battle-scarred veterans and everyone has been able to learn and improve their skills,” says Lee Thompson, Academy for Excellence in Flooring. “Many time-served installers are surprised by the restrictions we place on ‘everyday’ tools such as tape measures, tapping blocks and hammers, instead employing new techniques to provide a better-quality end result.
“In fact, most are truly surprised when we reveal that you can install pretty much any area, including notoriously difficult obstacles such as stairs, with nothing more than your hands, a pencil, some paper, a saw and two pieces of laminate. Of course, there is some insider knowledge that helps, but that’s only revealed to our course goers!”
TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AT THE
ACADEMY Even the most experience hardened installer can gain new skills when they take up the challenges faced at the Academy for Excellence in Flooring.
With 12m2 square bays full of obstacles
such as sinks, toilets, angles, stairs, curved walls and more; there are plenty of challenges to face as you conquer tests in the Master Installer programme to become a certified Quick-Step installer.
“We’ve trained professionals at every skill level, from brand new recruits to
understanding of how trends are created and how outside influences from social media and technology continue to be factors, Anne Marie Commandeur has given her perspective on subjects influencing design.
UNDERSTANDING INFLUENCES
ON TRENDS INVISTA Antron carpet fibre discusses key influences and the driving forces behind the trends we see today with Anne Marie Commandeur of Stijlinstituut Amsterdam.
This year saw the publication of Antron’s highly informative Top 15 Trends & Colors 2019, giving insights into key annual colours and style direction that were spotted during Salone del
Mobile.Milano and Fuorisalone design events. However, to provide wider
46 | PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Anne Marie Commandeur, director of Stijlinstituut Amsterdam is an international analyst, forecaster, educator and lecturer and works with key companies to recognise the impact of trends on design and businesses. Her work with Antron has resulted in a continued commitment to providing progressive carpet fibres that satisfy both style and consumer demand for technologically advanced fibres.
Recognising trends is part of the analytical process but understanding social landscape, technology and consumer demand are key starting points. Anne Marie says: “Taking onboard influencing elements such as social and moral trends is an important part of the development process and combined with a strong design results in a truly successful product. It is also important to be clear on the origin and ethos behind the product − a story of provenance, origin, resources,
Response to the courses at the Academy for Excellence in Flooring has been impressive, even from experienced professionals, with one particular individual surprised at just how easy installing laminate on stairs could be, something he’d shied away from in the past.
www.quick-step-academy.co.uk
processes, technology, inspiration, morals and ethics, combined with its looks and performance gives a product a clear value or concept.”
With a particularly competitive market such as carpet, the Milan show proved to further confirm its continued popularity within the domestic, commercial and contract sector. The influences such as pricing and aesthetics have and will be an ongoing concern but the growing demand for sustainability was a key area that Anne Marie identified:
“The product has to meet a myriad of consumer expectations and budgets while coping with busier and more complicated lives. The product should be strong, functional, durable, beautiful and desirable. To combine all these criteria is quite a challenge. We do believe though that soft floorings have some unique selling-points that match the consumer needs of today and tomorrow”, said Anne Marie.
The ‘Top15 Trends & Colors 2019’ is available for download from Antron’s website.
www.antron.eu
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