthcare environments, offices and other public places. These high-traffic areas require regular cleanings of both their […]
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The arena of product design is both fiercely competitive and highly demanding, requiring tremendous focus, creativity, and an innate talent for forecasting. Like the designers their products serve, these creatives need to have both a strong right and left brain to achieve success. A deep technical knowledge and expertise in contract specification is critical. Stellar […]
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Architects and designers tell us that in their contract projects, one of the most frequent questions from the client side involves not aesthetics, not even facility planning or engineering, but rather maintenance schedules. Specifiers who want to generate repeat business make it their job to build in as many high-performing, low-maintenance design choices as possible. […]
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It’s 2017 and as a designer, no matter how amazing your projects are, you’re nothing without images. You need them more than ever, and in a steady stream. For your website, for social media and for publications looking to cover your work, you continually need great images that reflect your talent and passion for design. […]
Continue ReadingThe theme du jour is diversity. We think it is timely and relevant, whether we’re talking about the vast scope of new design products showing up at market, or the new emphasis on diversity in renderings. We look at what industry journals are saying about the renewed commitment to inclusiveness in the design field. No […]
Continue ReadingMake that next Uber ride a treasure hunt for beauty, form and color. Enliven your wait on the coffee shop queue by finding something inspiring that may perk you up even more than that five dollar latte. Here are some fun finds to add to your feed, and maybe to feed your designing soul: 1. […]
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