Environment issues may dictate new trends in product design
Environmental issues such as global warming, increase of pollution, and solid waste management may be leading factors that will influence the design of products.
Ilonggo international lifestyle consultant PJ Arañador told 26 participants in a seminar on design held August 28 at the Department of Trade and Industry audio-visual room environmental issues are one of the six top “trend drivers” this year.
He said “green products” like coats that do not use animal skin, are produced by factories that have zero waste management, and were made from byproducts are having buyers in the world market.
Arañador said the other trend drivers are global recession, international war and politics, rise of new economic super powers, the internet, and telecommunications highway.
On the effect of global recession, Arañador said many buyers are now considering which products are more important and can be used longer. He gave as examples belts, towels, bed sheets and baskets.
Arañador said local designers and producers should watch the trends in the world market and adopt their designs to the trends so that they can make business abroad.
He said buyers are also looking for meaning in life, the reason there is growing “green community” or environmentally aware consumers who will not buy products that harm the environment, animals and people.
He also talked on the use of colors, sizes of products, and the relation of the consumer’s attitude to product designing.
Arañador, a Manila-based designer with many consultancy contracts in other countries such as Brazil, Hongkong, China is presently based in India.
The one-day seminar was sponsored by the Iloilo Bamboo Producers for Development, Inc. and the Department of Trade and Industry–Region 6. (Rex G. Hidalgo)