The China news says this 4 foot high peacock is a lantern made out of potatoes. It's on display at a department store in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. 2008 is the International Year of the Potato as declared by the United Nations. The declaration is to promote food safety and alleviate poverty. China/Safety? OOOOkay.
Implications - This peacock sculpture from China is an example of the new fad that is hitting the design industry worldwide. In creative industries like fashion or interior design, staying cutting edge is of the utmost importance. Thus, designers are looking to innovate in aesthetics, structure and mediums used, with potatoes as the latest unconventional material used.
United Nations Promoting Safety
China Plays with Spuds for Int'l Potato Year
Trend Themes
1. Innovative Material Usage - Designers are exploring unconventional materials like potatoes, presenting opportunities for suppliers and manufacturers of such materials.
2. Sustainability and Eco-friendliness - The use of potatoes as a material for creative designs aligns with the trend towards eco-friendly and sustainable design and production processes.
3. Promotion of International Events - International events like the International Year of the Potato offer opportunities for businesses in industries related to agriculture, food production and import/export to promote their products/services.
Industry Implications
1. Materials Manufacturing - There is a growing demand for unconventional materials like potatoes, presenting a potential disruptive opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers of such materials.
2. Creative Design - The trend towards innovative and unconventional material usage presents an opportunity for designers to differentiate themselves and offer unique products/services.
3. Agriculture and Food Production - International events like the International Year of the Potato offer an opportunity for businesses in agriculture and food production to promote and market their products globally.