Dezeen promotion: the upcoming Domotex trade fair is set to take place in January 2017, and will feature the latest trends in design for floor surfaces and carpets.
The Domotex trade fair takes place in Hanover, Germany from 14 to 17 January.
Aimed at architects, planners, designers and interior professionals, it will feature over 1,350 exhibitors from more than 60 nations.
Inside the Hanover Exhibition Centre, products will be displayed in different categories, including hand-made carpets and rugs, machine-made carpets and rugs, textile floor coverings, laminate flooring and parquet.
There will also be laminate products that look like stone and ceramic tiles, resilient floor coverings, as well as machinery, tools and solutions for the skilled trades.
The event will include the Young Designer Trendtable – a new workshop format that will showcase the projects of five young design studios exploring the future of flooring design.
The young designers – Hanne Willmann, Bilge Nur Saltik, Klaas Kuiken, Victoria Wilmotte, and Jane Briggs and Christy Cole – were invited by Deutsche Messe and German designer Stefan Diez to develop trendsetting ideas for the flooring business.
"The projects focus the contrasts between hard and soft, industrial and artisanal and celebrating craft traditions and creating authenticity for today," said the organisers.
An exhibition of the final pieces will be displayed in Hall 9, where visitors can also participate in a roundtable discussion with the five designers.
Domotex's 2017 special guest is Swiss-Argentinian designer Alfredo Häberli, who will be presenting a keynote speech titled Future Living at the Innovations@Domotex Dialogues in Hall 6 on 14 January 2017.
Häberli, who previously designed a sofa made up of five modules, will speak about the ideas and inspirations behind his work.
He will also take part in panel discussions about recent developments in the flooring sector.
"As a designer, you should not simply create a new graphic design of the floor," said Häberli. "It is only when one sees the design realised on the floor that it is possible to tell how effective the design is and whether it succeeds in evoking the desired emotional effect."
"Above all, you want to avoid some constant visual irritation," he continued. "My floor and carpet designs should not be flamboyant or shrill, but minimalist."
Domotex 2017 will take place in the Hanover Exhibition Centre in Germany from 14 to 17 January 2017.