In early 2009 Karl Lagerfield (fashion designer and former king of bling) pronounced that “Bling is over. Red carpety covered with rhinestones is out. I call it ‘the new modesty.‘”

Pick your choice of buzz words – blingamilism, the new modesty, the new sobriety – the fact is, buying trends are different today than they were over the past decade. The reality of our times is changing not just our bank accounts, but how we see things as a whole – the importance of family, the need to feel connected, the desire to travel, build, entertain and live without damaging the planet – all resulting in a quest for a more simplistic, honest way of life.  This theme is so strong, it’s included as one of six important design and architecture trends in Perspectives, an annual forecast from Charles Luck.

Yes, we’re still buying, but our choices are more deliberate and considerate.  We’re buying less, but buying better. No longer is it important to have the brand name or icon splashed all over the product, consumers are more interested in the value behind the brand.  What it stands for.  How is is made.  How long it will last. So instead of putting so many diamonds on a watch that you can’t even tell the time, brands are getting back to what really matters – nice movement and design.

What does this mean to us in the design world?  As Lagerfield proposed “This whole crisis is like a big spring house-cleaning – both moral and physical. There is no creative evolution if you don’t have dramatic moments like this.” Indeed, the design aesthetic is also changing to reflect the changing values of the consumer.

Consumers are seeking products that will endure – values of honesty and quality are superseding the search for the cheapest option.  They want pieces and spaces that speak to them personally, that they can make an emotional connection with. They have a desire for luxury products that speak to heritage, muted aesthetics, craft, longevity, true rarity and a well thought out and considered product.

We’re seeing design revert to its original premise…the creation of useful things and designs that last from both a functional and aesthetic sense.  The creation of classic, timeless, edited, seasonless pieces with enduring style and a greater focus on craftsmanship. We’re meeting consumer demand by asking more questions to find out what really matters, editing more, searching harder for the rare and unique, and at the end of the day, designing with an eye toward creating a design that is responsible, meaningful and highly personal.

To learn more about the Honest trend and related products, please visit our website or view this inspirational video.

You may also be interested in:

1. 
   Finding the Extraordinary in the Everyday – an “Honest Perspective”
2. 
   Charles Luck’s 2011 Trend Forecast Now Available
3. 
   3-D Printing…Food for Thought