Creative Networks event: The future of colours and applications

A few weeks ago, it was the first time I attended a great event organised by Creative Networks which is “Leeds College of Art's major professional events programme. It consists of talks from a diverse group of high profile speakers from across the creative industries to entertain, challenge and make us think”.

At Burmatex design studio, we love to have diverse sources of inspiration and keep an eye on what is happening in the various creative communities.

The subject this week was about the future of colours and applications. Three unique and high quality presentations have been delivered by internationally recognised textile designer Kit Miles, highly talented light researcher Dennis Parren and inspiring experimental duo Blond and Bieber.

This fine selection of speakers made the event very interesting and highly informative giving a forward thinking overview on colours and future applications.

Kit Miles has developed his unique style mixing perfect hand drawn elements with a well-considered colour palette. In a world overwhelmed by digital, hand drawing is very important, and so is the implementation of colours in the design which will convey appeal and resonance. Working mainly with architects and interior designers on contract interiors projects, the sense of tension between the colours is then revealed when the final products – fabrics, panels, wall paper…- are used in a space.

The Dutch designer Dennis Parren has a totally different approach by experimenting with the effects and perceptions of lights on various shapes and textures: “We design from the idea that light = everything. Without light there is no colour, and no life.” As a result, Parren Studio delivers innovative and poetic objects and high-tech vibrant installations across the world. The CMYK bulb is a great example as it is the first LED bulb creating coloured shadows which give a new dimension to spaces.

Essi Johanna Glomb and Rasa Weber are Blond & Bieber, a Berlin-based design studio which develop mainly textile based products with a very unique approach embracing the essence of the process from concept to production. Talking about colours has nothing to do with trends and fashion; it is all about redefining colours through the researches of material. This is how the Algaemy projects have been developed, starting from the idea of using alga proliferation to create a full range of ecological textile dyestuff.