Leading design experts were in attendance when AkzoNobel’s Performance Coatings business recently showcased its 11th color trends guide for industrial markets at a special event held in Shanghai, China.

The influential guide shows how design is set to shape the next generation of smartphones, tablet computers and automotive interiors. China is one of the world’s most important markets for these industries, underlined by the company basing design teams in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai to support its customers.

“Our annual color and trends guide has established itself as an essential resource for our customers, not only in China, but around the world,” said Ethan Hou, Regional Director for AkzoNobel’s Specialty Coatings business in Asia. “We provide inspirational insights for our customers and help translate their needs into colors, effects and textures for the products of the future.”

Continued Amy Zhao, Performance Coatings’ Color Design Expert in China: “The trend guide is the result of our own detailed market research, combined with input from external design experts. We have translated our key research results into four key trends, eight palettes and 72 color effects and textures.” She added that the trends are epitomized by the Color of the Year, which has been identified as “My Gold” for 2016.

According to Hong-bin Jiang, Associate Dean of the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University and a Member of the China Industrial Design Association, industrial design is playing an increasingly important role in new products being launched in China. “Our designers have been seeking direction from across the globe in order to stay at the forefront of developing trends,” he said. “AkzoNobel’s annual trend guide will help to provide the valuable insight we need.”

Commenting on the launch, Conrad Keijzer, Member of the Executive Committee responsible for AkzoNobel Performance Coatings, said: “We strive to develop sustainable products and technologies that provide essential color and protection for everyday life. We therefore hope that our expertise and know-how in industrial design will help to inspire our customers when they develop the next generation of products.”

The four key trends identified in the new trend guide are:
Archive –  a combination of past and future – about deconstructing, organizing and archiving elements of the past to inspire the future
Obscura – where dark and light are equally important – inspired by the daily transition of night and day
Upgrade – where emotion and  technology meet – about breaking free from our busy lives and adding a human touch to hi-tech developments
This.is.Me – balancing between the power of image and words – an expressive trend about glorious imperfection