Abie Abdillah, Principal & Founder of Studio Hiji
GDI (Good Design Indonesia) Best for Mizu lounge Chair, 2021
@studiohiji | www.studiohiji.com
What’s the most common request from your clients during the pandemic? People’s interest towards products made of rattan has increased, especially those in natural and warm colours. Baskets, planters, lampshades and other home décor items were most wanted. We realised the pandemic has made people enjoy their quality time at home more than before. We hope we can fulfil their needs as they spend more time at home, whether it’s for working or studying, and not just for now but also in the future.
What types of product design do you think is going to be trending in the future?
I think what I mentioned above has brought up a realisation related to eco- friendly and sustainable lifestyle, including towards furniture and home décor. So, not only products that are made of natural materials, but biophilic designs will also be an interesting trend in the future. Products with raw and organic shapes and finishing that come in soft and warm colours, which enhance their cosy feel, will also be favourites.
How do you anticipate these trends in terms of design approach, selection of materials and whatnot?
We see the current trend as an opportunity to develop new products with a nostalgic feel. Classic but
the lines give a contemporary feel. For example, the Mizu chair we designed for Vivere, which was inspired by an aerodynamic sedan chair that was trending in the 1960s. And Manao chair that we designed for Juno Home, which used thick manau rattan that created a simple structure combined with a weaving that added a retro feel.
These new trends give us a chance to develop functional products from other materials, as seen in our Gong pendant lamp for Artikraft, made with bamboo weaving and banana midribs, and the Clover table, which we created with ash and walnut woods.