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WeMac VenturesDesign Trends Report Q 1 +1 2013

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Contents

Kitchens (4)Bathrooms (18)Technology (36)Lighting (52)Outdoor Spaces / Rooftops (70)Automobiles (84)Fashion (102)

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KitchensThe dream kitchens of today aren’t about the sexiest six-burner range or the most exotic countertop material. As cooking has returned to center stage and remodeling budgets have sobered, the kitchen island is nurturing family togetherness and reviving casual entertaining.

In kitchens with a small footprint, glass tiles, quartz counters and dish drawers are adding sparkle and practicality. The kitchen of 2013 has soul. Although stainless still reigns, there is growing interest in white ranges and refrigerators in a new glossy finish, as well as soapstone countertops and floating shelves.

5Arrital Cucine / Italy

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+ combined corian countertop/bartop + polished concrete flooring + narrow townhouse

arrangement + horizontal instead of vertical appliance arrangement

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Decor Kitchens / London

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9thirdstone inc. / Edmonton, Canada

+ markland flooring + high gloss backplash panels + cabinetry from Ikea (PERFEKT ABSTRAKT) +

recessed rectangle lighting sockets

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11NORM Architects / Copenhagen, Denmark

+ white matte lacquer cabinets + stripped blond wood + crispt lighting angles

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13Pitsou Kedem Architects / Ein Vered, Isreal

+ white matte lacquer cabinets + etched concrete flooring + lighting underneath countertop

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+ dornbracht faucet + blanco sink + gaggenau appliances + wooden bar slab + built in architectural

shelving

15Baurmann.Dürr Architekten / Karlsruhe, Germany

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17Rajiv Saini & Associates / London, England

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BathroomsBathrooms are shifting towards a much less fussy approach with the simple all-in-one sink and vanity combination continuing to lead in popularity. The one detail in bathrooms that people are not holding back on is the shower amenities. Whether it’s the newest in show-erhead design or simply a luxurious stone surround, the focus is on making our bathrooms similar to a spa experience. From slabs of mar-ble to large tiles to mosaic patterns, it’s a classic stone that comes back as a big trend year after year. Earthy textures and veneers also remain popular.

Other notable trends are a decline in the amount of basin sinks (at least in their traditional round form) being installed and the incorpo-ration of lighting and mirrors into one piece instead of flanking wall sconces. Ceiling soffits are becoming a more common sight as well.

19186 Group / Denver, USA

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+ extensive use of earthy textures + basin sink but made into a sleek profile + inset medicine cabinet

21Capitol Building / South Coogee, Australia

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23Studio Alexander Fehre / Cottbus, Germany

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25Burnazzi Feltrin Architects / Pergine Valsugana, Italy

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27THE SCHUMACHER / 36 Bleecker Street, New York, NY

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29Norm. Architects / Copenhagen, Denmark

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31One57 / New York, USA

32 55 Pearl Street / Brooklyn, USA

331100 Architects / Brooklyn, USA

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35REXA Deesign / Italy

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Technology2013 will continue to be a renaissance period for television content, but not because of cable network providers. Television will be increas-ingly connected to mainstream computing experiences rather than just isolated content-viewing sessions. The app-ification of curated media by innovative firms like Netflix and SnagFilms across devices such as Rokus, Boxees and tablets will further drive content delivery beyond traditional TV.

We’ve gotten used to the idea that computers are machines that we operate with our hands. Just as we Gen Xers became comfortable with keyboards and mouses, Today’s millennial generation has learned to text at blazing speed. Each new iteration of technology has required new skills to use it proficiently. That’s why the new trend towards no-touch interfaces is so fundamentally different. From Microsoft’s Kinect to Apple’s Siri to Google’s Project Glass, we’re beginning to expect that computers adapt to us rather than the other way around.

37186 Group / Denver, USA

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xbox oneThe Xbox One is an upcoming video game console from Microsoft. Announced on May 21, 2013, it is the successor to the Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox family of consoles. The Xbox One is scheduled for release in November 2013 and will directly compete with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Nintendo’s Wii U as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles. Microsoft and various publications have classified the device as an “all-in-one entertainment system”, making it a competitor to other home media devices such as the Apple TV and the Google TV platform.

Xbox SmartGlass turns your mobile phone or tablet into a second screen that intelligently interacts with your Xbox One. Navigate with your touch screen, pinch, and tap to surf the Web on your TV. Your wireless device becomes the ideal companion to your Xbox One as it serves up extended experiences of your favorite TV shows, movies, music, games, and sports.

The Xbox One will ship with an updated version of the Kinect sen-sor; the new Kinect uses a 1080p wide-angle time-of-flight camera and processes 2 gigabits of data per second to read its environment. The new Kinect has greater accuracy over its predecessor, can track up to 6 skeletons at once, perform heart rate tracking, and track gestures performed with an Xbox One controller. The Kinect microphone will remain active at all times so it can receive voice commands from the user when needed.

