What’s Next After the Wiggle Trend? We Asked 9 Designers for Their Predictions

Okej Studio founders Emmie and Mitchell Brower also don’t see curvy shapes going anywhere anytime soon. “We can see a variety of interior design styles experimenting a little and becoming more eclectic,” Emmie says. “One might see more minimalist interiors embrace complex shapes and really add those standout pieces that you normally wouldn’t find in those environments. We’ll see a lot more classic and simple design that has been enhanced through interesting patterns and textures.”

Swirls and spirals

From the point of view of Bougie Woogie’s Jazmin and Matias, wiggly and squiggly shapes are expanding into two new directions—the “central piece,” which is an accent that “calms down the wiggle frenzy to clean the visual information and brings balance without losing the fun,” and the passage from 2D squiggle to 3D swirl. The couple cites Vivid Wu and Aden Wang’s home as a prime example of a space where “the balance between classic minimalism and retro-style wiggly shapes and colors make the space feel modern with a touch of nostalgia.” (They also point to the Home Union and Pieces collaboration as a reference.) On a similar note, the architectural designer Lula Galeano also thinks that spiral patterns will be huge in 2022. Perhaps it’s a sign that we are on our way toward the upward spiral?

Not enough knots

Jeanette Reza is a hopeless romantic at heart so when she was conceptualizing the shape of her Jiu Jie cushions back in 2018, she wanted them not only to provide squishy comfort, but also to be viewed as objects of desire. The Mexican designer sees her knotty creations as “a labyrinth that takes us into this alternative universe where all our fantasies and desires become true.” Cushions molded like this serve as transitional pieces that make you feel connected to something on a deeper emotional level.

Now that everything is happening within one space, Jeanette also thinks that modular multiuse products will be an even bigger design trend because more people want “things that you can play with that have multifunctionality.” She says, “It has to be something a little more special that has a story and meaning behind it, not just a decoration purpose.”

Organic silhouettes

Jenny Kaplan, cofounder of Pieces, has been gravitating toward new shapes that have never been shown before. As a brand that looks to “push the boundaries of modernizing our designs with innovative forms,” Pieces is constantly thinking about what areas have yet to be explored within the design landscape. “I am feeling lots of print and organic silhouettes for 2022,” Jenny says. “We are currently working on a new collection based on the study of patterns from the 20th century with a focus on the ’80s and ’90s.”

Raw materials with unexpected color combinations

Gustaf Westman is interested in what the wiggle will evolve into. Lately, the designer has noticed a shift in color palettes from pastels to deeper hues so he expects to see a new wave of color combinations in the mix. “I think we are going to see an increased mix in materials, colors, and shapes,” he says. “I think that the wiggly and bulky styles will be seen a lot in raw materials like wood and metal… The shapes [might] come after harder materials and straight lines.”