3 QUESTIONS WITH WILKO
Are you an emerging designer looking for guidance from leading brands in the design industry?
We have on hand the brilliant, Alexei Cowan, Head of Design, Wilko, to provide career changing advice. Discover what are their 2022 trend predictions, where this creative sources their inspiration. and how they remain positive.
What are your predictions for 2021 design trends and themes?
The importance of the outside will grow, from connecting to nature, the relationship with the indoors to digital detox. Less but better will continue to evolve with brands looking at the longevity of items, the quality of pieces, and their sustainability. Well-being and self-care will be essential with consumers wanting to spend time on themselves, whether it’s ice baths or bathing sanctuaries. Communities and locally grown produce have become more critical during the pandemic, which will rise for the following year. COVID has heightened the importance of the home office and multifunctional products as we spend more time at home, and this will expand as we move from remote working to agile lifestyles.
What inspires you?
I get inspired by everything around me, whether it’s design blogs, websites, magazines or nature, films, catwalks, different cultures, environmental or social issues. I am very visual, so I draw from my own experiences. I am missing travelling due to the restrictions, so I have reconnected with my local countryside and challenged myself on finding new adventures/architecture within Northamptonshire and the UK.
What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience is the capacity to overcome toughness, difficulties and challenges and spring back. Keep going with something even when you want to give up but having the perseverance to not and work through it, whether individually, with support, or as a team.