If you spend even a little time in the company of artists, interior designers, or product developers—or, as we do, a lot of time—you realize that while they have many of the same mundane responsibilities as the rest of us, their approach to these daily tasks occurs through a creative set of lenses. The pattern of their car’s upholstery becomes a new texture on a porcelain tile, the shades of green in their neighborhood park are transformed into a palette for a carpet collection, and the grain of a well-worn piece of lumber at their favorite café becomes the basis for the next best luxury vinyl plank. Their phones are filled with random images snapped throughout the day, sketches made on cocktail napkins, and audio memos reminding them about the feeling they experienced the moment they saw the next best bit of inspiration.
In this month’s issue, we take a look at 2020 trends influencing this year’s flooring business. We talk to designers, product managers, and business leaders about what we should anticipate seeing this year.