5 ways I use trends to help me design retail window displays
Here at Dapple pop studio, where we specialise in paper installations and retail window design, staying attuned to up-and-coming trends is an non-negotiational with us.
Trends serve as guides, gently swaying us towards a design style that will captivate a specific audience, inspiring and translating into everyday life. Whether that’s in interiors, fashion, food and product design.
Understanding trends can elevate a project from good to exceptional, making it crucial for us here at Dapple pop studio to keep relevant. With a fashion background, we have found how important it is to see what has come down the runway each season and how those trends translate and filter down into retail design for windows and interiors.
Together let's explore why trends matter and 5 ways that they can be important when thinking about paper installations and retail window design.
Trends as Inspiration:
Trends are not just fleeting fads; they are reflections of societal shifts, cultural movements, and evolving consumer preferences. They spark our creativity, inspiring us to infuse our designs with elements that resonate with audiences. Whether it's the resurgence of a particular colour palette, the embrace of sustainability, or the celebration of a certain style, trends provide valuable cues for crafting designs that resonate with audiences on a deeper level.
Staying Relevant:
In a fast-paced world where attention spans are fleeting, staying relevant is key to maintaining a connection with your audience. By incorporating elements of current trends into our work, we demonstrate our ability to adapt and evolve, keeping our work fresh and engaging. This relevance not only attracts attention but also fosters a sense of connection with audiences who are constantly seeking fresh and engaging experiences.
Creating Emotional Connections:
At the heart of effective design lies the ability to forge connections. Trends offer us a common language through which we can connect with our audience. Whether it's tapping into a sense of nostalgia or evoking a feeling of wanderlust, trends provide us with the tools to create experiences that resonate deeply with viewers. Allowing us to evoke specific moods, memories, and aspirations through our installations and styling.
Enhancing Brand Identity:
While trends provide valuable inspiration, it's essential for us to only use trends when they actually work with a brief and are suitable for a specific brand. By interpreting trends and our creative vision, we can create cohesive experiences that not only align with current trends but also reinforce brand identity. This fusion of trend-lead and brand essence ensures that installations and window displays not only capture attention but also leave a lasting impression.
Balancing the mix:
Finding the right balance between timeless elements and timely trends is key. While trends provide us with a roadmap for innovation, it's important not to lose sight of what makes our work enduring. By striking this balance, we ensure that our designs have both immediate impact and lasting appeal.
A great example of this is a recent popular trend - MUSHROOMS,
Stella McCartney window display 2022
We love how this window design speaks to the Fungi trend but also strongly links to the brand values of Stella attracting in their loyal client. Absolutely love these giant mushroom light structures too!
Stella McCartney is know for being a vegan brand, they have invested in a material which is grown from the root system of fungi which creates a leather like material called ‘MYLO’- read more here. This was launched in 2022 and at the same time this mushroom window was created and I feel since then mushrooms have been a growing theme (excuse the pun!) and was also featured in pinterest’s trend report for 2023.
Our conclusion: In our studio we choose to tap into trends when we feel it works with the brief, brand and product that’s the focus. We continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of design, harnessing the power of trends to elevate our craft to a new creative level.