Category
Art & Design
Sensory Packaging
Trend cluster
Category
Communal
Participation
Public furniture is designed with interaction in mind.
5.1
Trend score
Trend
What is the Communal Participation trend?
Communal Participation: It's often that, when in public, people withdraw into the comfort of their devices. To counteract this form of tech-assisted isolation, designers have begun designing furniture that encourages social interaction in public spaces. Achieving this level of engagement and participation ensures these spaces appear lively and engaging, drawing in more people, and thus, more business.
Trend themes
Themes within the Communal Participation trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Interactive Public Furniture
Designers are creating public furniture that encourages social interaction and play, drawing in more people and business.
02
Community-Building
There is an increased interest in community-building through physical and social activity.
03
Multi-Purpose Public Furniture
Public furniture that serves multiple purposes are gaining popularity in urban placemaking.
Industry implications
What the Communal Participation trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Furniture Design
Designers and manufacturers can invest in creating interactive public furniture pieces that encourage social interaction and play.
For
Community Development
Community organizations can prioritize community-building through physical and social activities, such as the installation of interactive public furniture.
For
Urban Placemaking
Urban planners can create vibrant and robust communities by investing in multi-purpose public furniture that serves various needs, such as relaxation and gathering spaces.
Workshop question
What impact does your brand have on the people that use your products/services in terms of lifestyle?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Communal Participation
Trend score 5.1 out of 10, from popularity 67%, activity 78%, freshness 8%.
Popularity67%
Activity78%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Evidence
Examples of the Communal Participation trend
4 featured examples from Feb 7 to Jun 22, 2015CategoryArt & Design
Playful Public Seating
This Interaction-Encouraging Public Bench is Inspired by a Merry-Go-Round
Innovative public seating design presents opportunities for urban designers to create unique and engaging public spaces.
CategoryArt & Design
Illuminated Public Benches
A New Bench to Inspire Community Has Been Designed for Piazza Mazzini
Developing innovative designs for public seating that provide additional functions such as lighting and planters.
CategoryArt & Design
Interaction-Increasing Tables
Architects Design University Furniture Inspired by an Artist Palette
Leverage creative design concepts to develop interactive and collaborative furniture for educational institutions.
CategoryArt & Design
Musical Park Benches
This Fun Public Furniture Piece That Encourages Play
Opportunity for furniture manufacturers to explore innovative designs and technologies that integrate interactivity and playfulness into street furniture.
