As the 2011 Globalshop Conference and Exposition, being held March 28-30 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, comes to a close today (March 30), attendees gathered once again prior to the opening of the exhibit floor to listen to the event’s concluding keynote presentation, “Mega Trends for Design & Visual Merchandising 2012.” Given by Renee Labbe, senior vice president of global trends, Stylesight. With a cup of tea in hand, the Canadian-born speaker discussed two points of interest: Macro-trends and the ideas that will permeate into the future, as well as the driving influences in materials and design innovation that will shape store design through 2012.

“There is definitely some real interest in how to connect to consumers with new technology to create a more engaging experience,” says Labbe, as she exemplifies avatar and stylist applications that help consumers pre-shop online. “There’s a real value for customers to experience something that saves them time and takes a lot of the guess work away. Both online tools and in-stone technology combine to enhance the shopper experience via customization.”

One example of this is “haul vloggers,” video bloggers (usually of the younger demographics) that give product reviews online at sites like Youtube. According to Labbe, these ad-like vlogs ” are a benefit to retailers as a means of peer buying influence by word of mouth. “I think that it has a real extension to pretty much every market you can think of,” she says. Labbe also makes a case for gesture technology, the same used in gaming systems like Wii, to engage and inform customers. While still a novelty, the tool presents a great way to build brand awareness and incorporate your store history, says Labbe. “I actually think its going to create a whole new sign language, like texting created a whole new short-hand language.”

In addition to technology innovations, the key concepts that influence design as a whole are shifting, as well. “There is a huge interest in all-over color, which is something we really haven’t seen for the last four or five years, as mix-and-match had been the rule.” Black and white is a mainstay but now seen in contrast and color blocking. Other top hues are cream-based whites, bold blues, pop-out neons, and show-stopping reds, especially in automotives and technology. Metallics are still “in” but are now less pure, with a bit of a murky, matte finish.

Four major themes in play today are Analogue (an understated, chic, and unpretentious presentation that is also functional), Soul (authentic and hand-crafted styles that bring people meaning and refer to nature through pattern and color choice), Manifesto (where glamour meets pop/80s flair in a bold statement), and Rebel (an industrial and edgy aesthetic that causes a stir).

“We are really looking at ourselves in retail and trying to change things up a bit,” says Labbe.

– Stacy Straczynski