1. Things to think about: Cushions Fabric? Plant - Cotton/linen Animal - Leather/Suede/Silk/Wool Man made- Nylon/Leatherette/PVC Style? How is it going to look? Function? What is it’s intended use? Where is this cushion going to be placed? What age group it’s aimed at? Teenagers/adults/children Decorative techniques? Embroidery/cutback/ Lasered/freehand embroidery Quality control? How well made is the product? Interior trends? Photographs above courtesy www.adrahome.com

2. What is meant by the term ‘interior trends’? Interior Trends trends in cushions can relate to : outline shapes colours fabrics decorative features sustainability/environmental issues The term trends is often referred to as the ‘latest styles’. Shapes, fabrics, colours and textures change from one year to the next, but not quite as quickly as they do in the fashion industry. products from www.adrahome.com

3. So how do we know what the leading trends are in interior design. You can do your research: Primary research - you can find out this information through questionnaires, looking at shop displays and photo’s from a interior design shows. Many stores like Ikea, Habitat, Pier are good sources of style trends. Secondary research - is when your research is provided by somebody else for example internet sites and magazines. You will probably get most of your information through this type of research On the internet: www.adrahome.comwww.adrahome.com – selling selective welsh sourced products/meet the makers an insight to welsh designers. www.melintregwynt.co.ukwww.melintregwynt.co.uk – fabric design and produced in Wales. www.bodieandfou.comwww.bodieandfou.com – inventive products and check out - portrait of a designers on the home page for ideas www.walesathome.co.ukwww.walesathome.co.uk – an interesting starting point for trends in Wales/general. www.milk-and-home.co.ukwww.milk-and-home.co.uk – read their excellent blog site/eco-friendly products.. Photos courtesy www.melintregwynt.co.uk & www.adrahome.comwww.melintregwynt.co.uk

4. Look in magazines: Living etc, Elle Home, Ideal Homes, Grand Designs magazine, Country Living, World of Interiors, 4 homes, Glamour, Style magazine (Sunday Times) On the internet: www.wheredidyoubuythat.comwww.wheredidyoubuythat.com – a brilliant site for inspiration and designer information. www.mydeco.comwww.mydeco.com – interior trends/general inspiration www.blogcatalog.comwww.blogcatalog.com – a huge site an everything interior. www.toast.co.ukwww.toast.co.uk – selective range of interor products. www.100percentdesign.co.uk www.lauraashley.com www.eccowales.co.uk www.granddesignsmagazine.com www.fatboy-uk.com www.purves.co.uk/ www.heal.co.uk So how do we know what the leading trends are in interior design. You can do your research: Photographs of products courtesy of www.adrahome.com

5. Task Find out who are the leading interior designers in the UK. Looking in the Designers in Wales section in NGfL Cymru and listed below are some other web-sites e.g. www.adrahome.com. Create a digital poster of their designs, list five aspects that you think makes their work cutting edge. www.adrahome.comwww.adrahome.com – clink on the meet the markers section. When interior designers create products they need to know what the latest trends are. But cutting edge or leading designers create their own trends and make that all important impact in the design shows/craft exhibitions. Interior Trends > trend makers