Blog entries posted during January 2011

Reading a recent post about the use of colour in retailing it seems that the number of outlets and online stores using colour as a key part of the shopping experience is growing fast. Online stores like Etsy have a great colour search function in which the user can sort products according to colour. Other online stores are allowing users to identify a specific tone or shade in a product and then search for other complementary items to buy.
Almost 50% of the top 100 online retailers now offer some form of colour search, with companies like Picolor making the process one which is easily integrated into an existing website.
Last year our own NCS Navigator received thousands of hits, many by companies using the ability to move around the NCS Colour Space to engage customers and provoke instore business.
So as we head into a new decade, perhaps it is wise (if you have not already done so) to investigate how NCS Navigator can help your own instore or online sales.

Next week Formex's Spring edition opens for business on the 20th, here in Stockholm's Stockholmmässan.
This Spring, Formex looks fresher than in previous outings with a host of new developments and activities to keep the visitor occupied including a new trend book, new exhibition areas and larger showcase area for young designers.
Today, announcements were made that the Young Design Lounge would feature an installation from recent graduate, Karin Robling (pictured). Her installation will create a space in which 60's Swedish design meets the colours and atmosphere of India, with the visitor treated to a visual feast of colour, materials and the unexpected. 
We'll post some images of the the installation and conclusions from Formex after the show itself - complete with the latest colour trends emerging this Spring. 
To register for Formex click here. 

Last year's Design Week expanded around Stockholm, the self-proclaimed capital of Scandinavia, with openings, exhibitions and seminars open to industry professionals and the public. This year the schedule of events taking place away from the central Stockholm Furniture Fair site looks just as intruiging.
One of last year's highlights was the exhibition of rugs by Icelandic design collective Vik Prjónsdóttir at PUB, so straight away a small exhibition at Gallery Pascale by another Icelandic designer looks tempting. Entitled Les Secrets d'Islande, the exhibition showcases the jewellery work of Gudbjorg K. Ingvarsdottir. Inspired by nature, expect to see irregular shapes which challenge the perception of balance and form. It's a small space though so perhaps best to pop by during the daytime to get a good look.
Visitors to Stockholm would do well to see the results of a collaboration between Sweden's most well known archtiects, Claesson Koivisto Rune, and Stockholm's first five-star hotel - the Nobis. Classy, muted tones and no-expense spared luxury are the order of the day at this hotel, still fresh from its Winter opening. A masterclass of colour combinations - rumoured to have been developed using NCS as the primary colour system.
The world's oldest member association, Svensk Form, continues from its activity last year to promote material exploration with a discussion entitled Closing the Material Gap featuring none other than Arik Levy. As part of the evening celebrating the (re?)launch of its Form magazine, the discussion will be followed by the international installment of Pecha Kucha. This entertaining format, in which designers and architects deliver 6 minute presentations, is always engaging and this particular Pecha Kucha should contain more than a few colour-related surprises. The event is on Tuesday 8th Feb at Berns in Berzelli Park.
Svensk Form's neighbours, Arkitektur Museet (The Architecture Museum) will be inviting 50 selected practitioners and critics from across the architecture field to transform its space into a huge workshop. Over the space of 48 hours, the assembled masses will look into some of the key questions affecting our built environment.
On the island of Djurgården, at Biologiska, one of Sweden's fastest rising designers, Fredrik Färg, has curated the works of 20 international designers for a full-sensory design experience. Despite limited details so far, this looks like it could hold many hidden gems.  
Another of last year's busiest shows was a group show at the showroom of Thomas Bernstrand on Stockholm's hippest island, Södermalm. He's flinging open his doors again this year with the private view in the evening sure to be well attended. Not only a good opportunity to see Bernstrand's latest products but also a good insight into the current fashion trends and colours sweeping through the city.
Talking of fashion, Folkform has been invited to create a special collection for the classy Swedish label Whyred. The Folkform duo will be using the opportunity to explore the potential of handmade mass production at Whyred's flagship store all week. 
Finally, no Stockholm Design Week would be complete without a trip to Check In, the city's premier off-site exhibition of new design talent, which this year comes complete with a double dose of NCS Colour thanks to the unmissable local brand Zweed (pictured) and its incredible open-source design and colour approach. The show itself has also been designed with colour in mind, giving exhibitors a specific range of NCS Colours to explore as they create their individual stands.

At the moment we are hosting a few days of workshops organised by Swedish 'colour boutique' Colorama who are taking advantage of the conditions we have in our office. We've got a variety of different spaces, each featuring perfect simulated daylight conditions, which makes colour assesment and colour design absolute bliss.
Of course it's not only the lighting which makes for a productive session - you'll have access to our library of colour materials, colour samples and colour tools including NCS Colour Scan 2.0 to help in your work. We'll even clear up for you!
For more information on the spaces, costings or arranging a visit just drop us a line.