Some trends don't just peak out after a year or so. In Japanese product design, the focus on traditional artisanship through international promotions, collaborations with contemporary designers and the re-appreciation of traditional everyday objects is still going strong — perhaps because it dovetails so perfectly with a seemingly never-ending global obsession with minimalism.
But that's not to say things haven't evolved. Tweaks that offer more variety include the appearance of warmer materials, such as rich, dark woods; more color and texture in textiles; softer, rounded shapes; and more obvious nods to traditional decorative details and antique looks. As we approach the year's end, here are some other advances and ideas that may not be "trends" yet, but are worth mentioning as developments we can hope to see more of in 2020.
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