Kinect Real Voice technology focuses on the sounds that matter, thanks to an all-new multi-microphone array. Advanced noise isola-tion lets Kinect know who to listen to, even in a crowded room. And, for the first time, you can use your voice to launch any Xbox One ex-perience from anywhere in the system, so you can quickly move from one thing to another.

39Carl Ledbetter / Microsoft Corporation, USA

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Playstation 4Playstation 4 is an upcoming video game console from Sony Com-puter Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 during a press conference on February 20, 2013, the PS4 is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Among new applications and services, Sony plans to release the PlayStation App allowing PS4 owners to turn smartphones and tablets into a second screen to enhance gameplay. The company also plans to debut Gaikai, a cloud-based gaming service that hosts downloadable content and games. By incorporating a ‘share’ button on the new controller and making it possible to view in-game play streamed live from friends, Sony plans to place more focus on social gameplay. The system will also have a Blue-Ray disc player.

The PlayStation Eye has been redesigned and renamed the PlaySta-tion Camera. It will include two 1280×800px cameras. The lenses will operate with an aperture of f/2.0, with 30 cm focusing distance, and an 85° field of view. The dual camera setup will allow for differ-ent modes of operation, depending on the target application. The two cameras can be used together for depth-sensing of objects in its field of vision, akin to the Microsoft Kinect. Alternatively, one of the cameras can be used for generating the video image, with the other used for motion tracking. The PlayStation Camera will also feature a four-channel microphone array, which helps reduce unwanted background noise and may even be used to issue commands.

41 Sony Design Studio / Sony Computer Entertainment, Japan

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google glassAugmented Reality has already gotten into our life in the forms of simulated experiment and education app, but Google is taking it sev-eral steps higher with Google Glass. Theoretically, with Google Glass, you are able to view social media feeds, text, Google Maps, as well as navigate with GPS and take photos. You will also get the latest updates while you are on the ground.

It’s truly what we called vision, and it’s absolutely possible given the fact that the Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin has demo’ed the glass with skydivers and creatives. Currently the device is only available to some developers with the price tag of $1500, but expect other tech companies trying it out and building an affordable consumer version.

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Leap motionMulti-touch desktop is a (miserably) failed product due to the fact that hands could get very tired with prolonged use, but Leap Motion wants to challenge this dark area again with a more advanced idea. It lets you control the desktop with fingers, but without touching the screen.

It’s not your typical motion sensor, as Leap Motion allows you to scroll the web page, zoom in the map and photos, sign documentss and even play a first person shooter game with only hand and finger movements. The smooth reaction is the most crucial key point here. More importantly, you can own this future with just $70.

The Leap Motion Controller is an easy, natural, and fun way to browse the web, read articles, and move around your desktop. But the best parts are Leap Motion apps. Crush bad guys with your bare hands. Make music and art with just a finger. Soar around the sun. Reach for the stars (seriously). You’ll be way more into gaming, designing, creating, and exploring when you can interact in 3D. The application store for this product is called Airspace.

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Smart GridsLast week, a group of smart grid and consumer electronics heavy-weights, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), quietly announced a new standard that could, someday, make the term “smart appliance” obsolete -- by making every appliance smart grid-ready.

The standard, CEA-2045, is pretty simple. All it does is define a “modular communications interface” or MCI, kind of like a USB port standard, only for appliances -- specifically, water heaters, air condi-tioning units, pool pumps, and electric vehicle chargers. Those are the four types of appliances being built right now by unnamed compa-nies, in preparation for trials of the new standard with unannounced utilities this year.

But unlike the smart appliances we’ve seen piloted by utilities and rolled out at trade shows like CES year after year, these new CEA 2045-compliant appliances are being built in a way that should lead seamlessly to mass manufacturing. That means that participating companies are investing in everything from the tooling, plastic mold-ing and sheet metal fabrication to build these MCI ports into every appliance, to the UL certifications and other key validations needed to move the MCI-equipped appliances into commercial and retail markets.

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numi toiletIntroducing Numi, Kohler’s most advanced toilet. The Numi toilet combines unmatched design, technology and engineering to bring you the finest in personal comfort and cleansing. Price: around $6,000

Motion Activated Lid and SeatFront sensors react to your movement when you enter the room for hands-free opening and closing of the cover. Motion at the floor-levelengages sensors to raise and lower seat.

Advanced Bidet FunctionalitySelf-cleaning wand features multiple options for water spray pattern. Adjust wand position, water pressure and temperature to your prefer-ences

Integrated Air DryerLocated in the wand for more efficient drying.

DeodorizerAir is pulled through a powerful deodorizing charcoal filter.

Heated SeatWarms the seat to your comfort level.

