DOMOTEX 2018

•••4••• Messewelten Final round of 2018 Carpet Design Awards The international jury selected 24 designer carpets from 16 countries in eight categories T he finalists in the 2018 Carpet Design Awards have been se- lected: 24 designer carpets have made it to the final round of the international competition for out- standing carpet design. A jury made up of experts from the de- sign professions and the carpet industry has selected three exclu- sive carpets in each of eight cat- egories, out of a total of 265 en- tries from 16 countries. The winners in each category will be announced at Domotex on 13 January 2018; the prize award cer- emony takes place in Hall 9. The Carpet Design Awards are highly regarded within the international carpet industry and form the cen- terpiece of the presentation of modern, hand-made carpets and rugs at Domotex. Keynote theme: Unique Youniverse The keynote theme for Domo- tex 2018 is Unique Youniverse, which was chosen in response to the growing need to offer the customer personalized products and services. The Carpet Design Awards have also been refreshed this year to reflect this trend, with two new categories added: “Best Interior” (furnishing project or carpet installation that prioritizes personalization) and “Best Com- munication” (successful market- ing or branding campaign). The eight categories in the competi- tion reflect various manufactur- ing methods, price levels and de- sign concepts, so that they also represent different retail con- cepts and market segments tar- geted by the carpet industry. “Rugs that move me are difficult to describe with words. While I have a deep appreciation for indi- vidual formal elements like mate- rial, weave, pattern, colour, and texture, I am most captivated by a rug when those elements come together in such a way that some- thing greater than the sum of its parts is expressed,” said Michael Mandapati, jury chairman and carpet expert from New York. “I often refer to this as ‘the soul of a rug’. It’s not a technical thing, but much more about how the rug communicates on an experi- ential level. The process of jurying the Carpet Design Awards was an enjoyable and exciting experience as it gave me the opportunity to get a handle on the pulse of the rug industry today,” Mandapati concluded. In the course of the selection process, entries were assessed on design and design concept, materials, execution, texture and quality, as well as sus- tainability and brand building. Finalists on showcase in Hall 9 All 24 carpets going into the final round will be on display through- out Domotex, at the new “Fram- ing Trends” showcase in Hall 9, where innovative design and in- terior furnishing trends will be featured with creative flair under the tagline Unique Youniverse. Visitors to the trade show are also invited to choose their personal favourites. A special trophy for the most popular carpet will be awarded at the end of Domotex. Presented in association with two trade journals, the Carpet De- sign Awards are now in their thir- teenth year. One of the finalists selected in the category “Best Transitional Design” Photo: Deutsche Messe Domotex 2018: an array of new highlights and features New exhibition layout and hall restructuring boost market transparency and make it easier to connect with exhibitors and trends This theme will find concentrated expression in Hall 9, which will house an inspiring world of crea- tively staged display zones by ex- hibitors, artists and budding young designers. “The upcoming show will immerse its visitors in a totally new and captivating world of trends, innovations and life- style,” commented Dr. Andreas Gruchow, the director in charge of Domotex at Deutsche Messe. The new hall restructuring physi- cally clusters allied product groups, making it much easier for visitors from all professional backgrounds – whether whole- sale or retail, architecture, inte- rior design, the skilled trades, or furniture or furnishing retail – to find their way around and survey the market. Getting down to specifics, halls 2 to 4 now house the biggest of- fering of hand-made carpets and rugs seen anywhere in the world. Halls 5 through 7 are home to a unique selection of machine- made carpets and rugs. Hall 8 is the gateway to the latest carpet creations from the world’s most innovative designers and labels. The displays of resilient floor cov- erings, design flooring / LVT and laminate flooring are concentrat- ed in halls 11 and 12. And halls 12 and 13 house the show’s displays of parquet and wood flooring. Hall 13 also houses displays of the latest flooring application and in- stallation technnology. The con- venience factor will be further enhanced by the new My Domo- tex Shuttle, which will transport visitors and exhibitors quickly and directly to wherever they want to go on the exhibition grounds. With its keynote theme of “Unique Youniverse”, Domotex 2018 is focusing on the individuali- zation megatrend and its effects on the flooring industry. Conse- quently, the products and servic- es consumers use to shape their lives – including their home lives – are becoming more and person- alized and tailored to their needs and preferences. Hall 9 is the new jewel in the crown of Domotex. It is the home of the “Framing Trends” special display area, a richly diverse and immersive showcase in which established companies, indus- try newcomers and artists will engage with the keynote theme in an array of creatively staged displays. “Framing Trends” com- prises four distinct zones, where visitors will be able to experience and interact with all kinds of out- of-the-box ideas and designs. In the “Flooring Spaces” zone, com- panies from the floor coverings industry will stage extraordinary product showcases that play with and reflect on the individualiza- tion trend. Next-door, exhibitors will partner with interior design- ers to craft inspiring spaces and lifestyle realms in the “Living Spaces” zone. Then there’s the “NuThinkers” zone, where stu- dents and young designers will redefine interior design with a dazzling array of unconventional ideas and product prototypes. Consumers are keen to express their individuality. Do- motex is picking up on this trend. Photo: Deutsche Messe Continued from page 1