Feet WarmingWarm air from floor-level vents, heats the floor surface and warms your feet.

Illuminated PanelsAmbient lighting illuminates your space with a soft, inviting glow.

MusicBuilt-in speakers allow you to play a selection from the Numi toilet’s pre-programmed audio, FM radio or to connect your MP3 player through the audio input jack in the remote docking station.

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4K television4k is the new big thing in display tech. High definition comes in two flavours: 720p (HD ready) and 1080p (Full HD), both of which offer more picture information than the standard definition formats. The more pixels that make up an image, the more detail you see - and the smoother the appearance of curved and diagonal lines. Ultra HD just takes that on to the next level.

Technically speaking, 4K denotes a very specific display resolution of 4096 x 2160. This is the resolution of all 4K recordings, though many people use 4K to refer to any display resolution that has roughly 4000 horizontal pixels. Today’s 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD TVs pres-ent us with an image of around 2 megapixels, but this new generation of screens delivers an 8 megapixel image from hi-res cameras.

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LG’s 84LM960V 84” 4K Television

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lightingLighting silhouettes have slowly become more and more minimal, even going into wire-framed shapes or starting to elaborate on the appeal of the bulb itself. Good lighting should not be noticed, and many light-ing manufacturers knwo this, LEDs are diminishing in size and many incandescent bulbs are becoming translucent instead of opaque to adhere to this minimal form of beauty. Backlighting is also increasing in popularrity.

53Artemide MENDORI Lamp

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55LED Rope Light / Cambridge, UK

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57acdc LED products / Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, UK

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59BMW showroom by Mindseye Lighting Design / Paris, France

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61Hafencity university subway station / Hamburg, Germany

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63Manhattan Loft, Virtus Design / New York, New York

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65Macay Landscape Lighting / USA

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67Nob Hill Condominium, by Garcia Tamjidi Architects / San Francisco, USA

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69Curved House, by Hufft Projects / Kansas City, USA

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OUTDOOR SPACES + ROOFTOPSRooftop spaces have always been a sought after commodity within urban dwellings. Rooftop gardens now tend to exhibit more lush and natural arrangements rather than excessively trimmed or sparse land-scapes. The growing interest in urban gardens has brought about new techniques in aeroponics and other water distribution systems that make it easier for flora to thrive in none-soil contexts.

71Terminal 3 by Tierra Design / Singapore

72 ELT Living Walls / USA

73Data Nature Associates / London

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75Donny Deutch’s Townhouse by Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper / New York, NY

76 Dwarf Bamboo at its full height alongside a handrail / London Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects / Chicago

77Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects / Chicago

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79East Village Roof Garden by pulltab design / New York, NY

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81Glass Penthouse Apartment / Manchester, NH, USA

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83False Creek Penthouse by Urbanscape Design / USA

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automobiles

Trends:

- Prestige is more important than ever, but thinking big is no longer a key to success. Car manufacturers are not longer touting their mass, but how much they can fit within that mass.

-More and more, artificial intellegence or technological interfaces are replacing buttons and nobs in cars for a more streamlines look.

-Car Manufacturers are becoming more experimental with exterior materials - Usually formulating composites with metal or plastic to create hard shell casings for cars or using a seamless combination of both. Interior materials and finishes have remained, for the most part, unchanged.

-Exterior profiles are becoming more square shaped than the post-al sleek streamlined look of the past two decades. This is due to the shrinking size of cars, increase fuled effcienty by reduced weight, and to subtlety show off the interior organization of the machine

85Concept sketch for the Audi R10 / David Cava Design

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87918 Spyder / Porche

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89HCD-14 Genesis Concept / Hyundai

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912014 SLS AMG Black Series / Mercedes-Benz

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93The Lincoln MKC Concept / Lincoln

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95C-Metisse Concept Car / Citroën

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97C-Buggy Concept Car / Citroën

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99URUS Concept Car / Lamborghini

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101Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder / Lamborghini

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Fashion summer/Fall 2013Summer Women: Forals were a big hit, offering a diverese range of color and scale. The use of floral had a way of “flattening” itself out and making what otherwise would be a colorful explose seem tame and muted.

Summer Men: The military-inspired or floral motif is the hottest print in menswear seen in everything from shirts to shoes. Strong, defined, stripes also make a come back in some fashion circles.

Fall Women/Men: Not everything is black or white. Fall’s runways were rife with the in-between — from charcoal to slate — consider it the new neutral. Blotches of color are only used in the most minmal of ways.

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105Left to Right; Paul & Joe, Just Cavalli, Naeem Khan, Pierre Balmain

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107Left to Right; Tommy Hilfiger, Dior Homme, Valentino, Band Of Outsiders

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109Left to Right; Alexander Wang, Reed Krakoff, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler

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111Left to Right; Viktor & Rolf Monsieur, Jil Sander, Hermes, Gucci

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